This past weekend I went on a (very) short trip out to British Columbia to visit with my Dad's side of the family. I have aunts and uncles and cousins and grandparents and a great grandmother all living out there, and it was wonderful to see them all again. The purpose of our gathering was a little sad - my Great Grandma Gall is in the hospital and was not doing too well. Although she is being released sometime this week, she isn't yet able to care for herself again, which means she may have to spend some time convalescing in an assisted living home. It will be difficult for her, as her body slowly gives out but her mind remains sharp.
She will be 89 years old in November - November 9th, in fact. She and Caleb share the same birthday! I have had the great fortune to have many grandparents alive for most of my life. When Colin was born, he had 13 grandparents!
It's amazing to think of the generations and eras that my family spans. I get to hear snatches of what their lives were like in past years, but certainly not in enough depth to satisfy my curiosity. What a wonderful treat it would be to leaf through old journals of relatives, discovering their thoughts about events in their lives, seeing them evolve over time as they grew. It makes me excited to leave my own musings for a great great granddaughter to read one day.
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It's fun to leave legacies. I fill out Shea's baby book, knowing he will not be interested in it (what boy is?) but that his wife or children or grandchildren will find it fascinating. I love seeing evidence of my grandparents life before they were my grandparents. I loved reading through the letter written by my great uncle during the war, though it was haunting how the tone changed so drastically as the war raged on and he saw more and more combat. I've heard my parents tell the same stories again and again, but they don't get old. In turn, I love telling stories to children, as they are such open recepticles :). My dad practically has an archive in our basement with all the reminences of the lives of people past, and is forever trying to teach it to me, but I admit I have not been as receptive to it as I should be. I find it interesting, but I have not really, "studied" it. I hope Shea has an interest in these things, I can see my dad spending hours showing him this and that :).
-Heather.
Reminants. I really need to start proofreading before clicking enter.
-Heather.
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