katelynjane's notebook

Within the next couple days my Guest Blog for Postcards From the Funny Farm will be posted (thanks Damien!). SO cool! I love doing guest blogs and it's even more of an honor when you're asked! Yay!

My GB is about inspiration, something which comes pretty easy to me...it's just a matter of using the right words. As I was writing the entry, it got me thinking about my family background and the huge amounts of inspiring drama that sits in that huge, knotted and ever growing family tree.

On top of the amazing story I shared in Damien's blog, there are many other family members that have left their mark in history. Both involving the family and influential people in history.

Uncle Burt, an engineer in India in the early 1900's, received a jewel encrusted sword for saving the Maharajah's life. During a tiger hunt, the Maharajah's elephant was confronted with a tiger. Seeing the elephant spook, Uncle Burt shot the tiger and thus saved the kings life. Unfortunately, all of Uncle Burt's possessions were sold or given away after his death as his wife knew she could receive a small fortune for them.

My Papa, my mom's father, saved his crew mates when he took charge of their boat and navigated them safely though deathly rapids. Papa's captain wrote to his parents and thanked them for the life of their son and described his amazing efforts to go beyond his position and save the boats crew.

It's amazing how so much history lays in your family, sometimes without been told. I look back and wish I had taken more more quiet moments with my grandma before she passed away, to learn about her experiences and past. Every time I see an elderly person, I think about the history, the stories they have to tell and I wish I could sit down with them and see what they have to say.

I've been thinking about taking a trip to the retirement home here in town to get to know some of the people there. It'd be amazing to hear their stories. Maybe I need to take the time to do that...