Johnny Bryan Ward - Author
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Coloring Those Roots

8/16/2014

4 Comments

 
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
4 Comments
Brenda
8/16/2014 10:47:47 am

Great idea! When the older generations leave us they take the stories with them unless someone has the foresight to record them.

Reply
Johnny
8/18/2014 10:43:15 am

It is true Brenda...the same people telling the stories to me today also talk about how they wished they had written down this story or that story because they can no longer remember the way it was told to them. I have already lost one grandmother and all of the stories she had to tell. I don't want to have to same regrets with any of my other family. So I try as I can to get the stories captured, even things like recipes that are my favorites they make. I wish the younger generation had the foresight to know who important their family history will be to them one day, but we also live in an age where memory recollection is something that is on the forefront of innovations and they will be able to pluck the stories we were told long ago out of our heads and....what, this is sounding an awful lot like a futuristic novel isn't it. Just collect what memories you cherish while you can.

Reply
Misty Henderson
8/18/2014 01:31:40 am

I would LOVE to have a recording of him telling stories!

Reply
Johnny
8/18/2014 10:44:14 am

I will do what I can to get those for you Misty. He is such a dynamic story teller. I want to get him on video as well telling them. That is my next project with him.

Reply



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    Johnny Bryan Ward is an author of adult Urban Fantasy novels and award-winning journalist.

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