Joan G. Ross

Joan Ross, my mother, wrote stories as a way to keep her mind busy. These stories were prompted in creative writing classes, literature classes and philosophy classes at Portland State University, which she attended well into her 80s. Some of the stories are humorous; some of disheartening: all are quintessential Joan with humor, sarcasm, sincerity, resistance and survival. They were written over a 5-8 year period; some typed as she struggled to learn to work with the computer, the majority handwritten in language and spelling that was not always grammatically correct given that English was not her native tongue. Yet the language is always full of excitement. Her naiveté as well as her cosmopolitanism come forth in a tone of a hard won life of adventure and simple and elaborate pleasures, all the while loving her friends, her children and her cat, Biscuit.

Born, Gertrude Appenzeller, in Vienna, Austria, Joan Ross had many interests, which kept her busy through her life, which included eating sweet rum-filled punchkrafen, skiing, traveling the world, designing and wearing fashionable clothes, and loving classical music, flowers, coffee éclairs and reading. Her travels took her to over thirty countries where she ate everything and admired the faces of all the people she came in contact with especially children. Even as Hitler ravaged her people and country, after she escaped to America, she is remembered for her defiant resilience and enticing sparkle.

Joan's stories honor her intelligence and creativity. Her desire to learn knew no boundaries and the stories are a small effort into unfamiliar creative territory. All of the stories are from her memories and told in many different ways. Such is the value of storytelling. And, there are many more stories. They are her gifts to our own memories. Servus.

If you are interested in reading any of the stories, you may contact her daughter at: rossj@pdx.edu.