BALTIMORE SUN
Arundel Edition

Grandmother’s touching tale becomes a grandson’s labor of love 

By Nancy Gallant
Special to the Sun

John Snyder always enjoyed visiting his grandmother, Anna Snyder, in the Allegany County town of LaVale.  Sitting at her kitchen table, drinking a cup of coffee, they would exchange stories of family life, now and long ago.

Over the years, Snyder came to appreciate the rich legacy of love and history his grandmother was sharing with him.  In his words, “There are so many interesting stories older people can tell us.  And if we don’t record them, those stories will be lost.”

Three years ago, the Gambrills resident asked his grandmother to relate the story of her most memorable Christmas.  The tale she told was so incredible, he felt it had to be shared. 

Every Christmas since her childhood, she had taken a small golden ring from her jewelry box and cherished its message of love.  For 80 years, she had kept within her heart the memories that made this ring so special.  And now, it was time to pass on its history.

So Snyder began to write.  At first, he says he planned a simple story for his family.  But the tale so inspired him that it became a novel.   For three years, he worked on “The Golden Ring,” searching for the words to bring his grandmother’s memories to life and overseeing the book’s publication.

He worked feverishly to complete the book because his grandmother had become ill.   Snyder’s goal was to show her the novel.  In November, it was complete and Snyder was able to present his grandmother the finished book.  She knew then that her memories of love would live on.  A few days after Snyder’s visit, his grandmother passed away.

Anna Snyder grew up in the small town of Meyersdale, Pa., one of six children in a lively, loving family.  Her father was a railroad engineer whose relationship with his quite middle daughter had always been precious, even during ordinary times.

But the extraordinary events surrounding her ninth Christmas, in 1918, make up the O. Henry kind of story that Snyder relates in his book.  Although the events transpired 81 years ago, the story speaks to the hearts of 1999.

“The Golden Ring” is available at many local bookstores, on the Internet through Amazon.com, or on the book’s Web site at www.thegoldenring.com, where visitors can see the first three chapters and leave comments.  The book can also be ordered by calling 410-721-4447.

Snyder is not an author by profession.  He operates a public relations firm.  And when he talked about publishing a book, he says, many people told him that it couldn’t be done.  His response; “Sometimes you’re better off not listening to people.”

Aside from running his business and helping raise his family, the project has been keeping him busy with marketing and book signings.  It is, after all a Christmas story, and there’s not a lot of time remaining before the holiday.

“In January.” He says, laughing, “I’m going to be sleeping a lot.”