My Great Grandmother journaled every day. On the days that she was unable to write due to poor health, she dictated simple lines to my Great Grandfather. At times when Granny was in the hospital or unable to dictate a few lines, she left it up to Gramps to make a note like, “Visited Anna in hospital. Rained late p.m.” He wrote little more than that, but kept the days filled in.
After my Great Grandparents passed away, my Grandpa ended up with a basket full of my Granny’s journals. When I would visit my Grandparents sometimes I would read here stories & daily activities. Then a few years ago, my Grandma sent that basket home with me.
So, from time to time I would read the daily activities from some past year.
Lately I’ve been reading through whole years that were written during my lifetime. A lot of the occurrences I remember in part. When reading most of the entries I can imagine the landscape, buildings, & a few faces mentioned. It’s like visiting my Great Grandmother & all the folks that were around at the time.
This is a joyful journey on many days & tearfully sad on others.
My Granny wrote a regular article for her local newspaper, Maple Shade News, & in later years simply called: Maple Shade.
Reading these little clippings has been inspiring. The effort that i
These articles in the Press Argus were the inspiration of another venture of mine a few years ago. Simply reporting untold stories of local folks from the neighborhood.
I wondered if it was uncomfortable for some people being mentioned in these newspaper articles, but now people post so much on the internet in social media…
Well, I’ve discovered that I have the same wedding anniversary as my Gramps & Granny! I found a Valentine’s note that he wrote her & an article where she wrote about his Valentine’s surprises through the years. I’ve learned a bit about my family & their community that stands in heartwarming contrast to current life in. Though, you know, it doesn’t have to be so different now.
People just communicate differently now days.
I’m trying to be more personal with print & phone calls & this slower form of social media called the postal service. My Granny’s printed journals were a bit more formal & mostly well edited for print. Her daily calendar journals were handwritten & less formal. Likewise is the case with this TaleByMail blog thing. This blog has a lot of words, but the artsy stuff is what I send out in the mail.
I do not write everyday. Though, I do draw everyday & that often includes little notes. Perhaps I should be more organized with keeping these doodles in order for someone else to find someday.
If you’d like to get updates or receive a little mailer, contact me somehow.
James@TaleByMail.com
P.O. Box 11824
Minneapolis, MN 55411