The View From Here

Truly thankful
After reading Jane Franklin’s fictionalized autobiography, I can truly say I am so grateful not to have lived in her day and age. Although, as the sister (and keeper of a tremendous store of Benjamin Franklin’s letters), she never achieved or received any recognition during her lifetime. As brother and sister they enjoyed a deep and affectionate relationship. But it is noteworthy that in spite of years of correspondence between them only a few of her letters remain while his to her were treasured and kept for posterity.
Women of Jane’s generation received little formal education so her spelling was highly creative and somewhat of a challenge. However, Franklin encouraged her to write and not to be ashamed (which she was) of her writing.
The title “The Book of Ages” was Jane’s idea for keeping a record of the deaths of relatives. If you are a wife, mother, grandmother or great-grandmother living in 2013, it is hard to fathom what it was like for Jane in the 1700s. How could she deal with so much sorrow? She was the mother of 12 children. Eleven of them preceded her in death. Financially, times were hard for her. Her husband was not a good provider and women had few avenues of employment. At best they were able to take in boarders. But life for the ordinary woman was to cook, clean, keep house, raise children.
There is nothing like reading a bit of history to make you realize things could be much worse and to be thankful for the advantages you have. It gives you the opportunity to evaluate how to the best of your ability do something that will give someone or some organization a reason to be thankful on this holiday. The Food Bank, The Healdsburg Education Fund, or your favorite charity needs your help to make this a truly thankful day.  
Lucie Jensen is a Healdsburg resident.