February and Writing Memories Exercise

 

Here we are at the front end of the shortest month of the year. Even so, it is chock full of special days. Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, Abraham Lincoln's birthday, George Washington's birthday, and also designated as Black History Month. 

In our family, we celebrate two birthdays--my son and our oldest granddaughter. His on the 5th and hers on the 16th. I remember the day each one was born. Special days. 

When we write family stories, memories connected with the events or celebrations of a particular month roll through our minds. In December, we think about so many parts of Christmas in our growing up years, then in the years we were raising our own families. The same for November when Thanksgiving happenings come to mind. 

Many of those memories are revisited around the dining table. Some small comment might trigger a special family story, and one person tells the tale while the others nod in agreement if they, too, remember it, or with looks of amazement if they had no inkling of that particular happening. When families are gathered together with food as the centerpiece, the memories seem to appear easily. 

It's not convenient to write them down as you are seated at the table, and when everyone disperses for other places, no one thinks to make a written record of what was said at the table. The story drifts away and future generations don't have the joy of hearing it. 

That is why I urge you to write your family stories. You're not doing it for those generations behind you, the ones who have left life on earth. Or not necessarily for yourself. You're doing it for future generations in your family, so that they will learn about their ancestors. Maybe twenty year old Joe reads a story about his great-grandfather. In that story, Great-grandfather Sam's habit of eating a certain way is noted. Maybe Joe eats the same way. A small habit suddenly unites him with that great-grandfather. If no one had written the story, Joe would never have known about his real connection with an ancestor. This is just one small example. There can be so many others.

My husband's paternal grandfather left Germany at the age of 20. He had a much younger brother who was only a toddler at the time. Grandpa told of standing at the rail of the ship, looking down and waving at his mother who was holding his little brother, wondering if he would ever see them again. Many, many years later, my husband and I visited the town where this grandfather grew up--Lahr, Germany. I wrote a travel essay about our visit there titled "Grandpa's Town." I didn't include that story about his departure on the ship, but in retrospect, I should have. 

Sometimes, the small things of long ago turn into more important moments as time goes on. They deserve to be written down for future generations to read. 

For an exercise today, start writing with the following words:  In February, I remember...

Your memories could be about what you did that month in school, the weather, foods your mother made only in February, and more. Maybe you have a birthday in February, so your memories could center around that. I find if I write those opening words of the exercise, then close my eyes for a minute, I am ready to write. Give it a try. You might be surprised at what memories you bring forth.