From my niece, Courtney… I never knew my maternal grandparents–my grandma died when my mom was 6, my Grandpa died the year before I was born. So the only way I’ve gotten to know them has been through stories–memories told to me by my mom. That is, until recently when I found out that my Grandpa kept a daily journal. My husband and I have been reading this record the last few months–starting at when my mom was five. What a great experience it has been! I’ve learned that my Grandpa was a sweet, hardworking man, I’ve learned that being a parent was hard, even 60 years ago. I’ve learned that I’m not the only one who gets a little irritated by the incessant questions of a preschooler.
I have those fascinating diaries of my dad’s on a bookshelf a few feet away. They date back to age 16, a very interesting age!… and include the war years when he and my mom were in South America, he as ageophysicist hunting oil for the US military during World II. The entries, though short, are a family treasure, and thanks to my sister, Courtney’s mom, many in the family have copies.Though my mom was hospitalized off and on for those 5 years preceding her passing, she was away far, far more than with us. Journals… a way of showing those who follow what life was really like, and perhaps why they had a perspective of life that they did / or do. kdm
for Courtney’s complete post… [i]
