The Computer Buzz

July 31st, 2008

Nome and Paul Van Middlesworth - owners - The Computer Factory
 

Write a book

Mom died last week. She would have been 96 on the 31st. Mom led a full and fruitful life. She was living independently, was healthy, alert, and without aches or pains. She was tired, knew her time on Earth was nearly over and was ready. She passed peacefully in her sleep.

Four generations of our widely scattered family converged on Richmond, Indiana, to celebrate her life with local family and friends. Mom would have loved it.

There were many wonderful stories, much laughter and some tears. Several times questions arose that only Mom could have answered; of course those questions went unanswered. Mom was the last survivor among ten children born to coal miner George Hepburn and his wife Sarah in West Virginia. Mom never wrote about her life or kept a diary so much family history was lost forever when Mom died.

It brought to mind how wonderful it can be when a loved one leaves behind a written record of their life and times. Some of our customers have even created beautifully illustrated family histories for distribution among far-flung family members.

Everyone should write a book. Not necessarily a best seller or the great American novel, although you never know what might happen once you get started. Everyone should at least write a simple biography.

There are several reasons why everyone should author such a book. When you begin to sort out the events of your life you will discover that emotions and feelings associated with important events are crystal clear but the recollection of the actual events and their sequence are far less reliable. Time has an odd way of warping our recollections A systematic year-by-year reconstruction of the major events of your life will force you to do some research. Letters, newspaper clippings, certificates, awards, the Internet and just talking to relatives and old friends can help to organize your life and improve your memory.

Once you get your timeline ironed out you may find yourself at odds with some of the emotions associated with past events. From the vantage point of your older and (hopefully) more mature and enlightened perspective, you may see things in an entirely different light. You may wish to repair relationships with friends and relatives long ago put aside because of some differences. Removing the emotional shrapnel can let old wounds heal. It can be a very healthy thing.

If you approach it with an honest dedication, writing about your life and times will sharpen your mind and soothe your soul. If your motivation is to create a monument to your memory or a guidebook for future generations, forget it, you'll get preachy and screw the whole thing up. Start today; you'll be a better person for the effort.