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Across the Fence:  we are all future ancestors  |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 03 2005 : 04:17:23 AM
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i love stories from 'olden days' and about people who came before us .. and equally important, i believe, is to 'leave our stories' .. so that when our children and children's children .. and on and on in time .. look back and wonder about us .. they will know more than 'our name, perhaps our birth and death dates and what we did for a living'.
when gathering with girlfriends, i often ask them to tell us all they know about their parents, grandparents, great grandparents .. and most do not even know the full names of their great grandparents much less anything about their actual lives .. their hopes and dreams. and how many of us know anything at all (even the names of great, great grandparents) a few of us perhaps .. but to most, these people are simply a name and two dates on a tombstone.
stories are often written by 'others' about 'famous people' .. but even those are written from someone else's perspective. and when it comes to 'ordinary people' (and aren't we all devine!!!!!!) when we are gone .. years later, there may or may not be someone who 'remembers' some little thing about us and will tell the tale.
have a story to tell you: i went to a dinner in town a couple nights ago .. and i was RAVING about a Kentucky author who's books sell for $75. and upwards here in Kentucky .. she is definitely my most favorite author .. she wrote of early settlers/farmers to this land of "Kaintuckee" .. she has given a 'voice' to these people through her novels .. she has made them real. I believe she must have been an amazing woman and i wish i had known her .. well .. there was an older gentleman sitting next to me .. who did 'know OF her' .. and he told two stories about her .. one that she was 'demanding' when calling for telephone service ... HA! who of us has not 'demanded' from time to time when dealing with our local services!!! .. and sadly, the second thing he announced at the table was that she was an alcoholic. How unfortunate that these were the two things he remembered about her. And yes, they may (or may not) have been true. But she was so much more!!!!!
And I have met other people in town who did know her and have many kind things to say about her. By the way .. I asked him if he had ever read any of her books (and she wrote about 15 or 20 of them) .. and I was not at all surprized when he said "no".
Write your stories girlfriends .. let your future generations know YOU WERE HERE!!!!!!!!! And that you made a difference and that your genes run through their bodies and they are HERE because of YOU!
xo, frannie |
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Aunt Jenny
True Blue Farmgirl
11381 Posts
Jenny
middle of
Utah
USA
11381 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2005 : 07:34:52 AM
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I had to sit myself down a few years back and realise that I was only writing in my journal when I was upset, mad or hurt and that all my kids or grandkids would know in my own words about me would be the bad stuff. Now I purposely try to write on good days, about nice things and the joy in my life..there is lots of that and it just wasnt' coming through before. I guess there is still some griping and all but more of the best of my life and I hope that makes a difference. I love to hear people's stories too. Some folks never have a nice thing to say about anyone. I hope I never become that way. Life is too short to be negative.
Jenny in Utah
Put all your eggs in one basket..and then watch that basket!! Mark Twain |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2005 : 7:34:52 PM
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| jenny .. i think a lot of people write out their hurts .. and yes, it is so important to let our joyful side be known too .. i've suggested to girlfriends that they not deny their sad feelings .. but maybe tuck them away for a little while .. then revisit them later .. and if that pain is gone .. then have a ceremonial burning .. and save the good thoughts for our children. maybe this is not a total true picture of our lives .. but just save the ones that weren't written in anger or depression .. to be shared 'after we are gone'. |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Nov 03 2005 : 7:37:12 PM
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lori ... i love the photo journal idea .. and don't forget to paste in pictures of you at all your ages and stages of life to share. it's amazing to see the surprize on a friend's face when they see a photo of us from 25 or 35 years earlier .. and it's even more amazing to me to realize that our grandchildren never experienced us at those stages .. they know us only as we are 'today' and in the future.
p.s. what is IE tht is about to explode? |
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CabinCreek-Kentucky
True Blue Farmgirl
8529 Posts
Frannie
Green County
Kentucky
USA
8529 Posts |
Posted - Nov 06 2005 : 4:35:22 PM
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| lori .. that used to happen to me ... writing long 'epistles' and my computer would FREEZE up and i'd have to 'turn the power off' and lose everything! so .. now when i write a 'long one' ... i'll 'save' it .. for just in case! then! i got a new computer and haven't had this problem since. frannie |
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Across the Fence: we are all future ancestors |
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we are all future ancestors
