But A Mere Annal

Annal: historical record


I've spent the last few weeks immersed in the past. Vintage items now adorn my house. Our weekend was spent at a Warbird Roundup Air Show. Stories of my family are being shared because we realize that time is against us in knowing our history. Knowing our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. Those who have gone before us have left behind some treasures and mostly just everyday life things. What they cannot leave behind are their stories. The Greatest Generation is leaving us quickly. My family is leaving us quickly. 

This week three people have unprompted asked me to share my family's rich legacy on my blog. After the third request, I could no longer deny it with my fear of being out of place for sharing not quite my story or for getting it wrong. Brandon told me my work needed to be in writing the story for all of us and possibly others. My childhood friend, Carrie Hellbusch, that I've spent more of our friendship sharing life together through Facebook than in person - that happens to Army brats when you only are stationed at a place for 19 weeks, implored me to share the lives of my family when I was telling her about the loss of my Grandma. She even came up with "But A Mere Annal" so I'd be out of excuses for putting it aside. She asked me to do it for her daughter Evie. How can you say no to that? At the air show, I sat with my two darling boys and husband front row to listen to Jonna Doolittle Heppes. She is Jimmy Doolittle's granddaughter. Google him if you are unfamiliar with the giant of a man. He stood 5'6. After Disney depicted her grandfather in a bit of a fictitious light in the movie Pearl Harbor, she felt the need to set the story straight. She wrote a book, Calculated Risk, to tell his story. She asked everyone of us to tell our story. Let's be real, most of the audience participated in WWII or Korea, and their story treasure is close to being lost if they don't share it. She looked at the minority of us and said share your family's story. Share your own story. Don't let the treasure be lost. 

So here I am. A granddaughter sharing her grandfather's story. What do you answer when asked about the Space Race? I answer: my grandfather was the Space Race.