Echoes

If I can be serious, here.

I may be too late to do any justice to my family's "roots". My father, who really never talked much about his family, died last January (2006). His mother died in 1968 when I was too young to understand these kinds of things. Perhaps I can get some family information from my uncle George and aunt Evelyn. These folks are my last link to my father's side of the family.

My mother doesn't remember as much, anymore, as she used to. My fault for not bothering to get more from her, sooner. You never think about those things when you're young and your parents aren't even that old. My great-grandmother died in 1986 at the age of 95. Not only did she know everything about her family, but she kept diaries and has written down the marriages and births of everyone in her family. My mother thinks she still has the old family bibles around. I know the diaries (some of them, anyway) still exist because I've read through them.

My mother's cousin (my great aunt, I think) who lived nearby died earlier this year. She knew a lot about the family, as well. I think I may have other relatives, but no one like my great-grandmother.

I remember years ago thinking that as a writer I ought to interview some folks and capture what they said. I am even interested in these things, since understanding your ancestors is part of understanding yourself. Sure, there are some criminals, some alcoholics, some adulterers, and some fools, but there are also some doctors, some inventors, a few rich folk, and a lot of just plain average everyday people, like me.

There are some smarts on both sides of the family. My paternal grandfather was a doctor. His father was an inventor (and was one of the "rich" ones, though sadly his wife managed to spend it all). My mother had two great uncles who were doctors, as well. That family must have been fairly well off, since her great grandmother Janie had eleven children, all of whom not only made it to adulthood, but most of whom lived into their 90's. There were lots of folks in her family who lived to very old ages. This in a time and in a place, rural Ohio, where life wasn't all that "easy".

I represent a biological dead end in the family. No kids. My brother has three, though, so it looks as though they will be carrying on the family name. Meanwhile, I am going to track down my great grandmother's bibles and diaries do my best to write some of this stuff down. No good reason other than to forge a little stronger link to the past.

And put order to these echoes.