Through My Lens'is an in depth account that takes a look back through the depression, the second world war and into the eighties by examining newspaper accounts. Gwynne Hunt has woven a creative fictional story linking newspaper clippings of the era together.
There was an unsettling past, she knew that. What she did not know was the shocking stories she would find through her research. Her mother rebelled from a strict upbringing and religion and after the loss of seven children went down a path that led her to alcoholism. Her stepfather who she grew up believing was her real father was a murder suspect, a drug dealer, a vagrant and a thief. In 1947 the largest drug deal to ever hit the West Coast involved her stepfather, his wife and stepson. In later years his ex-wife was called the 'Big Boss of Powell Street'. Everyone knew 'Marie Robinson'.
Through family accounts and detailed written stories, Gwynne found out, long after the fact that her real father was a good friend or her stepfather and visited them often. Somehow the three of them; her mother Gunvor, her stepfather Ron and her real father Harold stumbled together along life's pathways for many, many years. It is a true story with many fictionalized accounts.
Author's Foreword:
When I wrote my book Unlocking the Tin Box in 2019, it was an autobiography, telling the story of not only my life, but of my parents as well. I have done more genealogy research since then and have uncovered a history I was not aware of before. I decided to tell the story of my parents 'through my lens' based on my research. They are no longer here to ask how they felt or exactly what happened but there is a lot of information, memories, and family gossip to fill in the pieces.
I did not discover until I was 69 that my father Ronald Robinson was not my biological father. Despite family rumours over the years I was devastated. Ronald was English and I grew up believing I came from my Swedish mother and my English father. Ron had me convinced I descended from royalty. Through three DNA tests I found out I have no English DNA in my line but am Swedish and Danish. I found many DNA connected relatives. A new family of sorts, although nobody wanted to celebrate the birth of a new 69-year-old girl in their lives. One 2nd cousin, who I am still in touch with sent me a lot of family history. A few other cousins and a nephew provided information, but we do not keep in touch often. I understand that. I barely keep in touch with most of the relatives I grew up with.
I have had a few years now to put the story of my life in perspective and want to honour my parents; all three of them, by telling their stories. Their lives were complicated by World War I and II, the Great Depression, poverty, alcoholism, and families who did not understand them, disowned them, abused them, and abandoned them.
When I found out my biological father was Harold Larsen, I also found out some of his family members did not even know he existed. After comparing notes with the few that did know him, I discovered I knew more about him then they did. I only knew him in life as my father's best friend who my mother hated. As I said, it is complicated. They all impacted my life in profound ways, for at their core, each of them was wise, kind and loving.
Family Info:
Ronald Robinson 1906-1973 (father who raised me); Gunvor Berglund 1910-1983 (mother);Harold Larsen 1916-1984 (biological father)
