Lately I've been developing a curriculum for teaching a family history writing course because I want the local community college to pick it up so that I can call myself "an instructor of higher education" at dinner parties. We don't go to dinner parties, but I figure that I should be ready just in case.
The first lesson is (of course) the why behind writing all of it down. In my list of compelling reasons to leave a history behind I have an indisputable favorite.
It is simply this: when the history of the world is written, I want it to be from my perspective and in my opinion.
Is it really so selfish to feel secretly smug that I outwrite Matt in my journal 10-to-1 and when out posterity's hearts turn our way, the grandkids will accept my view of an event as fact? Not that I don't wish that he wrote in his journal more, but hey, if he isn't going to write....might as well let the grandkids know how it really happened.
I've thought about this as I've written my Grandmother's history. When I interview her sister June, she swears that half of the stories that my Grandma tells are pure fabrication. But knowing June's track record for accurate detail recall, I'm siding with Grandma.
But what if Grandma wasn't still around and June got the last word? June swears that they never had to pick berries all summer to earn money for school clothes or that there is an ounce of truth in Grandma's "the first one up was always the best dressed." Those would never exist if left up to June. But don't worry, Grandma. I've got your back.
And as for me, I'm not taking any chances.
3 comments:
June told me that Livi looks just like Mom, so try to figure that one out. I would stick with Grandma's version of things anytime.
Ha--good call. I just finished Ivan's bio. (THAT turned out to be a project.) It was already finished by the time I got it, but it wasn't my version (and, I declared, not his either) and so we startd again. Speaking of dinner parties, we're having one on Dec 23 if you'd like to come...
Yes, I would say June has a different version of a lot of things--Also she was younger and probably didn't do some of the things mom did. I have been assembling some family histories and that is what I have thought too, that it was best when the person themselves wrote their story--so I ought to do that! Love, Mom
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