In weeding my files, I came across my father’s short memoir. Since it was written in quite readable English and actually edited into a book (by my mother?), it was easy to turn it into a publication.
I put it on amazon because the other “family memoirs” have found a readership beyond family.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0990586286/ A RELUCTANT CITIZEN
There was a big surprise in the memoir. The man I grew up with was silent and reticent. He was bothered by the noise of children. He barely said “Hello” in the morning and wanted to be alone, in the woods, if he could.
The man in the memoir is a completely different version of my father. He is outgoing, ambitious, assertive, engaged in the community and in politics. He is an eager and idealistic teacher, at all levels including the first grades. He is caring of others, adaptable, even goodnatured and resilient. He sings, he dances with exuberance, he hikes, swims before work in the morning.
Much of his charm was invisible to me (although my mother assured me she knew a different person). Now I appreciate even more the toll of the war on both of us. And, I appreciate how well he recalled those early years, writing in his sixth language.
If you are retired, drop a little picture of yourself on paper for the future family who may never get to hang out with you long enough to get to know the inner person. If you’re young, keep a diary to share later.
Recently, Sheryl Sandberg wrote about her family’s recovery from the early death of her husband. They made videos recalling good memories that they could revisit when it felt like his presence was fading. See her book, Option B. These "recordings" helped them mourn him and kept him alive in their hearts.
I put it on amazon because the other “family memoirs” have found a readership beyond family.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0990586286/ A RELUCTANT CITIZEN
There was a big surprise in the memoir. The man I grew up with was silent and reticent. He was bothered by the noise of children. He barely said “Hello” in the morning and wanted to be alone, in the woods, if he could.
The man in the memoir is a completely different version of my father. He is outgoing, ambitious, assertive, engaged in the community and in politics. He is an eager and idealistic teacher, at all levels including the first grades. He is caring of others, adaptable, even goodnatured and resilient. He sings, he dances with exuberance, he hikes, swims before work in the morning.
Much of his charm was invisible to me (although my mother assured me she knew a different person). Now I appreciate even more the toll of the war on both of us. And, I appreciate how well he recalled those early years, writing in his sixth language.
If you are retired, drop a little picture of yourself on paper for the future family who may never get to hang out with you long enough to get to know the inner person. If you’re young, keep a diary to share later.
Recently, Sheryl Sandberg wrote about her family’s recovery from the early death of her husband. They made videos recalling good memories that they could revisit when it felt like his presence was fading. See her book, Option B. These "recordings" helped them mourn him and kept him alive in their hearts.
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