Catching Pennies From Heaven: Your Stories

Generated with Bing ImageGenerator, February 4, 2024 at 1:54 PM

Some years ago, Lowell Tuttle led a family history writing group which met at a local library, where the writers swapped ideas and drafts of their writing. Over time, health issues etc. caused the group to dwindle. Months ago, Lowell wrote to me (Valorie) with some rough drafts for which he wanted feedback. I wrote back with a few suggestions and asked if we could use part of what he had written here in the blog. Recently he wrote back, giving us his permission to do so.

Note: While we have not been able to rekindle the Family History Writing group, we do have an online group: https://skcgs.groups.io/g/Family-History-Writing. While it has not taken off, it is a place to send your drafts and ask for feedback. 

Introduction

Dear Readers: My name is Lowell Allyn Tuttle.

This is a Pep Talk on why you should write your or your family's stories. There are hundreds of sources on HOW to write your or your families' stories. And I will make a few suggestions below.

First Suggestion: 

No matter what format you decide to write your story in, do it in 3 drafts:

1st draft: For Your Eyes Only.  Use this draft to relate the Good, Bad, and Ugly. Besides the good/fun/interesting things, write about the bad things and even the ugly stuff. Deaths, fights, meanness; that occurred. Sometimes writing about bad stuff in the past will let you see things in a different light, or at least make the event a little softer. 

Keep this draft for yourself only and read it many times. Each time may help you. Each time you will have processed it differently. Remember, this is For Your Eyes Only. So, you can feel free to write about anything without fear. Think of this draft as a diary.

2nd Draft: For Family Eyes Only.  Use this draft to edit information for family consumption. Also use this draft to expand narratives; and put in some kind of timeline information, if desired.  Add photos, images, copied documents of third party text, etc.

3rd Draft: For Public Consumption. This draft will be edited, expanded, and formatted for the public; for publication or submission to Ancestry.com, Family Search.org and/or other internet/electronic sites.

Second Suggestion: 

Some people find it easier to write about themselves and/or family by writing in third person; that is instead of "I did this or my father did that". Say "Tom Smith did this and his father Mike Smith did that".

Third Suggestion: 

Write about your own and other's personal feelings; not just genealogy-type events. Personal and family events. The little stories:       

      "Mom learned to drive when she was 54..."
      "I took flying lessons"
      "My first date" 
      "I received the highest math class grade in community college"
      "My mom's story of my birth" 

Why You Should Write Your Story

How It All Started. I have been researching my family tree for a little over 50 years (from the early 70's) and met many researchers. One was a lady friend that was part of a group who met at the library every week. Then she stopped coming to the meetings. About two years later she showed up again. Her husband had passed, and she had been his caregiver for two years. Because of our friendship, she asked me to help her a few times for doctor and hospital visits. Her children, although living in the area, had full time jobs and I lived nearby.

Of course we talked about family trees. In one of our conversations I mentioned that I had pretty much finished my family research, not having the money for additional professional research, and that I was starting to write some of my various family stories. I told her she should write her stories.

"Well," she answered, "my life is boring." I said that her life was unique, if not in world history events, in her family events. Even identical twins are unique after they are born. If nothing else, one was born first and the other second.

The following two stories were told to me months apart. She told me of an event where her husband was teasing her and she said, "If you don't stop I will leave you!" I thought, "Oh, maybe a bump in their marriage". 

The second event I heard and saw. We were talking about her husband's passing and this happened--she raised her fists up, shaking them and said, "If only I could have helped him more." Now that is real love. She also said that she had not told her children about these events. I had already helped her write the story about her cousin, who was about 20 years older than her, who was a WASP (Women Airforce Service Pilots), who tested and transported war planes during WWII in the US. 

This is why I decided to write this article.

Summary: There are both public and private events that a family may or may not know about that could, and maybe should, be told. You will be surprised at the memories that will come forward as you write.

Also public events, TV stories and, other people's stories will prompt other memories. Every memory that comes forward should and is worthwhile to be recorded. This is the message I want to send to you readers. Write the stories and events in any form you want. Talk to any and all family members about events in your family's history. Remember parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, grandaunts and granduncles. Compare stories with your siblings and cousins. I found that my sister remembers a lot of stories from mom that I have forgotten. Get their permission to write down those memories.

If you find in your family stories or research that you are connected or related to an interesting family member, or a well-known public or historical person, write a short bio about them. Tell how they are related to you and the life events that make them stand out. 

For example: I am related to Aaron Burr through a Tuttle female ancestor. I wrote a short paragraph about the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Did you know that Aaron Burr was the Vice President of the US at that time?

Now a little information about me

My parents met in Bend, Oregon, and married in Olympia, Washington. I was born in Monterey, California, and my sister was born in Eugene, Oregon. I worked for 37 years at an engineering firm in the Seattle, Washington area. I was born 27 Nov, 1944 and never married. That's another story.

I tried to present the information in a format that hopefully will be interesting and enjoyable. Also to jog your memories. Pardon my writing style; I am a retired engineer and a genealogist (non-professional), so my writing is spec/data oriented and not very wordy. The events/stories here have little to do with my family tree.

Even though I have a lot of family stories, those are personal and family members may not want them public. I would need to get their permission. That is why I suggested the three drafts above, so you can get permission for draft 2 and 3. I did get permission from my lady friend. 

- Lowell Tuttle

Comments:  allyntut@gmail.com