Expectations

Every summer, I try to have some kind of project to keep myself busy and out of the heat.  This past summer, I decided to post old photos of me and my siblings growing up, telling a little about our past, where we came from, what we were doing, funny stories, etc.  I created a closed family group on Facebook, since that's what everyone seems to use to keep up with family.  I had hopes that it would start a dialog among us, helping keep the family stories alive.

But nope.  My family disappoints yet again.

What's it take, a moment or two to jot down a line from your phone? 

I keep thinking I should quit posting.  I don't want the family photos to just sit buried somewhere.  I don't want the stories to end.  But they will.  They are.  Millenials don't care about ancient history, or even the past year.  They're all about the 'now'. 

It's pretty sad, I have thousands of photos ....
and who will care once I'm gone?  The albums will be cast aside.  That's how I ended up with my grandmother's photos:  no one else wanted them.  It's why there are blogs containing old photos (The one I follow is Forgotten Old Photos) and sometimes they find their way back to the original family.  It helps if there are people who write names and dates on photos.  We all think "we'll remember this!"  and we don't.



I recently posted this photo of a town parade.  My mom is wearing shorts and white go-go boots.  I'm sure the parade was in East Grand Forks.  I think the other woman sitting with her is her sister-in-law.  So how did they become float-sitters for Lone Star Boats? 

I guess the bottom line is not many people are as fascinated by the past, by old photos, as I am.  Or they don't want to take the time ....  Some day, when my mother isn't around to ask, someone's going to say WTH?  and want to know. 

I guess it's just about expectations.
Mine have always been too high when it comes to family.