For a person like me who has a touch of claustrophobia and craves sunshine, it is odd how much I like this weather phenomena. I guess the defining piece is that it lasts here for just part of a day or perhaps a day at a time, whereas, in the Midwest it might be overcast for days on end, sometimes without a breakthrough of sunshine at all. That was depressing to me, and I'm not kidding about it. It didn't just make me sad, it made me immobile after a couple or three days.
Last night, I was ready to go to bed around 11:00. I was going to check email, Blogger and Facebook one more time, and found I had no internet. Again!! I called the provider and got a recording that it was and "area outage," and would be repaired by 3:58 this morning. Again with the outage! What is with that? I was already frustrated because I had just put a new black ink cartridge in the printer earlier in the day, printed off about 50 pages, and was being told the ink was gone! grrr. And of course, I can't return it because who keeps the receipts for things like that, purchased about six weeks ago when I noticed it was getting low?
Anyway, there has been some discussion at Facebook about the glitches many of us are running into. Slow loading, comments not posting right or at all, etc. I recalled that my psychic friend mentioned a few days ago the Mercury is in retrograde. Since this effects, among other things, communication, I wondered if it might have any ties to the internet communications, so when I goggled it, look what I found:
Mercury Retrograde
Mercury retrograde in Libra & Virgo [Sep. 7 – Sep. 29, 2009]
At 04:46 UT (Universal Time), on Monday, September 7th, 2009, Mercury the cosmic trickster turns retrograde at 6°13' Libra, in the sign of the Scales, sending communications, travel, appointments, mail and the www into a general snarlup! The retro period begins some days before the actual turning point (as Mercury slows) and lasts for three weeks or so, until Sep. 29, when the Winged Messenger reaches his direct station. At this time he halts and begins his return to direct motion through the zodiac.
Everything finally straightens out on October 18, as he passes the point where he first turned retrograde.
So! We can blame all these internet problems on the stars! Doesn't that simplify everything? Thought so!
I've recently returned to a task started long ago. Long, long ago, in fact, as it is an ongoing project formally beginning in about the late '80s. I began writing my mémoires for my children. I had previously written down a few stories about growing up, but I became aware of how history can be so easily lost. Stories from and about my grandmother that never got written down now are remembered differently by myself and my siblings. Not that it matters a lot, as our memories are just that .... our own memories. But it would be nice to know Gramma's version for certain.
I decided that I would capture my memories of my childhood and young adulthood for my kids, so that they would understand why I am who I am. I began piecing the stories together, filling in gaps, adding more to it. I worked on this off and on over the years, but nearly abandoned it from a couple years before my husband died until a few days ago. I was too busy with his care, being sucked into depression, and simply didn't have the energy or creativity to write. It is essentially done, although I may continue to add to it as time goes on, as other memories occur or new events worth telling come about.
Now, I'm doing some editing and smoothing. I have written about 250 pages, as one thing lead to another, and I eventually recounted my entire life. I'm about 1/3 of the way through with the editing process. Then I want to add some pictures through the years, especially as they recall some specific events, places or people. When I get it in order, I'll probably send it to my kids in PDF format, and if I ever find the extra dollars, I'd like to put it in "real book" form, having it printed and bound for them.
It is an ambitious project, much bigger than I originally planned, but one I'm glad I started. I've done this before on this blog, but I want to repeat my suggestion to everyone to write down their memories for their families. The children and grandchildren will appreciate it. If you don't have children, consider nieces and nephews, siblings, etc. Your story is important to someone! And it doesn't have to be in a formal format or on a chronological time line and certainly not as extensive as mine. But the pieces of your history that are down on paper or stored (accessibly, please!) in your computer are important. Do it.
OK, I'm done for the day. Maybe. I might be back, who knows?
You do have an ambitious project! Good for you, there could be no more important work than what you're doing.
ReplyDeleteChildren often don't appreciate our work while we're living but there will come a time in their lives they will love it.
I know. My sibs and I have many times wished we had asked more questions or written down what our folks told us. Thankfully, my daughter is very interested and has read the first section, my life up to 18. I think my DIL is, also, but hasn't commented on whether she read it or not. My son? Gah, he's a boy!! 45 year old boy, but boy, nonetheless!
ReplyDeleteI think that is wonderful that you are writing your memoirs! I wish my grandparents and parents had/would do it. Maybe one day I will for Madison and write as much as I can remember about my parents/grandparents. I used to stay with my maternal grandparents and beg them to tell me the same stories over and over again. Never got tired of hearing them. I stayed with my paternal Grandmother and she would tell stories too. I lapped it up like a kitten eating cream. I am definitely a traditionalist who LOVES nostalgia and vintage.
ReplyDeleteQueenie, don't put it off. You are less likely with each passing day, trust me. Get a spiral notebook and start making reminder notes as you think of them. Carry a little notebook in your purse to jot down things if you think of them away from home. Do it!
ReplyDeleteI have thought about that so often. But without kids, I wondered who would be interested in my stories. Maybe a kiddo and maybe a story...we'll see.
ReplyDeleteTrust me, MJ, you should do it. Your nieces and nephews will appreciate it. You will have a different perspective than your sisters will, and you'll remember things they don't. Know about my aunts and uncles memories filled in gaps for us.
ReplyDelete