Writing A Memoir For My Family

I’m writing a memoir/family history (from my personal journals, memories, and family stories I heard while growing up) for my children and theirs. I wish my parents and grandparents had done this for my generation. It is an explanation of the paths I chose or, for whatever reason, was forced or intised to travel. My working title is “Same-ol’, Same-ol’: Life and Times of a 21st Century Geezer.”

This writing and the memoris induced by it are responsible for many of my recent poems. I’m sure more will be provoked by it during this process.

Some may assume that I’m just trying to justify my life. Maybe, but I’m thinking more in terms of explaining the economics around my decisions, the political atmosphere both of my imediate proximity and the world in general. Not rationalizing, but explaining my proclivities and preferences. How and why they (my children and grandchildren) ended up born where and when they were. At least from my perspective.

There are certainly other perspectives than mine. And that’s fine. Each of us is entilted to our own. I don’t believe there is any ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ here, just perspectives. But this will give my desendents a sampling of mine, leading up to and through their births and into the current day and age… the past, present, and possible future zeitgeists, as I see them.

That said, I may not be posting as much as I have been so far. But the writing will also generate new thoughts and some poetry. So it’s all good.

–LE