Today the present was all about the past and the future. I know, confusing right? Well, I'll clear it up for you; You just have to read on...Go ahead, it won't take long.
Some of you may know I have my 16 month-old nephew here along with his mum and dad, visiting for Christmas. We only have a few days left together before they have to make the 4,500km drive back home and so we're making the most of the time we have - Hanging out, chatting and doing things out and about also.
Today we took my nephew to the museum and afterwards headed back to my place to look at some photos...Not just any photos however...Old photos; Old family photos to be more precise.
I have been the custodian of boxes and boxes of documents and photographs that have been passed down through my family over time and I felt it was time to hand some over to my brother so he could begin to teach his son where he came from.
We went through several boxes and the selected photos of my mum (deceased) and dad who has dementia. My nephew will never get to sit and speak with either unfortunately however through stories and the photographs will have a link to them which is as good as it will get.
I also selected several very old photographs of my grand parents (my nephew's great grand parents) on both sides plus some of my great grand parents on my mums side. A great great grand parent won't mean much to my nephew right now however I think it's important that he knows where he came from and some stories of our family that came before him.
I have traced my ancestry back to the mid 1400's on ancestry.com.au and whilst none of the photos we uncovered today date back that far I have photographs of direct descendants that date back to around the 1850's which I think is pretty cool.
We spent an enjoyable afternoon flipping through old photographs, documents, letters and notebooks and had a few laughs of course in doing so as we found many of ourselves from years ago. It's also remarkable how we see ourselves in the younger versions of our parents, and similarities in my niece and nephew as well.
I'm somewhat of a historian and so love delving into my own ancestry - I guess it helps me to know who I am as much as satisfying my curiosity. I was surprised to see my brother show such an interest today to be honest as he's not done so before. I guess having a family of his own now, and the fact he is getting older, has lead him to be so interested. I think it's nice.
So, today we went back into the past, to present the future for my nephew, when he is at an appropriate age of course. I also have @smallsteps to think about as well so I have ensured there's ample for her to take when the time is right. I also have items in my possession that they will both get, things that belonged to grand parents, my parents and Faith and myself of course too...I believe they will be raised to respect and cherish these photos and items and to remember family - Where they came from. Who knows, maybe someday my nephew will be sitting around with his grandchildren showing pictures of his crazy-old uncle galenkp! I hope he speaks well of me.
Do you have anything you're holding for your children or childrens' children to help them connect with their past? I'd be interested to hear what, and how, you're intending to pass it along.
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default
Discord: @galenkp#9209 🇦🇺
One day I hope to claim some for us too. Would be nice to get scans of a few key ones and put together a book kind of thing for all the kids
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That is the goal to be honest, although it's a matter of getting it done. It shouldn't be too difficult. There are loads more for smallsteps here, and I only gave away duplicates really. The really old ones I kept for the purpose you mention.
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I think it would be a pretty cool project and perhaps a few known details can be added along te way.
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That's the plan. It's difficult though as many of the photos are not identified. I'm just going my memory of what I know as a kid, trying to match up faces. I have the family tree though, so that's something.
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To fill the gaps, go to a fortune teller and discover that we are all descendants of royalty.
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Haha...That's a good suggestion...Helpful..
You think tarot cards would work?
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And a Ouija board
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We may learn that we're the devil's spawn.
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Ah man!!! Such a tease. I was waiting for a bunch more pictures and accompanying stories! Really cool though so important to preserve the past.
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Time constraints prevented such a thorough post my friend. I will do it sometime, but with family here for only a short time I didn't want to get too deeply into it.
There's loads of stories too...Good ones. It'll happen. Sorry to disappoint.
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@galenkp said....: "Who knows, maybe someday my nephew will be sitting around with his grandchildren showing pictures of his crazy-old uncle galenkp! I hope he speaks well of me."
No Doubt in my mind.......
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Haha! Yeah, sounds about right huh?
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I'm pretty sure I have some family members that have spent some time digging into our past, and I know my wife's sister has more information on her side of the family than I think we will know what to do with (not complaining she just really enjoys it as well and as visited many distant relatives because of this).
I hope to do some more digging and compiling in the future as it will be neat for our kids to have that information for both sides of their family to know where they come from and possibly help identify a history of health issues for them to be aware of.
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I think it's cool. I never used to worry about it much but decided to do some digging a few years ago...It actually becomes addictive. You raise a good point also about the history of health in the family...It's something that can make a difference now if a history of a particular thing is identified.
Thanks for commenting and merry Christmas.
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Merry Christmas to you as well
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I must admit to being late to the party as far as ancestry is concerned. When I was young many of my friends went looking for their ancestors so they could find themselves. I was known to occasionally hold up a mirror and tell them I had found them they were here. Now get back to work with your studies or your trade.
I regret giving them a hard time. I thought I knew where I came from and considered it inconsequential as I felt it was my job to make something of me now regardless of where my genes came from.
Now my kids are super interested and I am keeping the mirrors in the bathrooms and being supportive. I love our rich family history, but in a way it’s still just stories and tales which I can’t eat. But I understand how it provides nourishment to the soul now much more then before.
✍️
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What a nice open and candid reply. 🙂
I think a lot feel the same - Don't see much point or have interest in ancestry. I am a huge history nut and even I didn't think too much about my own ancestry untill several years ago.
I think it's good to give the youngs ones an awareness and understanding of who came before them. This is what I'll do for my family, through my brother's that will pass it on to their children.
Thanks for your reply...I really appreciate it.
Have a great Christmas.
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Having a young one around at Christmas will bring back that magical feeling.
As for delving back in my family;s past is something i would rather bury.
:)
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Some have histories they would rather bury with those that have departed, I do also...I'm not passing on everything...Best that some things get forgotten. I hear you loud and clear.
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Howdy again sir galenkp! Nothing like having lots of old photos from generations past to share with the kids, grandkids, nieces and nephews! The older they get the more they appreciate the family history.
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Yes, I like looking through them and think the younger generation will enjoy having them once they are older too.
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I think it's interesting that we don't care much about such things, generally speaking, when we're young but then when we get older suddenly we appreciate our heritage and ancestors!
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Yes, that tends to be the way it goes. I'm not sure why. Maturity maybe?
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