They need to hear it!
Your memoirs are your legacy
Every senior citizen should in some way leave his memoirs for his children. These memoirs can be left in the form of tapes where the senior can just sit and reminisce and be taped, or they can be in the form of a scrap book. Writing a book about one's growing up years to be copied and given to children and grandchildren is a wonderful caring thing to do.
Already you are saying that your life wasn't exciting enough, or that you couldn't do that. I believe that our children have a right to know some of our thougths, our trials, and our sorrows. Let's do it. The book can include copies of the receipts for the farm, pictures, recipes, or other memorabilia. We might think that our children wouldn't be interested. They will as they, themselves, reach senior citizens.
When you write, or record, let yourself think back to the moment; think what sounds you heard, what smells did you smell, what was the weather doing? Consider all the senses. Not only will it make for a better account, it will be therapy for the writer, as he or she thinks back and remembers. Let's see now--did I hear the meadowlarks? Were the leaves rustling? Was it hot or cold? Let your memory go back, back, back.
We, as the authors, might think these things are not important. My mother has been gone for almost 60 years, and not a day goes by that I don't think--why didn't I ask Mother how she made that pudding? Why didn't I listen when she was telling me about her schooling? Where was my mind?
Our lives are a part of history--never to be re-run. Everybody's lives are important. If you are convinced that your children would not treasure your story, think what it would do to your frame of mind to go back and remember--what fun, what therapy, what pictures!
No life is a vacuum; we are all important to someone.
About the Author
When I was 78, I wrote a book about growing up in Nebraska in the early 20's. It was fun to do, and my family appreciated it. The grandchildren will no doubt, enjoy it more in a few years. The thinking, the telling, and the reminiscing was a powerful tool for me.
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