A Special Request to Any Family Member

I started Time Will Tell as a way to document as much of our family history as I could.  Unfortunately, the history has been somewhat one-sided since most of it has been from my perspective. I am asking for your contributions.

Think about the things we’ve discovered that most of us didn’t know – how special the story of Oscar’s violin and what happened to it has been. Most of us had no idea that Oscar played the violin, or that Oscar and Teckla met when they played instruments at dances. The only thing I remember was when Roger and I were staying with Grandma one summer in Iron Mountain and Grandma got a far-away look in her eyes as she told us that Grandpa’s favorite song was “Jimmy Crack Corn” (which has many interpretations, although it’s basically a slave song – I always thought it was a drinking song about bootleg liquor. It’s possible that he quite simply liked to play it on his violin.)   

I also know that most of you probably have no idea of where or how to even begin.Today I came across an article entitled “Items to consider in writing your Family History.” I also found an outline of what Aunt Nan was going to write (and never did.)

Ron Osterberg has already agreed to write short stories for us about his side of the (Aunt Ida) Osterberg part of the Ekquist family. We’d love to hear more from you too.

I am hoping for as much family history as possible – not from just the Lundwall cousins, but from any and all extended family members. (Do any of you remember when the Lundwalls tried Round-Robin letters -- where somebody started, and each family's news was added to it and sent on to the next in line?) This might include stories about:

Childhood health, accidents, playmates, trips, brothers and sisters, unusual happenings, visitors, memories of other relatives, what influenced your major decisions in life.

Schools attended, teachers, who or what influenced you the most, special activities, achievements, funny things that happened.

What your parents did for a living. What you do/did for a living.

Sports you’ve enjoyed (I remember my dad sitting at the kitchen table listening to boxing on the radio, and we tiptoed around him so he didn’t miss a thing. Luckily, I married a man who didn't enjoy listening to the fights! One of my daughter's at age 11 decided she wanted to be Joe Namath.)

Courtship, where you met, proposal, wedding parties, honeymoon, meeting your inlaws. Married life, settling down, your new home, differences in family cultures, joys and sorrows. Hardships. Humorous incidents. Frightening experiences.

What you enjoy doing for recreation. Hobbies, travels, camping. Special celebrations you remember. How you celebrate holidays, birthdays, etc. What you do for pure enjoyment.

Family members, what you remember of often-told family stories, or how a relative inspired you. (We no longer have Uncle Bill or Uncle Dave to tell us stories; too bad we didn't start this a long time ago!)

This isn't a test or a major project; nobody will be graded. Share whatever is interesting and meaningful to you. Any story that does not embarrass or hurt others is acceptable. Without your input, our family history will not be complete. We are all getting older, please do it now.  

If it helps, think of it as a letter written to your family..... Family letters have always been treasured -- I remember when my parents went to Sweden, they were given letters received in Sweden from my mother's parents here in the United States saved for many years.  Aunt Nancy saved letters from everybody, and many of these survive today.

Sending hugs to all, as well as thank you for being a special part of our family, a part of our history!