Why didn't I WRITE MORE?
Documenting life's travels has always been with me in a pictorial sense. My children always referred to me as the paparazzi. I have taken thousands of pictures over the years. Back in the day, I used an "Instamatic" camera that held the film in a cartridge that I mailed to Kodak, 10 days later an envelope of snapshots would arrive in the mail box. Then I graduated to a manual load 35mm Pentax that a friend gave me. That was certainly more challenging to use, but when I got the settings right, the prints were beautiful. I am sure real pros still load film, and don't rely on digital imaging, but I think anyone can agree, we have come a long way baby, documentation of events is unbelievable.
Thinking of the community's question, "If you could go back in time and change one thing in your life, what would it be?" My first thought was, "absolutely nothing." I am a blessed soul, my heart is full, I have many that love me for who I am. A #silverblogger😎🤓😁
I am, who I am, I live life with all the gusto I can muster on any given day, I try not to judge others, I forgive easily and I never give up hope, I'm a fighter.
My journey through life has been an interesting one, at least I think so. I've always assumed those that mattered to me would know my story. But what about my past ?
Maybe I should have drawn the family tree, at least filled in the names of my grand parents and great-grand parents, my roots, so my children and grand children would have this History at their fingertips.
A tree is only as strong as it's roots, our roots start with family.
Why did I not write it down?
Was I so sure my memory would not fail me?
So far, my memory has been faithful to me. Back in 1968...
I was in 8th grade, my best friend gave me a journal. Thrilled, I happily put on paper my feelings and thoughts, I would also do small drawings, cutesy stuff, lots of hearts and flowers. But as a young woman and as a mother, time kept slipping through my fingers, days turned into weeks, then months, then years. Very little was written.
I wish I had written a few notes, or key words with dates and places.
Shame on me, write it down.
I have documented some special events, I have written down in hard covered books some of our story. I will re-double my efforts to leave a trail. There is no better feeling than knowing, our story will be told for generations to come.
If it boils down to one thing I would change, it would be documenting life through words in a journal. I want whomever holds that journal to feel my love, no matter how old the paper is.
When my mom passed away, I was lucky enough to inherit her knitting basket. Although there were no written words, there was a profound feeling of her presence, her knitting needles and her half finished projects touched my soul.
My daughter Erica is getting married Oct. 2, 2021, just around the corner. She asked me to find some old photos of her grand parents to display at her reception. She wants a "in memory of" table to honor those who have since passed but are still in our hearts.
Sweet gesture, I thought. So up in the attic I went to search the numerous boxes of photos. I pulled out some great pictures but what was really interesting was this hand written letter from my grandmother to my mother. My grandmother, who passed away when I was just 4y/o, was visiting her daughter (my mom's younger sister) in North Carolina. My aunt had just given birth to her first child and was living in Army housing in North Carolina, while my uncle trained to be a paratrooper.
Love the hand writing, so intimate. Check out the posting date.
Oct. 15, 1956, Fayetteville, N.C.
Dear Elaine, (my mom) "How's Mike? (my older brother)
Love mom, (my grandmother)
You could send a letter across the country for 3 cents back in 1956. There were no zip codes. But of course, it took a much longer delivery time.
My mom in 1937, age 6.
So now I am on a quest to preserve some more of our story. To share the memories even when I am gone.
I cherish these hand written messages, I to will share these books with the generations to come.
Derrick was my third son, born during the 1983 super bowl, January 31st. No kidding, my water broke at half time. I was bummed, it was a good game but the halftime show was what I waited for, loved the glitz and glamour, the music and showmanship . The million dollar commercials added to the excitement.
I know that I have told this story to Derrick, but what about his children, my grandchildren, will they know this little fact about their dad and their Grammy? They will now.
Memories of this nature are priceless and recording them will allow others to enjoy them as well.
My mom would give books as gifts to her grand children. She always added her personal touch , her writing.
I repeated those warm gestures, and sent some memories back her way.
I will write in books to tell our story, that I hope will inspire my family, to live life to it's fullest, to know and feel the wonders of this world. To appreciate nature, and accept life with all it's warts.
Our love has bonded us together for all time. Life will go on, even after death.
Although I can't turn back the clock and record in detail some of the memories that have faded by the passing of time, I have started to leave a trail of my life once again. I hope to continue doing so, both in journals and here on the #hive blockchain.
When the time comes...Remember
Life is unfolding as it should.
BE INSPIRED, SHARE THE LOVE.
Jackie O'Silver
Simply stunning response, filled with gratitude, nostalgia, love and all the good things in life! Those letters are so precious aren't they, gorgeous photo of your Mom, she must have been a beauty!
I felt much like you with this challenge as I would have missed out on so much had a gone on another career path!
Thank you for this masterpiece Jackie O'Silver:)
Oh my friend @lizelle, you always make me feel good with your kind words. Thank you.
You are so right about "what if I had taken another path in life"? I feel the same way you do, I may not have met the man of my dreams, which surely would have changed everything I am now so grateful for.
#silverbloggers is turning out to be a big hit, Yipeeeee!
Good luck with your documenting! I did this a lot when I was younger, in my 20s or so. Not so much anymore. I occasionally foray into online family tree hunting, but it's a bitch to try and find anything on those sites. I only know the ancestors as far back as who got off the boat for the European parts, and who was the last full-blooded Mi'kmaq person for the indigenous parts. And neither of those are very long ago. Thankfully I did pick my grandmother's brain about that stuff years ago, and I wrote down what she told me! :)
!BEER
One of my sisters is trying to do the family tree on my mother's side. She says the same thing about Ancestry.com, tough to navigate, but I am happy she's giving it a whirl. I wrote down a lot of info when I was young also, but once I started my family, phew, that went by the wayside, too many other things to do.
