Family isn’t just important – it’s everything

St. James

I have recently discovered that I am a sexagenarian. Settle down now – we’re not talking about my religious beliefs or my home life – that simply means I am aged 60-69.

As I begin to navigate my silver years, my appreciation for family near and far has amplified.

I recently paid a visit to my family in New Jersey. This was my first time visiting there, and first time meeting my cousins. The last time I saw my uncle was here in Winnipeg in 2007 when my mother, his sister, passed away.

Despite his health issues, my uncle is a wealth of knowledge. He shared the family history of growing up in Nova Scotia and Ontario, and his life in New York and New Jersey. I learned more during my week-long visit than over a lifetime.

We tend to take our mundane everyday tales for granted and don’t believe anyone would ever find it interesting. It’s funny how those same stories can enlighten us when coming from a sibling’s perspective. Also, the questions become more interesting when generated by a seasoned adult.

In preparation for my trip, I pored through boxes of old photographs from my parents and grandparents. I made albums for my American family so we could share stories during my stay. These photos became a source of laughter, history, and bonding across generations.

Upon my return home, I was eager to investigate more about my family. I checked out historical statistics sites and discovered birth, marriage and death dates, family member names from generations ago, vocations, schools attended, and locations of residence.

Parents and grandparents – share your stories and photographs with your children and grandchildren. If you don’t – who will? You may not think of your life as exciting, but everything you did and learned has made you and your children who they are today. They will have questions that only you can answer.

I wish I had delved into my parents’ lives more before they passed. Sure, there were always the good stories, but now that I’m all grown up and interested, I wish I could ask questions about how they felt or thought. I wish I could ask them about growing older. I wish I could ask them so many things I just didn’t think of until now.

“What can you do to promote world peace? Go home and love your family.” – Mother Teresa