Written Word Wednesday ~ Clues for Our Descendents

Please take the time today to write a "handwritten" note.  Whether it be in a formal journal or on a scrap of paper just write a little something about yourself, what you did today, the weather, or maybe what you had for dinner.  We all appreciate the handwritten notes we find from our ancestors and how it gives us clues to their lives.  Lets do the same so our descendants will also have available to them a clue into our lives.  We may not think our lives are anything special. Most of us have a very set routine. . . work, dinner, bed, then back to work the next day and so on.  What do we do on the weekends when we have more free time? What tv shows do we watch routinely?  How many hours do we spend searching clues to our ancestors lives? What family members do you feel closest to?   What do you wish was asked on the census records of our ancestors but wasn't?  Write about that tidbit of information about you.  It may be easier if you are writing "to" someone as opposed to just statements. What if you wrote a note TO your descendants?  "Dear Descendants ... whomever you may be.. I'm writing this so you will have a peek into my life ... "   Wow.. if I found a note like that from an ancestor of mine!  I would love it .. to know they were thinking about the future. While we may think our life isn't interesting ... I bet our ancestors thought the same thing about theirs.  So write your note, a handwritten note,  and tuck it away for others to find when you are no longer here.

Warm Regards,
  

Written Word Wednesday ~ Handwriting

So many of us are thrilled when we find handwritten documents from one of our ancestors.  Especially those notes with just random thoughts or what the writer was doing that day.  It's the simple things that my ancestors did that intrigue me. .. was it sunny out?  were there children running around outside?  is there an ice cream truck going by with it's music playing?  who did they talk to on the phone that day?  Wouldn't it be fun if we all found a written note from an ancestor.. lets say ... three generations back?  Three generations back would take me to the mid-1800's.  I would love to read something written by my great great grandparents.  I'd love to read what a typical day was for them.  What did they serve for dinner?  What was the family like and who talked to who.   

So .. with all that being said I am going to put more focus on keeping my journaling up. I began writing in journals for four special people in my life about fifteen years ago. Yes.. that's four separate journals with my individual thoughts for each person. I keep them tucked away, but close by, and know they will be found when I'm gone. I went back and read what I wrote years ago and its amazing what was going on at the time.  I'm so glad I enjoy writing.

"Written Word Wednesday" is going to remind me that it's time to write. . . write something... anything.  I think the written word is disappearing and I find that sad.  I don't want it to go away.  With all of us blogging and texting, no one receives, or sends, anything handwritten anymore.  I want my descendants to know about how I lived and what my handwriting looked like.  

So I am going back to my writing and I will post a snippet of what I write. Something to indicate that I'm keeping up with my journal writing.  I hope many of you will join me.  So whether you write in a journal or send an actual letter off in the mail I think it will be fantastic if we all brought back the written word and then shared about it in our blog.  I'd love to hear your story on how you are bringing back the written word for your decedents.

"Wednesday, June 20, 2012

There's a cool breeze and it's about 68°.  We just celebrated Father's Day this past Sunday and I had some of the family over; Mark, Cassie, Marcus, Matthew, and three of their friends, Mr. and Mrs. Craig and their son Darren.  We BBQ'd and enjoyed the pool.  It was a lot of fun.  I'm sorry it's been a long time since I've written in my journal and for that I feel bad.  I will do my best to keep up with my writings.  

 Much Love  .  .  .  " 

Warm Regards,  

An Amazing Treasure I Found Tucked Away . . .

As I was going through my Mother's things, after her death, I found tucked away, an envelope with her home address hand written on it.  It struck me because we seldom find hand written anything any more.  It was addressed at an old address of her's, where she lived when she was in her 20's.  The envelope was a bit wrinkled which I felt added character.   Here was a part of my Mom's past.  This letter had been air mailed to her.  I opened the envelope and carefully pulled out the letter that was placed inside.  As I read it, I got a sense it was from an old friend. As I continued reading I found it was from a gentleman that was apologizing to my Mother for his behavior.  The gentleman goes on to explain that his Mother had told him she knew my Mother was seeing another man. He goes on to let my Mother know that he will let her be and for her to enjoy this other man's company. The letter appeared sweet and had a sense of innocence about it.  This letter was written by a young man who was in the Army and stationed in Korea.  He talks a bit about things he's seen.  This letter was dated July 6, 1946.  The other man that my Mother was seeing was my Father.  :)   I'm so glad I found this letter and was able to get a peek into my Mom's past.. at a time when her and my Dad had just begun dating.  My Mom and Dad married in August of 1950.  So through this letter I've learned that they dated three years before marriage.   What a fantastic find.  Thanks Mom for saving this letter for so long.   Well, I took this letter one step further.  I researched the name of the writer of this letter and found he was still alive and not far from me.  I did the unthinkable.  Hee Hee .  Through the use of the internet I was able to find this man's phone number.  I kept hesitating but then decided to call him.  If he were alive, he would be in his 80's. I made the call and unbelievably I was able to speak to him!  I tried to explain who I was, and that I found a letter he had written to my Mother over 60 years ago.  He chuckled when I explained who I was.  He didn't recall my Mother.  I read the letter to him, hoping to jog his memory but it didn't.  He did say it sounded like a letter he would write. He was amazed that my Mother had kept this letter for so long.  We talked about how he must have been important to her.  I asked if he wanted a copy of the letter and he shared that he would.  It was such a wonderful experience to reach out and find someone that once was part of my Mother's life when she was so young.   It was a wonderful find.  Thank you Mom! 

Warm Regards,