Those letters are precious. I, can remember the day we found them in your parent's attic.
Great post kid!
Oh yes, those letters are precious, so glad you appreciate them as much as I do. xo
A wonderful family post here filled with memories and you are certainly leaving a trail Lady Jacky O Silver.
Thankfully I have a trail here for the past 4 years with my posts, so that's not too bad.
This is a great entry and good luck.
!LUV and !PIZZA
@farm-mom! I sent you a slice of $PIZZA on behalf of @papilloncharity.
Learn more about $PIZZA Token at hive.pizza (5/10)
So touching nice piece
Thanks so much. Life seems to just fly by and I want to leave my story for those that come after me.
Nice of you to drop by.
Enjoy the day!
What a beautiful response Jackie O'Silver, just looove it! Thank you for this awesome #bow.
It is my pleasure to be part of this awesome new community.
Time to write, we most definitely lose this while bringing the children up!
Fortunately documenting later may save the day. Holiday photographs (yes the old click, click then sent to laboratory and wait...) I put into photo holders with normal paper so I could write date, place and some detail or all would be lost.
My Mom kept diaries which have led me find out more, sadly here in South Africa record keeping is not a strength at all.... Birthday cards and big event days I have stored, again hopefully one member in the family may take interest one day.
Family tree I have on my Dad's side as far as I was able and shared into the families, only my nephew took up the challenge of trying to add extra.
I think that's what happens with all moms, never enough time when you're busy taking care of the little ones.
As well as the house, laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, homework, sport events, school projects...PHEW!
Talk about multitasking, forget about the name "mom", wonder woman is more fitting don't ya think?
Wash, rinse, repeat...laundry was always my biggest complaint. Drove me crazy.
So before I completely lose my mind 🙄, I am taking the time now to "write".
Nice to hear from you @joanstewart, have a wonderful day my friend. Leave the laundry until tomorrow.😁
Yeah Wonder Woman chief cook and bottle washer, never changed here with all three men still loitering around, perhaps one day some time for self. Writing in between is my escape, thoroughly enjoy everything crypto and blogging, did leave the laundry today the machine told me so....
Well have yourself an amazing Saturday Eve and keep smiling... So I tell myself 🤣
Thank you for sharing your lovely memoirs, @farm-mom yes, one always has little regrets in life for not pursuing certain things,really enjoyed reading your lovely post, it brought up some of my own memories to the surface. Have a great day.
I think this week's #bow question was an excellent choice, thought provoking and intimate. Really got my memory into high gear, loved it!
That's what I like about this platform. The topics make you think. I feel it is a healing process as well. Thank you @farm-mom you had a great post.
So many memories....
@farm-mom, you were given LUV from @papilloncharity. About LUV: https://peakd.com/@luvshares http://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmUptF5k64xBvsQ9B6MjZo1dc2JwvXTWjWJAnyMCtWZxqM
It's taken me a while to get here, and I'm so glad I did. Eventually. Diaries, journals and musings are so underrated. And letters? I loved them. My parents came to South Africa in 1966 and my mother would write to Granny every week. And Granny, to her. I remember the blue aerograms arriving in the post and recognising Granny's handwriting. We waited for "our" letters at Christmas and birthdays. And for the notes in the books she'd send. When my Mum died and I found the family photos, I lamented that I didn't know who was in many of the photographs or when or where they were taken. I went through as many as possible with my Dad before he went to join Mum eleven months later, and made notes on the back of them. In the next few years and before digital photos, I became quite obsessed on writing on the back of photos, the information I had sought when I was going through those old photos.
I lament not allowing myself to write. I though I had nothing to say. Now, in my late 50s, I discover I have a lot to say. I write more (and for work), but not enough for me...time...and remain amazed that people read it.
Look forward to your writings. What a legacy for your family.
Good morning @fionasfavourites. Not enough time!!! For me that's it in a nutshell. Raising a family is a full time job, then throw in a second shift job (I went to work when the hubby came home) Changing of the guards so to speak. So to find time to document my day, nope had to sleep.
But now being retired my focus has changed and I finally have some extra time. #silverbloggers has reminded me of that, enjoy every minute and "show off" your skills. Take some ME time and write on the back of old photos, keep a journal and share your family History with the younger crew.
It's cool that you remember your grandmother's hand writing. I have since found some other old letters from the 1950's, among them I found 2 love letters from my dad to my mom before they were married. So sweet, I cried, my dad worshiped my mom.
Now that we have this platform, documenting events from the past and the present is really awesome.
The journals I am now writing are for the more personal thoughts.
Thanks for stopping over my friend, always a pleasure.
Have a blessed day.
I get you on the time - and the inclination. And now...
I have my Mum's recipe book. It has three generations' writing in it. Hers, mine and granny's. I mentioned it once in a blog and am now wondering if that's still around. Will have to look and see whether it's on the blockchain and no longer on my WP blog.
Be well!
good 👍
Hello. Apologies I missed your story. How heartfelt your memories are. It's never too late to start. I found myself without a history to give to my children. I've had to piecemeal our life before me. But I've vowed I won't leave them with nothing.
I'm putting together a scrapbook for each child to have of their own. It's their own beginning, then incorporate into each family memories.
I love old letters. I have noted my kids wrote when they were young that they've forgotten. I'll place those in their books took.
It was so much fun reading them again. It made me laugh about someone stealing the report cards, lol. What child wants a report card with a bad grade on it no less! Oh, the stories I have to tell along with the notes. I know they've forgotten them. It's hard to keep up with made up, last minute untruths!
Thank you so much for sharing your family story.