Okay, thanks, Joe, but that's enough about me, like dieting, this, too, is not easy but I'm going to try. Thanks for all your comments help.
Well, for someone who at first wasn't sure they could do this you seem to now be on a roll Bob. I find that blog quite good by the way. You may think that your past experiences would be boring, but you would be amazed how others might find it interesting. You obviously have many memories to tell. The one about the flood was quite good, and showed how people endure such disasters. Keep up the good work.
Thank you Terry for posting Bill's photo. Yes, I see the "journey" but how intuitive of you to think of how it also gives a "sense of history" in regards to journaling Bob's life and future of the unknown. Loved the photo, Bill…beautifully simple and serene.
Here's my 2 cents, Bill.... There is nothing left for the next generation(s) to read that paints the picture of who we were and what we experienced. My dad wrote letters to Mom from Europe in WWII. My brother-in-law wrote letters to my mother-in-law and my wife when in Viet Nam. Sweethearts exchanged letters. People kept diaries that were not opened until their death... if even then. But, they wrote. They told the story of the path they walked. Today, everything is digital. There are no letters. There are no photographs. We are leaving nothing behind as to who we are. History books will be written and edited, not by people who have read our experiences, but by those who have become "educated" by way of digital resources. There will be nothing in writing to fact-check what is taught to the children of tomorrow. Digital tales can be too easily edited to reflect the bias of... or imagination of... the editor. Leave something your children and grandchildren can read about your life. Sure, it will be in digital format. But, a private blog authored for the benefit of those you have given life to will be read by them and remembered by them. We all have had the bad times, some have had it worse than others. To not make any reference to those times will not leave a true tale of the challenges we've faced for our kids to know. We have seen so much in our day. Communication... From not being able to make a long distance call after 10 p.m. to talking across the globe with this little thing in my pocket. From waiting patiently for the newspaper to see what happened in the World to seeing events pop up on my home page every few minutes. From World Book and Encyclopedia Britannica that were out of date before they were printed to instant access through Google. The miracles of modern medical technology. We have lots to write about that is positive. And, we lived through the drug culture of the 60's. We saw our military heroes spit on and denigrated when they returned home from Viet Nam. No one talked of PTSD. Instead, they wondered why our veterans were resorting to drugs and alcohol. Our next generations need to know what was wrong in our lifetime so they can make every attempt not to repeat the errors of our generation. Write... if you want to, keep it private an personal. You have every ability through keystrokes to make your writing only available to your family. Or, you can keep it public. Whatever, leave something that tells your story. Even though they may not say it today, after you're gone the WILL appreciate it.
Enjoying your blog Bill, lots of interesting facts about a lifestyle long gone, and for me one I had no experience of or even knew existed ..Thanks!
Now, you're REALLY telling your age! I haven't heard "much obliged" for ages. Used to be commonly used. Of course, that was back when gentlemen were gentlemen and ladies were ladies.
If I may suggest, why not write about the life of an ordinary American in the yonder days? My husband is a storyteller of such things so that when we go on vacations with the children (not really children anymore, they are teenagers already) they cherish the stories that my husband tells them like how much was his school allowance and that he walked to and from school. There was not fastfood and the snacks were native delicacies only plus fruits like green mango. Things like that attract interest from the youth because life is so different now. In fact, I also enjoy listening to my husband's stories and sometimes I also contribute my own.
...it's still used a lot here in the uk ...and beieve me there's not too many ''Gentlemen and Ladies'' left here either..
Bill that's fabulous...if I was one of your descendent I'd be delighted by it....keep going you're a natural writer...although no-one ever said writing is easy...nonetheless you have a natural aptitude for it...keep going , it's a delight so far!
I read what you wrote on your Blog Bill and definitely think you should continue telling your story...you're doing a fine job.
I think this is a great idea to write now your story so that the family that comes after you have more than pictures to look at and wonder who you are what is your story. You get to write your own story. My mom has a picture of 4 women, she can tell me who they are but that is it, no other information about them. It does not have to be a lot just something about you. I like to hear the stories from the older people about their lives, it is so different than the lives we now live.