Our Whispered Past

Remember, remember always, that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrations and revolutionists.
                                                                             Franklin D. Roosevelt

I don't know about you, but for myself, so much is unknown about my grandparents, great-grandparents and even further back.  I don't know why it was, but in both my mother's and my father's family, there was never much talk about their past.  I've discussed this with one of my other relatives and she thinks it's because it might not have been good and it was best not to talk about it and just let it go. 

On the other hand, Mr. Cottage has lots of information and photos from both his mother's and father's past.  I love looking at old photos and I love knowing about our past.  When I was out in California last month, my cousin was showing me some old photos and I saw one that I just had to have.  It wasn't in good condition and he wanted to fix it up before he sent me a copy.  Well, I received it today and I'm just so thrilled to have it.  The reason is is because this is the earliest photos I have seen of my father's parents.  My father wasn't even born yet, but when I saw my grandfather I thought "how handsome!"...

Throughout the years there have only been rumors about my paternal grandparents.  They were born and raised in Hungary.  Supposedly, my grandmother came from wealth and my grandfather didn't.  Her parents didn't approve and long story short, he came to America and then sent for my grandmother, at which point her parents disowned her; or so the story goes!  At least I do have photos of my father as a very young boy and as he grew up, but in my mother's family they never took photos.  My mother's youngest photos were all group photos from school or church and my maternal grandmother never wanted her photo taken.  So sad because I only have one or two photos of her and they were both taken by surprise.

I put together a family album about 5 years ago for each of our boys and their families and made one for Mr. Cottage and I.  I wanted all of them to know about their past and see photos of their relatives whom they never knew.  If I had a lot more time, I would love to pursue genealogy research into their past, but as it is now, I don't have enough time to pursue all the painting and sewing projects that I want to finish.  Time, it just has a way of slipping by so quickly for each of us!