Memorializing Memory

My own father-in-law turned 95-years-old two days ago and the entire clan worships his every word. Most likely because he rarely spoke when they grew up, unless it was to joke and tell awful stories with puns. But once he got rolling, it was like having Henny Youngman over for dinner. He loves to laugh. As should we all.

So why bring him up? Because he is a living national treasure and there aren't too many of those still around. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge during WII, was part of Patton's army and even helped liberate concentration camps.

It was only until about 10 years ago that he started really opening up about his experiences. We're still learning new things about his courage and moral compass.

He still goes into schools and tells student about what real-live combat "in the old days" was all about.

We're still trying to get some good stories out of him, reluctant though he may be to speak. But we keep trying, before they drift away in the wind.

It's important for all of us,an extended family that extends in age from niece-due-this-August to 40-year-old father in Amsterdam with three kids of his own.

Kids grow fast. And just like that, they turn into adults.

Don't you want to have some of their unfiltered wisdom to remember (maybe in childish scraw!) when they strike out on their own?

Regardless, here's the important (seemingly trivial) thing for you to remember:

When you have very small children who are working their way around language, and they sometimes say weirdly deep or hilarious things: WRITE DOWN WHATEVER IS SAID.

We all think we will remember the clever, witty or ridiculous things they say and then we forget. And that's why we should memorialize memory, as well as veterans. (Like the smooth transition?)

Because when you hand down memories, the things your kids have said reflect a glow they wouldn't otherwise have.

And that goes for whatever generation you want to remember.

Thanks for the memories.