Month: May 2004

I saw the movie Big Fish this weekend. A very good movie, “fantastic” in that the stories in it are so over the top. (If you haven’t seen it yet, go read someone else’s blog cause I might ruin it for you.) The father is always telling people, he’s son in particular, about all these life adventures that can’t possibly be true because the stories are just so over the top. I kind of thought about my own dad and how good he is at telling stories. I have always loved sitting at a table late at night surrounded by his siblings and in-laws as they reflect of some of the great things that have happened since last time they talked or reflecting on adventures from when they were younger. I know my father better though sitting in on these story times. I know more about my aunts, uncles and grandparents as well. Unfortunately, theses stories would have no occasion to be simply told to me. Adults know kids probably don’t care about getting carded when trying to buy diapers. It is such a treat to hear about the lives of those who have came before you. This really all goes back to my blog a couple weeks ago on what Ecclesiastes says is really important in life. It is all about our relationships, especially our relationship with Christ, that’s why communication is so important. Whether it be through stories or prayer it is so good to get to know people. More than just how their day was and what their job is.

Its a shame when the memory of people is lost. How many of us don’t even know the name of our great grandparents or where our great-great-great-grandparents came from. Recently I and some other relative were able to sit down and video tape a conversation with my grandparents about their lives. About their brothers, sisters, parents and how they met. My grandpop was shocked when I asked basic questions that he might have thought were common knowledge. We don’t know what those who came before us had to deal with in their lives. I have a copy of Band of Brothers on my desk right now, an incredible miniseries about World War II. Being from the generation I am, I knew almost nothing about how much of a strain on life that war on the world. I am so glad I did not have to live through it. I am so much more appreciative about what our grandparents did now that I have seen it. I have heard almost nothing about my granddad’s own time in the army.