Did you know that when you die, people will hang on your every word, no matter how mundane it may seem to you? Last night, Madeline attended a fireside for Trek. The speaker was telling the kids about his great great grandfather who died in the Martin Handcart Company rescue. Something inside me perked up when I overheard him saying that first sentence.
I'll admit, I've been in a blogging rut because I'm not doing anything noteworthy or picture perfect at the moment. Just going about my day to day life trying to get it right. I do find that I can't be as honest out in the blogging world as I am on paper that can be hidden away for no one else to see. But it's true, I hang on every word I find about my ancestors. Part of me feels so connected to them. When I found out that one of my great greats was a Free Methodist minister, and this same man has this tremor I get in my left hand sometimes, I felt connected. I am who I am because of him. I am who I am because of my Great grandfather who built bridges along the coast. I am who I am because of my Great Grandfather who died at the age of 30 who was an alcoholic. I am who I am because of my Great Grandmother who raised 9 kids or my ancestor who buried 8 of her children in a small pox epidemic.
Something so poignant that Brother Madsen said was that it didn't matter that our relatives were pioneers, it only mattered that they were ours. We all have a history and it's so important to continue that history. I for one, was moved to action. Because it's not about me. It's about a future time with people that are related to me. They will laugh at my bra blog and be fascinated by what I cooked. I can see it now, 100 years later, some future great great granddaughter will be trying to get her hands on fresh blackberries that are a weed to us, to make lemonade cupcakes with blackberry buttercream...
