This blog initially came from a desire to put down everything I can remember about my past in a form that will be readable later - either when my kids have a desire to know or when I have forgotten and wish to remember........ The more I wrote, the greater my desire became to know more - about my past, about my family... where they came from, what my parents remember - what yesterday was REALLY like for someone who LIVED it.
So, I have asked my parents to talk to me about their childhoods.... growing up, places they saw and things they did - which they did start to share with me. It seemed to make them very happy that I asked. Of course, that made me happy that I DID ask!
We talked for a long time - and I got some insights - most into my dads childhood so far. Next time, must make sure my ipad is fully charged and type FAST! - but, more to come on that.
*****************************************************
This is where I put the disclaimer - hopefully to be read by all who are searching for facts.
Disclaimer - all that is written here is from my memory. At 50+ - my memory is fairly intact - however, as most, it is 'colored' by me as a person, my perceptions. If one is on a historical fact hunt - do NOT look here. What is here is my memories - and those that have been shared with me. No portion of this can be taken as 'historical fact' - it is NOT. All that is written here is what I remember and what I have been told.
*****************************************************
This blog is also partially driven by a renewed desire to know more which came with the dawning of realization of the reality of age...that the things which I still consider 'new' are now old. Part of this is driven by the photographer in me - the person who realized that everything changes every second and that each second has its very own beauty. (500 pictures taken inside of 1.5 hours of ONE sunset from ONE place - deciding which to keep and which were redundant and discovering that EACH WAS DIFFERENT!!!!! in some way.
I find the past fascinating. History has always been a subject of interest for me. Until now, I thought I preferred ancient history and truly abhorred the more recent history - in particular, the US History taught in school. In retrospect, it wasn't US History I hated - it was the way it was taught. Dates. Battles. Places. People. Memorize. No studying what living day to day was like, or the anthropology of our society. The discussions were all of Antietam, Valley Forge, General Custer, Robert E, Lee, bloodthirsty Indians and oppressive British - how the country was formed - politically. And most was 'politically correct' - for instance, it wasn't till I was out of school for a LONG time that I found out that we -the almighty US- imprisoned many people of Japanese descent in internment camps during WWII. Why? Why wasn't I told that my country wasn't perfect? I mean, gee whiz - my country is like all the other countries of the world - its made of people. People are imperfect.We tried to improve on an existing societal structure because we didn't like the one we left behind.... Britain, Ireland, Scotland, France, Spain, Italy, all had their own culture blended from many years of territorial wars and melding of populace's...Now, I realize that WHAT happened is not nearly as important as the WHY it happened. And not the 'WHY' that is part of the beliefs structured by political convenience, the WHY that belongs to the people who lived it, who made history happen!
Contained herein is MY history - the 'why's of who I am, where I came from. It is as factual as my memory - and equally as faulty. Please take it for what it is - NOT what it is NOT.
No comments:
Post a Comment