A friend mentioned to me that she has been

recording events from her life, a period of more than 70 years. She’s capturing information about events and people on paper for her family. She’s doing this because she knows her adult sons and their families don’t have all this information; and, she believes what she has experienced is relevant to her family.

We discussed this a bit and I decided I would do this, too. I know my children don’t know a lot of things about my life because they weren’t around when it happened, and it’s never been discussed because we have spent most of our time dealing with the ‘here and now’ of our lives. On occasion I have mentioned something I recall that may pertain to a current event and my kids have no idea what I’m referring to.

I didn’t ask them if they wanted to know, or would they like to have such a record. But I’m trying to capture facts and memories to give them. At first sitting to do this (and I’m recording all this in a Word document because I can no longer write legibly!) I wrote seven pages.

There’s no actual plan, but I began with Daddy’s and Mama’s births and am trying to move forward in time. I have already begun moving back and forth. It has to do with working from memory, I guess.

How I wish I’d done oral histories with my grandparents and parents. I hope Big Bro can remember more of this than I do, at least the parts about our family of origin and all the relatives.

 If I were to give any advice about this, I’d say start capturing events and memories sooner rather than later. It could be interesting and could sure be important. And maybe it’s good mental exercise for us elders.