Four days before my 32nd birthday my mother, 52, died suddenly. It was Monday. On the previous Friday she was cleaning up a property after a storm. She walked over a cistern when the cover gave way and she fell. She suffered a bruise on her thigh. She phoned her doctor who provided a prescription for the pain. She spent the weekend lying around avoiding the pain and generally recovering from the fall. My wife and I visited her and my father bringing our young children along. Mom enjoyed loving on the kids. I remember her lying on the couch holding our nearly ten week old son and smiling and making him smile and coo. On Monday, she was preparing to go to her afternoon job when she collapsed. She died a short while later. A blog clot from the bruise had dislodged and traveled to her lungs causing an pulmonary embolism. My mom loved life and her family. She worked hard to support them, and she tried to keep us all close to her. Since she died we have scattered around the country.
She did not like her picture to be taken. I am not sure why.
We have just a few photos of her. She did not like her picture to be taken. I am not sure why. This was also in the days well before we all had cameras in our pockets, cell phones. My mother lives on primarily in our memories. One of the many things that I miss was hearing her laugh. She had a great laugh. She also said a few common words differently, maybe it was an accent or something. She also used a few interesting words and phrases. Maybe it has something to do with where her parents came from. She never lived in southern Illinois that I know of, but this Fall when we were visiting the region, I heard some of the same words and phrases. It was a special thing to hear people talk with what I thought was the uniqueness of my mom’s speech.
It would be great to hear her laugh again; to hear her voice.
It would be great to hear her laugh again; to hear her voice. It would be great if my children and grandchildren and even those after could have the type of knowledge of her that can only come from hearing her.
Earlier this year we had the opportunity to conduct family history interviews with three generations from one family. We have audio as well as transcripts. The interviews were dripping with tender moments, stories of love, stories of loss, laughter and sorrow. The voices will sound forever and bring endless joy for known loved ones and those yet to be born.
Make recordings for your loved ones.
Be sure to make, store, and provide access to recordings for your loved ones. Or let us to do for you. A snippet of our interview with Shirley is one such example. Either way, be sure to give your progeny the chance to hear you and your kin share your stories. Let them hear you laugh.
Let us know if we can help you
If you need any help finding your ancestors, just let us know.
