Barbara J. Hamby

sign-up for our email list

Genealogy

In conversations about genealogy I’ve learned that some families are very reticent about discussing their ancestors. Some don’t really seem to want to know anything about them and of those who do know family history details, a number of them would rather not talk about it.

It’s occurred to me to wonder how all this recent interest in memoirs will affect the “head in the sand” relatives of tell-all types. I’m writing stories about my life and have felt somewhat relieved that my former husbands have all pre-deceased me, giving me more freedom to write about them. Of course, I have to keep in mind that our children might be shocked or offended by some details that may be better left untold.

Recently I’ve been sidetracked compiling travel journals, but I’ll soon get back to writing my life stories and carefully blue penciling the tales I’ve already put to paper. Those of us who want to leave something behind for our descendants have to consider how much they might want to know--a question impossible to answer.