My family and I are gathering to remember my mother as we
approach a milestone anniversary of her passing. It’s hard to believe so much
time has gone by, because in my mind it’s still as real as yesterday. Over time
we’ve been able to look back without so much sadness but there are those times
where that longing for her is so strong. It’s important to keep her memory alive,
so remembering her life and sharing her life with her descendants is a great
way to do just that.
My mother had a boombox (yes, boombox) that I keep in the
house. I hardly ever play it – I guess it’s just there for sentimental reasons –
and decoration! I can remember one of my nieces who was about five years old at
the time asked if she could have it. I explained to her that she could not
because it belonged to my mother and now it is mine. She continued to argue her
case as to why I should give her the boombox. I don’t remember everything she
said but she ended with something along the lines of “And because I knew her
too, she would want me to have it.”
I had to explain to her that she did not know my mother –
they never met because my niece had not yet been born. She only thought she
knew her because she had heard stories about her. She continued to argue that
she had met her before. She went on to tell me all kinds of things about her -
even her name and describing what she looked like. The kid was so convincing
she had me double checking my math...LOL! I couldn’t help but laugh and thought
how nice it was for my sister to talk to her about our mom. Whatever she took
away from that conversation, she was convinced that she knew her! By the way,
she still did not get the boombox!
It’s great when you can know things about your ancestors and
don’t really have to wonder what they looked like, what kinds of things they
liked, etc. They are blessed to have people who can give them a firsthand
account of her life. So tonight we’re having a memorial dinner to remember my
mother and share our memories about her.
If you’re looking for a fun way to keep the memory of your
loved one alive, this is a great idea! We may shed some tears but the memory of
this gathering is not to be sad, but to fondly remember. I’ll prepare dinner
and I’ve picked up a few of her favorite snacks to share with everyone. I also
have sheets of paper where each person can write down a memory and we can
exchange and read them; I especially like sharing a memory because someone may
remember something that you may have forgotten and vice versa. It will be great
to have everyone share their stories and to share with the younger generations.
Remember, the conversation of family history can begin with
one shared memory!
Happy sharing! :-)
