Family History: Get It While the Getting’s Good

It’s my belief that the older generation knows who to tap to be the storytellers and record keepers of the family’s history.  My high school Home Economics teacher, who was also my cousin, was the person that tapped me.  She would always say to me that I needed to talk to my great grandmother to get her family history.  Of course, at that time and regretfully, I was young and interested in everything but talking to my elders. 

Fast forward to today, I would love to be able to talk to that same great grandmother.  Her line has been the most difficult for me to find and she was the ancestor that I had around for the longest.  Upon researching and learning of her origins, I want nothing more than to be able to give her a hug.  She was a woman of strength, dignity, and courage who had experienced much sorrow in the early years of her life.  You would never have known this from the way that she carried herself, but perhaps I should have known. 

These are just a few words of caution.  Take the time to have those conversations now about your lineage.  Talk to your family members.  Get their stories from their perspectives.  Learn about their families and lives.  It doesn’t always need to be a formal interview.  It can be informal, impromptu conversations.  Write it down, record it, or do what you need to do to preserve the information.  One day you will be thankful that you did.