Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: MEMORY LANE (04/23/20)
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TITLE: State of Mine | Previous Challenge Entry
By Debra Brand
04/30/20 -
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Trying to obtain genealogical information from my mom is difficult. At 95, blind in one eye and blurred in the other is quite a challenge.
Years ago, she researched her family tree. Before there were computers, internet, and free long-distance phone calls, she explored archives of microfilm and church records. Numerous calls were placed to close relatives. She would drag my dad to cemeteries to find her relatives’ headstones for birth and death dates. Her compilation spoke volumes … literally.
She finally organized a family reunion and met some of her relatives who lived within driving distance. Her face glowed the whole time as she swapped tales and stories of her ancestors from Switzerland. Her Uncle Ben was pastor of the church where her mother had taught Sunday school. My mother lost her mom when she was three, due to pneumonia. No quinine was given to pregnant women.
If I had paid more attention to her work, I would be farther along with my own attempt to trace our family lineage. The online services are helpful in categorizing and automatic updating the family trees is wonderful. But, the process of deciding who is and is not a part of the family takes studious time.
With this in the back of my mind, I realized I had my own story to tell. Genealogy doesn’t fill in the fine details such as personal stories, feelings, relationships, and such. My son and daughter lived through most of it and know a lot of the stories but will they be able to pass it on to my granddaughters or will it die with me?
During the national quarantine of 2020, I decided Easter would still arrive. Most of my family stayed in their homes. My poor sister had been through enough with a bowel obstruction and then losing her life partner of twenty years. So, I prepared a meal and made sure she received a plate of food.
I am in close contact with one of my granddaughters. She lives near us with her boyfriend and we invited them over for dinner. We maintained our physical distancing but we were desperate to be with family.
After dinner, the men went outside to do some mechanics in the garage and I mentioned to her that I’d like to tell her a story … the story of her grandparents.
I have four early photo albums, the old kind with the plastic sheeting that is supposed to protect the pictures. Starting with when we were dating until just about the time she was born, we went through each picture and memento one by one.
“Grandma is this you?” she exclaimed. It was a picture of me after I had given birth to her father.
“Yes.” Taken in the early seventies, the mode of dress was a midriff top, hip huggers, and bell bottoms.
“We look so much alike!”
“I’ve always thought so, too!”
I told her the stories behind the pictures of her sister and father. She saw the holiday celebrations at my mother’s home. Our love for each other evidenced in smiles, laughter, and tears. My thoughts and words carried me back. Stories never told before, drew her interest like a moth to a flame. There were many exclamations and we bonded as never before.
Goal accomplished. She has a greater concept of the ‘family’ unit within God’s design and has the knowledge of emotions, milestones, and the love for each other for over fifty years.
“So, now you know the story of grandpa and grandma. Will you remember it?”
“Oh, Grandma, I will.” She said. “I know the story of every photo, too.”
I’m at peace.
"as I think of your strong faith that was passed down through your family line. It began with your grandmother Lois, who passed it on to your dear mother, Eunice. And it’s clear that you too are following in the footsteps of their godly example." 2 Timothy 1:5 The Passion Translation (TPT)
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