Heritage Hints From Mama – Getting in Touch With Your Living Ancestors
Getting In Touch With Your Living Ancestors-
Hello from the Deep South, home of magnolias, sweet tea and sweltering hot summers! I am Christy’s Mama and have been invited to share a little wisdom gleamed from my years of experience. Some of it may come in handy and others may just be a little bit of rambling thoughts from my cobwebbed brain. You can take either with a grain of salt. If you have any comments or suggestions along the way, they will be welcomed. Remember, I am getting old so coddle me a bit. Well, here goes!
Today I want to talk about our living ancestors. Do you have a grandparent, older aunt, or uncle living? If so, call today and set up a time for a visit. It doesn’t have to be in person if they live a little far off from you. A phone call will do nicely. I’m sure you will be pleasantly surprised by the outcome and I’m sure your relative will be more than willing to talk with you. They are some of your family’s most precious resources- connect with them!
Is there a favorite food you enjoyed as a child that was prepared by someone in your family? Have you ever wondered about how family traditions started? Or have you ever thought about tracing your family tree? Your older relatives are the easiest way to solve these mysteries and sadly, once these relatives pass on, their knowledge goes with them.
Take a week or so, to think about growing up and some of the memories that come to mind. Make a list of questions you would like answered. You will probably be surprised at the things you think of. Christy hears of so many people that enjoyed a certain food when they were small and long for just one more taste of it. Most of the time it is an everyday food that was prepared from memory and just can’t quite be duplicated. All it would have taken was a few minutes to watch it being prepared and taking a few notes. But when that relative passed on, the  recipe was lost forever. Don’t let this happen to you.
If you have ever thought of taking up genealogy as a hobby, your relatives are your best and easiest by far resource for getting a great start. Ask about grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Take detailed notes and list any names, locations, birth dates, marriages, deaths, etc. Let your relative talk about whatever crosses their mind. You will learn much more than names and dates. You will learn about the where and why that made your family what it was.
If you are able to, take older relatives back to where they lived and went to school, church, etc. It is amazing the stories that they will recall. I have done this with my mother who is 80 years young and even though I had asked questions a thousand times with no answers, it was amazing some of the things she remembered when taken back to the places where she had carried on her day to day life.
Also ask your older relatives if they have any old family pictures. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words. By sure and list who the people are in the picture. Believe me, I am speaking from experience. You will probably forget Aunt Sophie’s sister’s name and where they were when the picture was taken. Nowadays, it just takes a quick trip and a little cash to get a picture copied. The old pictures don’t mean a thing if you don’t know who is in them. Old pictures are some of my most prized possessions and I’m sure they will become some of yours too!
To get you started, take a minute and think about what you would have liked to know from relatives who have passed on. Then, you may just realize the importance of taking advantage of the resources you have before they are gone. We are all busy and even though we have good intentions, it seems like we have a hard time getting around to some of the important aspects of our lives. Please make an appointment to take care of a little family business before it is too late. This is just a little advice from me to you.
I’d love to hear some of the wisdom or family history you have uncovered just by taking the time to talk with your living relatives. Please feel free to chat with me in the comments section below. I’ll read them all and look forward to answering!
I’ll be talking with you from time to time but until then, remember Mama loves you and I’ll see you soon!
~Mama
“There are only two lasting bequests we can give our children – one is roots, and the other, wings.”
~Hodding S. Carter
I can’t stress enough how important this is. I am 79 years old and I have tried to keep a log of things in the past. My children do realize the importance but still they don’t know just how much this will,mean later. I try to talk to them about it but as you might expect, the interest doesn’t last long. My wife is 76 and we are the youngest in each of our families….the memories of our past will go with us when we go.
Ken write your memories down. I plan to write my memories as I have younger siblings and they don’t remember the things I do. I have younger sisters and I talk to them about things that happened when I was a child, and they ask me to write these things down so they can read them as they weren’ even born. I have told my grandchildren a few stories of my childhood and they always say, “Tell us another story grandma.” My youngest grandson once asked me if I was as old as dirt.
I am so glad to read that you read my article. It means so much to me. Don’t give up talking. I can still remember things my grandmother and grandfather said to me even though they probably thought that I was not listening. Memories are so very important and have effects on who we become. Everyone please take time to listen to your elders! You will not regret doing so but will regret not doing it in years to come. Thanks again Ken for taking time out of your day to join me! Mama (Janice)
Well said Christie’s Mom. My grandmother was into genealogy both her family and my grandfather’s. She wasn’t very organized but kept everything and she loved talking and meeting new people. And I watched growing up, listened to them talk and cook and care (someone had to right?) and really miss them. My Mom’s generation didn’t really get into it…the family get-togethers and such as much. It was a different time with no or little technology or so fast paced and with much larger families. Love the picture as you are leaning toward each other.
My mamaw made the BEST potato salad in the world. I watched her do it and she tried to tell me how, but I just couldn’t master it. I think she just had the special touch and now she’s gone and all I can do is remember how it tasted.
What a wonderful, wonderful thing to do! I thought of doing all this….too late. Folks, take heart, listen to what is being said, and don’t wait too long. No one has the promise of the next second….and it could just mean the difference between having something precious to help with memories and appetites, or the thought of losing something for all time. Thanks Christy….and thanks to your mom too!
> I remember asking my grandmother about marrying Grandpa. He asked her to marry him when she was 16; she said yes because she knew she was too young and her mother would not give permission. But, her mother did, so they married. She told me this story in a bemused fashion 60 years or so later. I am glad of all the conversations I had with my grandparents.
Very nicely done Mama! Looking forward to more columns from you.
My dad is 84 years old and he regaled me with the tale of how he got his drivers license. He had just gotten out of the Navy and tried to take the test 3 different times. He failed each time. He went one more time and told them that he lost his license when his ship went down at Pearl Harbor (He WAS there.. after the battle) They gave him a license. He has got a lot of repentin to do lol.
Thank you for writing a post that can really mean the world to so many people!
Gratefully,
your second favorite daughter 🙂
Don’t sell yourself short. You know you are my favorite oldest daughter! Thanks so much for letting me write. I loved to write in high school and have not taken much time to write since. I am having a ball doing it again. Remember Mama loves you!!!!!!!!!! and I am proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is my first time reading your Mom’s words of wisdom.I lost my 92 yo Mom 2/15/14 so if you don’t mind I would like to adopt your sweet Mom , or, maybe she could be my sister since we’re close to the same age.