who will tell the stories?
Do you still have a long line of living relatives? How far back do they go? Grandparents, great-grandparents? Are you physically close? And more importantly, are you emotionally near? And for today’s ponderable thought, who is the keeper of the memories in your family?
Last year I dedicated one of my posts to a cousin that had died recently. https://sassaleeyours.com/rules-of-dying/ She was a larger than life figure. A little over the top for some but everyone agreed, she was our “Keeper of the memories”. Those people, at least in my life have become almost non-existent. Some of that is by nature’s process and some is from neglect and disinterest.
is history important?
It’s funny when you think about it. History is one of, and always been, one of the required subjects in school. Do you ever ask yourself why? If you take a glance into the past you will see that there have been some rather profound observations regarding the importance of recognizing and being aware of one’s history.
Among these would be Churchill, quoted as saying “Those that fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it”. However I feel that the most significant was the philosopher, George Santayana, who said “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. So I guess depending upon your perspective it could be important to know a thing or two about the past.
bringing it down to more narrow terms
Ok, I get it. It can be a bit much trying to remember all of those dates and events that lead to the world that we live in now. So lets just keep it close. The up close and personal. If you are talking about events that molded our country and the world around us from a political or (sorry) historical standpoint I suppose it is easy to ignore the past unless it happens to rear an ugly head or continues to affect us directly.
Personally, It seems that we are losing our source of truth. Our elder relatives and friends. These are your “keeper of the memories”. We have some cultures that revere their elders. The Native Americans, Greeks, many Asian cultures such as China and Korea, India…It is felt that they belong at the head of the family and/or hold a place of honor with the expectation of them to pass on, through teaching, the wisdom acquired through their years. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-other-cultures-can-teach_n_4834228
what are you missing?
I have heard some say, “what will we talk about?” when asked to spend time with those older folks. Well, maybe you don’t talk so much as listen? A suggestion. Meet them where they are. It is possible that they may keep up with current events and would like to hear about your life. If not, figure out a way to ask them about theirs. It is possible that the friends and family that they once knew, grew up with or experienced life with, is no longer around. “The same ole stories over and again” yes, that may happen. But who (and what) are you missing out on? Could be a lifetime. You never really know when history tries to repeat itself. I say indulge that failing memory. It only takes a little patience and not much more time.
so many memories and so little time
I was searching through some old emails I had saved and came upon this one that I sent to my mom years ago. We didn’t get to see each other much (at that time) due to distance, finances and jobs but fortunately we both understood the importance of staying in touch. Here is an excerpt from that email:
are you listening?
A few weeks ago I posted about having a voice if no one is listening. https://sassaleeyours.com/whos-listening-do-i-have-a-voice-if-no-one-is-listening/
In that I referred to peaceful protest, sticking up for what’s right and being heard. This is different. Here you have a choice that you can make, to listen.
Unfortunately, there are few to none in my life left to hear the memories handed down nor add to the ones that I treasure. That makes me sad for the ones that could but don’t really care to hear them. What a waste of a good time.
I remember visiting with my grandmother a few years or so before she died. We had always had a special bond. Before I left that weekend, I sat down next to her and started asking questions. With little prodding she began. I pretty much already knew the answers but I wanted to hear them again. I wanted that validation of my memory so that some day I could give them to someone else.
For Christmas one year, Rennie and I set up a video camera and as I held my Granny’s hand she began the story of how she hopped freight trains as a young bride just to survive. She went on to tell other stories. My mom cried when I gave it to her. (She didn’t get to see her mom much either).
the next generation
I took a handwritten journal, written by my parents, and scribed it into a hardback book. I then gave it to their grandchildren and my siblings. Hopefully some day that can be shared. 
There is a cookbook out there somewhere with family recipes and some memories thrown in. Each page tells a story. Another excerpt 
I know that last week I gave Rennie a hard time about “his treasures”. There are things that he would like for his children and grandchildren to know. Memories that may or may not be shared.
There’s still time. So I will ask again. Who is your ‘Keeper of the memories’? Do you know them?
Rennie and I are the Keeper of our generation. We hold the stories of our elder friends that have gone on, the parents and grandparents that have passed. Inside these heads is a store of laughter, tears (and a LOT of derring-do) of our own.
I am proud to say that I am a keeper of the memories, happy to share, and as always,
Sassaleeyours…