Issue 27.14
It is important to document the lives of your ancestors so that their descendents can learn more about their roots. The same principle applies to your own life. While my teenage granddaughter was visiting recently, I made some time to introduce her to my father who died when I was a small child, 69 years ago. Of course, she knew nothing of him, but I was able to show her some photos of him and share his history that I had written.
Writing my dad’s life story brought me closer to him as I came to know his personality, and what was important to him. That’s all I have, as a 5 year old remembers little from their childhood experiences. Once I had gathered all the information I could find about my father, I interviewed those individuals who knew him starting with his parents-my grandparents. I still have an audio tape that they made answering a series of questions I had about my dad. Discovering letters he had written to my mom while they were courting and newlyweds, gave me a feeling of his personality and concerns. All of this I compiled into a history of his life along with photos and old certificates, etc. to publish in a printed book which I carefully edited for interest and length to somehow capture his essence. You want your readers to be interested enough to read a family history, but not bored.
Then how to share this information about your past? In our day and time, there are many ways to share your histories digitally by utilizing the Internet to present excerpts of someone’s life or photos on websites such as www.familysearch.org or www. ancestry.com plus hundreds of other sites. Even a blog or Facebook can be utilized to upload a photo or link to a website with more information. I have used my own blog, see http://www.lettersfromlin.blogspot.com to share excerpts of my family’s history. It’s also possible to change your document file into a pdf format then copy it onto a CD/DVD or attach this type of file to an email to send to an interested family member.
During summer, many of us will be attending reunions which are a perfect place to share your family’s past. Don’t ignore those quiet moments alone with a close family member or grandchild to open your mouth and share your memories of your roots.
NEXT TIME: Overcome Your Fears. . I’m looking for stories about your parents to publish in my column. How did their lives effect you? What important principles did they teach you? Send your 200 word excerpts to lin@sunrivertoday.com or call 435 628-8522 for more info.