How quickly we're forgotten

So I have been reading this book series, Shenandoah something or other by Emilie Richards. It's just a light, fluffy novel, not much thinking required --nothing fantastic but the story has kept me interested. It's kind of neat because there is a story within the story. The story within the story is actually what has kept me most fascinated. It's like a flashback to the ancestors of the characters in the book.


It struck me that the ancestors that the stories are about, are not all that far removed from the present day characters. Yet these characters know next to nothing about them. Which made me think about my own family. My great grandparents were a VERY important part of my life. In fact, I have been very blessed to know and love ALL of my GREAT grandparents. Yet, my kids know NOTHING about them! Not even their names. They may remember little snippets of stories that I tell, but probably nothing of significance really sticks with them. My 3 will grow up and probably only have vague memories of me telling them stories of a farmhouse that held the most wonderful people ever. People full of lovely stories of 1 room schoolhouses and naughty antics with their siblings. People who loved and spoiled me beyond reason. It makes me so sad that all these wonderful memories will probably die with me. Our lives are so fleeting!! And 2 generations later we're barely a memory in someone else's mind.


My children have had the same blessing in their lives and they each have special relationships with their own great grandparents. I really need to get it together and start scrapbooking/journaling again. That way my kids will be able to share their own special memories with future generations. No one should be forgotten! Most especially, a crabby grandma that used to run and jump across hotel beds to wake sleeping children up!! Or a grandma that makes the best food ever, and always has time to pull out her stash of toys to play with you.