steele mama
Beach Fanatic
Put what you can in a scrapbook and throw the rest away.
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To trash it- or to keep it?
- Thread starter BlueFox181
- Start date
seacrestkristi
Beach Fanatic
or put it in a extra special box. 
jessifunn
superJfunn
scooterbug44
SoWal Expert
Don't throw away good stuff like that! I never knew my mother was an olympic hopeful until we were looking for something in our storage area and found an old display of her medals and ribbons!
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
Maybe your mom should communicate better with you about her life. I think too many grandparents and parents (mine included) never share stories about their lives. Those stories would be much more memorable than some trophies shoved into the back of a closet.
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scooterbug44
SoWal Expert
She does/did a great job communicating with me - I just didn't know how FAR she had gone in her sport until I saw the medals. That's why I suggested keeping things like that - conversation starters!
I'm currently trying to get my grandmother to write her life story down - amazing some of the life experiences she's had!
I'm currently trying to get my grandmother to write her life story down - amazing some of the life experiences she's had!
Jdarg
SoWal Expert
I will NEVER throw away any letters - especially since everyone sends "letters" on the computer now, and real letters are few and far between. I'm sorry- letters sent via computer aren't letters, they are e-mail, and a cold, sad, impersonal comparison to words written on paper by someone's hand holding a pen, not to mention their spit on the envelope.
I have saved almost every letter ever written to me, and now the kids have their own "memory boxes", but sadly, their boxes will never has as many real letters as mine.
Of course, this sentimental flaw in me is partially the reason why our cars will never see the inside of our garage.
I have saved almost every letter ever written to me, and now the kids have their own "memory boxes", but sadly, their boxes will never has as many real letters as mine.
Of course, this sentimental flaw in me is partially the reason why our cars will never see the inside of our garage.
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Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
Getting her to write down her life story would be a great way to get her to open up. Obviously, if she didn't talk about her medals, you are probably missing out on other stories. If she won't write down her stories, perhaps she will give you an interview.
I learned very much about my grandfather via an interview based on his life -- mostly focussed on his childhood, though contains things like the location of graveyards where family members were buried.
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scooterbug44
SoWal Expert
I knew Grandma wouldn't have the energy/computer savvy to WRITE her autobiography, so my latest suggestion was for her to dictate the stories into a tape recorder and then have a medical transcription service or her companion write it up. There are some hilarious stories!
Smiling JOe
SoWal Expert
FYI- there are cheap and free software programs available which do a great job of converting voice recordings into written word. I have one with my laptop.