Grandpa’s Blog…
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My paternal grandfather was an interesting fellow.
An Italian immigrant born in 1885, he was a brick mason by trade, an amateur poet, a sometimes politician, and a blogger. Yes a Blogger…
Although he never saw a computer, or even used a typewriter to set down his tomes–he blogged. And I have all 232 pages of it in his self published book.
For as long as I can remember, my grandfather was a storyteller. During visits, there was always a time when we kids would gather round grandpa and he would tell us his stories.
With adults, it was the same way. If there was a crowd around someone at a gathering– you could be assured that Ben Sbraccia was in the middle of it—telling stories. He had a way about him.
He was always writing. He produced pages of handwritten material. And sometime in the late 60’s– he decided to set it all down in that era’s version of a blog— his autobiography.
To read his autobiography today– is to read a blog. There is no real narrative. It’s a stream of consciousness exercise that follows his life from early childhood up to the time it was published in 1973.
…Like any good blog, it’s filled with pictures—
—Pictures that are now an historical record.
He had no qualms writing about things intensely personal– nor did he hide his unabashed patriotism for the United States. Although he was born in Italy— his words make it clear he considered himself to be fiercely American in all thoughts, words and deeds. That’s why he apparently dabbled in politics as a younger man.
My paternal grandfather died at age 94. His poetry, writings and pictures now sit on a bookshelf in my home. There are very few copies of the book he paid dearly to publish.
Had he encountered the Internet, I believe he would have embraced it– delighted with the fact that he could put his musings out there, instantly– for all the word to see.
I believe he would have eagerly pushed the button on his blog marked “PUBLISH” with gusto, every day…
So, as I send this to the net– this one’s for you Ben Sbraccia!
— Steve for Ben
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