A
few months ago, I attended a talk by Duane Roen, Professor at Arizona State
University. Dr. Roen's current titles are: Assistant Vice Provost for University
Academic Success Programs, Interim Dean, University College, and Interim
Director, School of Letters and Sciences.
The talk given by Dr. Roen at West Valley Genealogical Society, Sun City, AZ, was
titled: "Writing Family History: A Gift
for Generations to Come."
As background, he and his
wife have been journaling since they married. Sometimes it is only 15 minutes a
night, sometimes they both add to the journal, or sometimes just one of them.
They never say anything negative about anyone. It is mostly
about family, their daily routines, thoughts and observations. Dr. Roen
encourages everyone to consider journaling. What a gift to your children!
One of the exercises we did during his presentation, was filling
in 'frameworks' that he and others use to write about someone close. He shared
one he had written about his mother, as an example. The following format was used:
A Biographical/Autobiographical Poem:
Line 1: (First name)
Line 2: (Several traits of this person)
Line 3: (Relationship to someone else)
Line 4: Who loves (several people or things)
Line
5: Who feels
Line
6: Who needs
Line
7: Who fears
Line
8: Who gives
Line
9: Who would like to see
Line
10: Resident of
Line
11: (Last name)
There are other possibilities such as: 'A
Memorable Family Place', 'A
Memorable Family Member' and 'A Memorable Family Event'.
I
followed the above Biographical Poem and wrote about my mother, Margaret
Beckington McDougall. Here is what I wrote:
Margaret
Edna,
English
and Irish ancestry, many in America since the 1600s;
Daughter
of Garth and Edna Childs Beckington, wife of Ken;
who
loved her children, learned to drive at age 38;
who
died too young, from a preventable disease;
who
loved to try new activities such as bowling, golf, and travel;
who
made sure her three daughters were independent;
who
would be proud of her grand and great-grandchildren;
who
always wished for more; could keep a secret;
spent
all her life in Washtenaw County, Michigan;
Beckington
McDougall
I
would love to have family and friends try this exercise. Use any family member
or close friend. If you want, I will publish them in the future, with your permission. I
think this would be a fun exercise for everyone to try. And, please, consider
journaling about your life for those who come after you.
