Memorial Day Memories

Here's another question to write about in your story:

How did your family observe Memorial Day?

Did your family do special things on Memorial Day to help remember those who have died?  Did they honor especially those who died while serving their country?  Did your family do fun things like having a barbecue or a picnic or camping out?  Write down your memories of Memorial Day. 
My family always decorated the graves of family members.  My mother would make artificial flowers out of plastic or crepe paper and then we would take them and place them on family members' graves.  We always decorated my dad's parents' graves which were in the cemetary of the town we lived in.  We usually traveled fifteen miles and put flowers on my mother's father's grave and on her baby brother's grave.  My dad's brothers and sisters would usually come to our town to decorate their parents' graves.  They decided to get together for a dinner and they would visit and sometimes have a program.  Usually they asked each brother or sister to choose someone from their family to share their talent.  Once I learned to play the flute it seemed I got to be the one to share the talent.  
It is harder now to decorate family graves.  I live about 500 miles away from where my parents and grandparents and sister are buried.  Although Memorial Day sometimes just seems like it's a day off from work, I still can take time to remember my family and to especially remember those who died while serving our country and preserving our freedom. 
Books and CD's to help with researching your family at clearance prices. 

Did You Serve in the Military?

Another idea to write about in your life story:

Did you serve in the military?  Did you have family members who served in the military?  What are your feelings about serving in the military?

I never served in the military.  My sister got a draft notice for the Vietnam War.  Young men were the only ones being drafted.  My sister's name was very unusual.  I've never met anyone with her name.  It was two men's names put together.  To me, it was a feminine name because it was my sister's name.  I guess the draft board didn't look at the gender on any of her records and they only went by her name.  My parents helped her point out that she was a woman and should not be drafted.  
My dad was called up for World War II.  He went in for a physical and when blood was withdrawn for testing his arm became paralyzed.  He was dismissed as not being physically fit for service.  His arm didn't remain paralyzed but he wasn't allowed to serve in the military.
I have had some involvement with the military though.  As a young woman, I worked at Tooele Army Depot.  Then twenty-some years ago I moved with my husband as he took a job at Hawthorne Army Ammunition Depot.  The community is very supportive of the military both in actual physical support by supplying and storing weapons since before World War II and emotionally supportive with a Veteran's Memorial Park and a big Armed Forces Day Celebration.

Personally I don't like war and I hope to never have to fight in a war, but I truly appreciate those who are willing to fight and to even give their lives for our freedom. 

My New Life

Tragedies happen in life.  Really hard, difficult things can happen in life.  Sometimes several problems come at once.  The belief that life is still good even if it is hard makes it so much easier to go on.  This video shows one woman's outlook on her trial.

Ten years ago I went through a series of tragedies.  My life changed drastically.  I didn't have the same kind of challenge portrayed in this video, but I had life changing things to deal with.  I was in a hospital for three months, couldn't walk for four months and couldn't work for six months.  I lost four family members during that time including my husband.  What I learned through that experience is something I should write down in my life story.

Hopefully your challenges are more spread out and not as intense, but what you learn from your trials is important to write down and share with others.  It can be good to write down both your sadness and your gladness when you are going through problems, but even if it has been years since the challenge occurred it is still good to write down what you felt and what you learned.  Some experiences in life totally change our lives.  Write about those things that have changed your life.