Write About Grandparents

 Family History, How-to, Journal writing, Memories, Narratives in Scrapbooks, Sharing Memories, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing about Memories  No Responses »
May 172013
 
Missing grandparents

Growing up without their grandparents has impacted my kids’ lives. Even fifteen years later after their deaths, it can be hard to write about them.

Memories of grandparents are a treasure. That’s why it’s so important to write about grandparents when we preserve our stories.

Not everyone has had the privilege of knowing any, much less all, of their grandparents. The luckier among us grew up in the same town as their grandparents and have had (or had) them as a part of  everyday life. Continue reading »

How to Create a Written Time Capsule

 Family History, How-to, Journal writing, Memories, Sharing Memories, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing about Memories  No Responses »
May 132013
 

My Time Capsule When we’re anticipating a milestone event, we focus on the event itself, not what is going on in the world around us.  Later on, however, it’s fun to look back in context of what was happening in the world around us. For those that read about our memories decades later, such a written time capsule can increase understanding of the event itself. An understanding of the historical context will definitely help readers visualize the days surrounding the event.

Some people enjoy making an actual time capsule. If you have the time and inclination, a simple Google search will yield many instructions like this one from the Library of Congress. Another good idea is to use a Pinterest board to illustrate the circumstances surrounding the event. (See Pinterest Primer.)

You don’t necessarily need to find time to write or journal about current events while you’re planning your wedding or in between Lamaze classes. You may have to wrack your brain a little more if you’re writing to fill in historical context later, but constructing a written time capsule with the benefit of hindsight also gives you an idea of what trends and devices have become iconic. Hint: Internet search engines can be a big help if you can’t quite remember something.

Format: Of course, beautifully written, logically constructed paragraphs will always be appreciated, but this is a time when bullet lists will also work nicely.

What to include in your Time Capsule on a Page

In the newsConsider headlines in news magazines. What important events are going on in the world? Who is in office? Are there any major stories breaking locally?

Mention a couple of status quo’s. What’s the price of gasoline? How much does it cost to fly or buy a Coca-cola? What has the weather been like?

Home

A glimpse of my mother’s kitchen.

What’s your home like? Who lives there? If you look around in your living room or kitchen, what do you see? Is it immaculate? Cozy? Uncluttered? Give others a taste.

Include fashion trends.This is easier in hindsight because we know what has really gone out of style. Just think of the 1980’s for example—big hair, big glasses, shoulder pads, etc. What styles do you favor? Is there a particular style that is absolute torture for you?

Write about friendships. We think we’ll always be close to all of our friends, but the truth is friendships ebb and flow. Who do (did) you lean on? Rant to? With whom do (did) you share secrets? Drink? Play sports? Commiserate?

Include photos if you can. Though I looked (and probably was) totally peeved at my mother taking a picture of me with a hair dryer on my head and green gook on my face on the morning of my wedding day, I like having it now (not enough to share it though). Snap a few photos or dig through your archives to shed light on the days around your big event. You can also pose some shots, like one of yourself surrounded by your favorite things (or people).

Try jotting down some notes about what was happening when you were born, graduated from high school or college, got married, or had your first child.

Add Comment Icon Do You Have Other Ideas or Comments? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

© Laura Hedgecock 2013

An Actual Treasure Chest of Memories

 Memories, Memory Recall, Sharing Memories, Uncategorized, Writing  No Responses »
Apr 242013
 
my grandpa's treasure chest of memories

My Grandpa’s “Treasure” Chest

My actual treasure chest of memories is my brain.  Since I’ve had a MRI, I guess theoretically, I could scan and embed a picture of it. However, as the radiologist’s report spelled out that my brain was “unremarkable,” I’ll spare us all the embarrassment. Continue reading »

Keep Your Dates, Part 2

 Family History, Genealogy, Memories, Scrapbooking, Writing, Writing about Memories  No Responses »
Feb 222013
 

Those who read your memories in years to come will greatly appreciate the addition of dates and/or landmark events that transpired during the same time frame.

Don't have a clue as to what the date was? Postmarks reveal a wealth of information.

Don’t have a clue as to what the date was? Postmarks reveal a wealth of information.

This doesn’t mean you have to know or research the exact date. Keep in mind that historical reference points are not simply dates or decades. They are any references that orient your reader to the environment in which your narrative occurred. It could be post-wartime, depression, during civil rights demonstrations, or during a certain phase of a lifetime, such as “when the kids were still in diapers….”or “before cars were equipped with turn indicators…” Such added detail not only gives your memories more texture, they help assure that your readers will fully understand the story you’re telling.

You can also give historical perspective by the vocabulary you use. Maintaining terms that were common to that time period will help convey the essence of that time. Although we don’t have them today, we all understand what sanatoriums, speak-easies, general stores, and cable cars were. Likewise, though few of us use the term “groovy” on a daily basis, using it in a story about the 60’s can help your reader transport themselves to that period in time.

As you write about your memories, try to illuminate your narratives with time references and historical perspective.Even if your recall is not precise, the more information your readers have, the greater the ease with which their imaginations can accompany you on your walks down Memory Lane.

© Laura Hedgecock 2011

Writing about the Past: Keep Your Dates

 Family History, Genealogy, How-to, Memories, Scrapbooking, Uncategorized, Writing, Writing about Memories  No Responses »
Feb 202013
 

Important date Including Time References

The stories we write to annotate our scrapbooks and family trees might be timeless, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t benefit from the addition of a date or two. Genealogists in particular love dates, with good reason. It’s not simply the fact that they eliminate the blank spots on our cascading pedigree charts—they also give us historical perspective.

Awareness of the time periods in which ancestors lived can fill in details between the bare facts provided by comparatively bland church, military, and government records.

However, genealogists are not the only ones that benefit from the inclusion of dates. Writers of both fiction and non-fiction use historical perspective to give their readers insight into characters lives, allowing readers to infer or “fill in” details based on the circumstances of time and place.

This is one example of the need for a historical reference. Though it looks much older, this photo was taken in the mid-80’s

This is one example of the need for a historical reference. Though it looks much older, this photo was taken in the mid-80’s

When writing about the past, time can be as important as place in providing a setting. For instance, my husband’s grandfather was a linesman for the telephone company. Without any historical context, you’d imagine him to be like linesmen you see working today. However, with the additional information that he was a linesman in the 1920’s,  your imagination takes a different turn. You might see him more as he perhaps saw himself—a trailblazer, making the way for the inevitable progress of technology.

Including even a brief amount of historical context not only helps orient your reader, but also lends a deeper understanding of why events may have happened as they did.

Tip:

You might not remember exactly what year something took place, but by adding such information as “when the twins were still in diapers,” or “back before cell-phones, when you could actually find a working public phone,” you’ve given your readers a wealth of additional information on which they can base their visual images.

(c) Laura Hedgecock.

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