The End Is Near...

[FamTree]

My father, a lifetime smoker, has been lucky enough to live to 70.  Recent medical check ups revealed several spots on his lungs.  I am shocked at both of my parents as they are both unwilling to combat their addiction or actively work to get healthy.  As if, they expected to check out at this age and have nothing else to live for.  It upsets me.  He is such a big part of our family tree. 

 

I've asked my father to begin a journal and an inventory of messages in anticipation of his death.  I asked him what he would say to his four sons, 6 grandchildren, and daughters-in law after his death.  I asked him to record video wishing his grandchildren happy birthdays for years to come, graduations, weddings, and future family births.  I asked him to leave messages to us to help us grieve after he is gone and to give us his history so we never forget. 

 

Now that this is facing us, I worry about our history.  Family trees are typically a trunk and branches when viewed on paper.  Our branches have fallen away.  We don't know our generational history.  I don't want my father's history to be forgotten.  That's why I asked him to do this.  I will be the caretaker of his videos, documents, recorded audio files and hand them down the family line.  I am starting a tradition.

 

Any thoughts?

 

 

[ModKonnie]

I wished I would have tried to do this. When we realized my father was truly going to die, we started asking him all kinds of things about his family and what he remembered as a kid, but none of us wrote anything down.

I think family trees and stories are very important, too. I try to tell my children oral stories I remembered as a child so they can pass down the traditions.

 

ModKonnie