A challenge to you

Hi neighbors. I was recently introduced to a three ring notebook filled with typed pages holding memories of an elderly woman.

I was fascinated just flipping through it and reading a few paragraphs at random.

Special events of her life were highlighted. The birth of her children, the death of her parents and other family members, the weddings, church gatherings, etc.

But the real joy of the book were the everyday events in her life. Events that many of us have never heard of or experienced within the last 75 years.

Most people say you should keep a journal, and that is a great idea. This book, however, was not written chronologically. It was made up of essays about everyday life over the past 100 years.

She told of her girlhood, including memories of not only her school, but also how preparing for school and getting to school was accomplished.

Simple daily routines like hauling buckets of drinking water from the well, cooking a meal, doing chores; were all told in detail. This first person look at history is a remarkable book, told with honest words, homespun truth and beautiful insights many would not have the courage to share.

As I read the few paragraphs about the water bucket, the well and the "path" to the outdoor facility; I was reminded of my grandmother's rural home. The author told the story in such deep detail I could see it all again. Wonderful memories! Inspired by a quiet woman's thoughts on her life and the world she lived in as a child, woman, mother and grandmother.

The book, sadly, is not published. It was typed and saved for the family only. It is a real treasure though, and I hope to get a few more glances into it as time passes.

Again, I cannot stress too much the importance of telling your own story and sharing the little details of your daily life. Trust me; today's mundane minutes will be tomorrow's historic hours.

Now, stepping off of my soapbox, I will admit I do not have a personal history written about my childhood and the world I grew up in for my children and grandchildren. I also need to follow my own advice and start writing!

Here is a challenge for all of us. Let's write about our day tomorrow. There is a trick, of course. You can't just say you got out of bed, drank some coffee, worked all day at your job, came home, fixed something to eat, then watched TV and emailed friends till bedtime.

Nope. The devil is always in the details. Just for tomorrow, just for yourself, write down not only what you did, but what you were thinking about while you did it. If the radio or TV was on while you were brushing your teeth, what song was playing? Did you make faces in the mirror? Sing using your toothbrush as a microphone? Play "catch my toes" with the kitten while pulling on your socks?

You'll find you had a lot more going on in your life and in your mind than just getting ready for work.

If you watch TV, what shows did you watch and why? What characters were in the show and did they remind you of people you actually know? Who? Tell a little about Uncle Ted who looks just like Ducky on NCIS.

It will be a fun game and you'll begin to understand how writing your thoughts and reactions to your world, your life and people in it; is so much more vivid and entertaining than just writing down a point-by-point recap of the schedule of your day.

We'll all give it a try. If you want to share, feel free to mail your writing to me at my home address -- I'm in the book.

Until the next time friends, remember, your life is only familiar to you. To an ancestor 100 years from now, it is an adventure -- and you are the hero!