Stories, passed down by word of mouth are a funny thing in the way that they can change drastically, over time. If you are as old as me (older than dirt), then you will have experienced this in your own time, either with stories told about you, or with stories that you’ve heard about other people that are simply not true. The core ingredient in any believable story is that it have some element that either is true, or could be true. One story I can think of readily, is a relative saying that I had an advanced degree in a subject that I do not. It is within the realm of possibility that I could have earned that degree, yet, I did not. I hate exaggerations. I feel that I am enough, just being who I am, and just having actually done all that I have done!
Yesterday, while visiting with family members, I again realized the importance of stories. We want to remember something of our “people,” because who they were will always be a part of who we are.

There will always be those who did wonderful things, worth remembering, and there may also be family members who were less honorable. In any large and extended family, there is a mix of soldier and scoundrel, achiever and ne’er do well. That is how it should be, human nature being what it is.

I encourage you to write down EVERYTHING you know about your own family members and their history, including their medical history – what conditions they suffered from, and how and at what age they died.

So much family history becomes no longer available, or no longer viagra cialis levitra available when any of us passes. We take each day for granted and expect to be around, and we don’t think how much correct information will mean, in the future, to those of our descendants who have access to it.

An ideal family history should include photos. If you have a large family, this project could easily blossom into a multi-notebook affair. Someone has said, “When a man dies, he takes a book with him.” If you can leave information about how things were when you were growing up, the details of daily life that are not in the history books, you will be providing a great service to future generations.

With my first grandchild about to be born, I am considering doing more writing on the topic of family history and my own personal history. At least if the stories are in writing, there will be less chance of them becoming transfigured to the point that they are no longer true.

Food for thought…

Patricia

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