I consider myself a very lucky man on many different levels. I have a wonderful, amazing husband, supportive family and friends, and I am starting my dream career of writing (even at the age of 43, so again let me say it's never too late to pursue your dreams) and I have a wealth of family history on every side of my family tree. Not everyone is fortunate enough to know about their families history, some don't care to know and some don't have the information to even start the search.
We attended a family reunion today at the lake for my mother's mom's side of the family. This is the third family reunion we have attended this summer. And yes, I am one of the ones that does enjoy them. I love hearing all the stories of the way things used to be, or about ancestor's and their rich and sometimes lurid past. To me its all relative; we are all on our own journey through life and I don't know of anyone who has made a perfect decision in their life.
Some of my cousins are avid genealogy scholars and do not miss an opportunity to obtain information from people attending the reunion or even when we go to cities or areas where our families came from, they will listen to stories from elderly people who remember something of interest from our families history. And yes, we even have some outlaws in our history who used to hang with the likes of Pretty Boy Floyd in the Cookson Hills. I could go on and on about my families unique and interesting history, but that would end up being a book length blog. I guess what I wanted to get off my mind is if you are one of the fortunate ones who have people left in your life that knows of your history, reach out to them, record it before it is lost forever.
I have grown up listening to my grandfather, George, tell stories about my ancestors. Let me tell you this man is a natural born story teller. I think I come by it honestly. But I got to thinking a few years ago and told Clay, if I don't start getting these stories down, they may soon be lost to us forever. So one day when we were sitting on the front porch with my grandparent's at their home, I took my iPhone out and started asking my grandfather questions (that is all it really takes to get him going on his stories) and he started telling me some wonderful stories, the ones I grew up loving to hear. The difference is I got them recorded. It is only his voice, but its still being preserved.
Reach out to your loved ones and get them telling you about your families colorful roots. If you cant, then start making your own version of preservation of your life. I know someone will be glad you did.
Have a peaceful night!
Johnny Bryan Ward
We attended a family reunion today at the lake for my mother's mom's side of the family. This is the third family reunion we have attended this summer. And yes, I am one of the ones that does enjoy them. I love hearing all the stories of the way things used to be, or about ancestor's and their rich and sometimes lurid past. To me its all relative; we are all on our own journey through life and I don't know of anyone who has made a perfect decision in their life.
Some of my cousins are avid genealogy scholars and do not miss an opportunity to obtain information from people attending the reunion or even when we go to cities or areas where our families came from, they will listen to stories from elderly people who remember something of interest from our families history. And yes, we even have some outlaws in our history who used to hang with the likes of Pretty Boy Floyd in the Cookson Hills. I could go on and on about my families unique and interesting history, but that would end up being a book length blog. I guess what I wanted to get off my mind is if you are one of the fortunate ones who have people left in your life that knows of your history, reach out to them, record it before it is lost forever.
I have grown up listening to my grandfather, George, tell stories about my ancestors. Let me tell you this man is a natural born story teller. I think I come by it honestly. But I got to thinking a few years ago and told Clay, if I don't start getting these stories down, they may soon be lost to us forever. So one day when we were sitting on the front porch with my grandparent's at their home, I took my iPhone out and started asking my grandfather questions (that is all it really takes to get him going on his stories) and he started telling me some wonderful stories, the ones I grew up loving to hear. The difference is I got them recorded. It is only his voice, but its still being preserved.
Reach out to your loved ones and get them telling you about your families colorful roots. If you cant, then start making your own version of preservation of your life. I know someone will be glad you did.
Have a peaceful night!
Johnny Bryan Ward
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