This is one reason why I'm so involved with researching my family history. I want to remember the stories, to find them and write them down so that future generations will be able to understand where they came from.
My paternal grandmother denied the existence of her extended family for most of her life because she'd had a rift with her mother. My maternal grandfather rarely spoke about his past because of the horrors he witnessed during the wars in which he served. Thanks to other family members and the records now available on the Internet, I've managed to piece together their stories, but nothing can substitute for a person telling their own history.
The next time an older relative says "When I was young" please listen to them, before the story gets lost forever.
Great advise!!
ReplyDeleteVery wise idea, I wish more people in my families would have written things down to help us remember and share in their experiences.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. There is nothing like hearing it first hand, and it makes the writing of the stories so much more realistic. laurie
ReplyDeleteI agree. I find it fascinating learning about where my family comes from. I believe our past and ancestors shape who we are in many ways.
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