Through My Lens

<p>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. </p><p>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'. </p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Author's Foreword:</strong>   </p><p>When I wrote my book <em>Unlocking the Tin Box</em> 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 '<em>through my lens'</em> 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.</p><p>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 2<sup>nd</sup> 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. </p><p>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. </p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>Family Info: </p><p>Ronald Robinson 1906-1973 (father who raised me); Gunvor Berglund 1910-1983 (mother);Harold Larsen 1916-1984 (biological father)</p><p><br></p><p> </p><p><br></p>