What's the Story?

If you are living in the midst of a story, as all of us are, do we know how it turns out in the end? 

What if there is more than one story happening, and more than one challenge along the way?

Courtesy of Steve Czajka creativecommons

Once upon a time, there was a girl who was given the responsibility to care for her younger brother and sister after school. She was unhappy with these duties, and her siblings did not obey her and do the things she told them to do. She began to grow apart from her sister and brother, and once they were all adults, was not close to them. 

As life continued, she thought about making peace with her brother. Perhaps it was losing her younger sister which prompted her to visit him, and ask how he remembered their childhood. To her surprise, her brother said, I was always jealous of you. Our mother trusted you to care for us; why didn't she trust me? I could have helped out.

Many of us have compared stories and memories from our childhood with family members and friends, and been surprised how the accounts differ. In the case of this elder sister, she was profoundly changed by the story her brother told her. Her resentment melted away.  

River through the mountains; courtesy of Pickpik.com

I thought about this story, which I read in an advice column, as I listened tonight to a veteran diplomat talk about peace efforts of the past which worked, and those which failed. One key was creating an atmosphere in the room where trust could build; another was including more than only the "men of power." Often the stories we find as we do our research are of those facing huge challenges, and sometimes the way through was not clear, easy or even possible.  Failure is always an option,  and the painful end to many a story. 

The Helpers

Courtesy Darin McClure

Mr. Rogers used to advise: look for the helpers. Those of us who do research work are helpers by bringing these stories to light, and we stand on the shoulders of other volunteers, enthusiasts, experts and professionals who have diligently kept records over the centuries. 

Some, ship captains kept accurate log books, some, clerks in churches, courts, towns, counties and states noted names, dates and events, and sometimes extra information that add new layers to the story we're unearthing. Even tax collectors, census enumerators, civil engineers, architects, sheriffs, slave holders, insurance companies and businesses kept records. Some, librarians and archivists, continue to take the time to sort and index records so they can be found. 

Mapmakers, scientists, explorers, authors, compilers, and genealogy publishers and website developers have delivered to us access to all these wonderful records of the past, whether the details of every day life or the end of it, can shed light we need as we puzzle out the relationships, events and movements of our ancestors and other family members.

Be A Helper

If you live close to Renton, Auburn or Federal Way in south King County, Washington, and are interested in helping others once a month in your local library, write to Outreach@skcgs.org and volunteer!

 

Valorie Zimmerman