The most popular show on public television is the Antiques Roadshow. Every week people bring in items they hope will be worth a fortune...or at least enough for a good dinner.
To us, the most interesting items are those that have been handed down in a family from generation to generation. The owners have no intention of selling even though estimates may be in the many thousands of dollars. "This was my great-great-great-grandfather's journal, and it will stay in the family," they say.
Unfortunately, I have no such items in our family. Yes, there's an old photo album, but I don't know most of the people in them except for parents and grandparents. I do know some of my family history and wish I had a tangible remembrance of older ancestors.
As a Grandboomer, you might have something in your family that you want to pass along to your grandchild(ren). It's an important part of sustaining the history of the family. It doesn't have to be valuable...just a remembrance. If you do, great. If you don't, consider starting the tradition now. Think of some personal item you have and tell your child about it and that you want to pass it along to your grandchild. That starts the link. Express the desire that it be passed along to future generations. You may consider writing a journal the family history as you know it...or even of your own life experiences.
In this increasingly mobile society, families are together for too short a time. Handing something down is one way to remember those who have gone before and keep the family together.
© 2012 Created by Myles Bristowe.
