We’re often told that a picture is worth a thousand words and a thousand words can tell quite the story. If you are a blogger, join us by answering our journal prompt each week on your own blog and linking up to our community journal post on Monday’s. If you are not a blogger, why not start a blog today? We’re here to help get things rolling for you by providing you with writing prompts and a community to read your posts and grow your blog traffic. The journal agenda for the year can be found HERE and the prompt for this week is as follows:
Reflect on your favorite family photo. Tell the story of that day. If you were not present when the photo was taken, tell a story that relates to those who are in the photo.
As we celebrate Valentine’s Day I can’t help but reminisce on all of the family moments and photos that have occurred over the years just because two people fell in love. A whole life’s story can be told through photos. I have a fear of not taking enough photos. Alzheimer’s is prominent in my family and since I can remember I have taken and collected photos for the sole fact of compiling a database that tells my story and the story of my family for future generations, just in case the stories are not ones I am able to tell.
My Grandfather collected photos as well. Not for the same reasons that I am aware of, but he collected none the less. I realized this after his passing when I found box after box of photos, letters, post cards and family memorabilia deep in the depths of his closet. Some of these photos have become my favorite family photos of all time. They each tell a story and share bits and pieces of the lives of family members I never had the opportunity to meet.
Inside one of those boxes I came across and an envelope, wrapped in a silk handkerchief with a sprig of dried lavender. In my Great-Grandmother’s script the envelope reads “This letter is to Be Kept for Ever.” As I carefully opened the envelope and unfolded the deteriorating stationary inside I discovered a photo of a lady I had never seen before. The letter revealed her identity and part of my identity that I never knew existed. This was the last letter that my Great-Grandmother’s mother, my Great-Great-Grandmother, had written to her. The photo was a woman I did not recognize but she was a woman responsible for my existence. She is my Great-Great-Grandmother and to this day I know of no other existing photo of her.
The letter tells of her illness and how she had not been herself since Hillard’s passing. At that I stopped in my tracks. Who was Hillard? My Grandfather’s name was Hillard. My Father’s middle name is Hillard. I was named after them, but I never knew they were named after someone too. The letter was written on what would have been her 56th wedding anniversary, January 2nd, 1952. Hillard was my Great-Great-Grandfather. It’s a cliche saying, but I exist all because two people fell in love.
Lula, my Great-Grandmother, instructed that the letter should be kept for ever. I can’t speak for generations to come but I can guarantee it will be kept with love for as long as I may live. It serves as an example to me of how important it is to document our lives and the history of our families. In a world of technology digital photos and blogs are great, but nothing compares to hand written letters, printed photos and post cards. True memories that can be kept and preserved for generations to come.
This week, I encourage you to write letters to your loved ones and send them through the mail. Print out some photos of moments and people who are special to you. Preserve history, your history. Your Great-Grandchildren and Great-Great-Grandchildren will thank you for doing so, even if they never have the opportunity to meet you.
Reflect on your favorite family photo. Tell the story of that day. If you were not present when the photo was taken, tell a story that relates to those who are in the photo.
On your own blog, reflect on your favorite family photo(s) and link up below. Be sure to mention in your post that you are linking up to the 2013 FOLK Journal Challenge and be sure to grab the journal challenge image at the top of this post. For a list of future, weekly writing prompts visit the 2013 FOLK Journaling Agenda.
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» 2013 FOLK Journal Agenda » A Thousand Words
agenda, america, cherish, collection, discovery, family, FOLK, grandmother, hand lettering, hand written, history, journal, journaling, letter, mail, memory, namesake, old, photo, photography, preservation, Prompt, script, snail mail, traditional, usa, Valentine, Valentine's Day, valentines, vintage, Writing
11 Responses to A Thousand Words
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Just seeing those words handwritten on the envelope made my heart skip a beat. There is such an urgency to the for Ever. And, of course, we discover there would be. The only known photo of this woman! You tugged at my heartstrings today.
I felt the same way as soon as I came across the envelope May. It was a very special day.
Thank you for sharing this, Hillary. Your story is poignant and beautiful and reminds us to never take who we are for granted. I think your great-grandmother and her mother, and those even before would truly be proud of your accomplishments and apparent love of family; surely virtues that they had hoped to instill in their children. No matter how much changes in the world, family is still the most important thing we have.
Thanks so much Ann Marie! I owe it all to them (and my Grandfather). You are 100% correct, family will always be the most important thing we have!
What a beautiful story. It gave my heart a jolt. To love one family is to love yourself. Wishing you abundant love this Valentine season.
Thank you Lynn. Wishing you much love as well!!
What a special envelope and story, I would cherish it always.
While going through my mother-in-laws we found my husband’s grandfather’s naturalization papers along with a photo of him as a toddler when he immigrated to the United States. I will be having it matted and framed as a gift soon.
What a great find, and a lovely gift that will be! I can just imagine your excitement when you came across it. I love finding little treasures like that. They make your day! I hope to leave many of them for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren!!
[...] week’s FOLK Journal Challenge is as [...]
[...] up to the previous weeks prompt. I will be randomly selecting a post using random.org to feature. Last week we asked for you to share your favorite family photo and to tell the story behind the photo. Be [...]