The daughter of a friend once wrote asking if I would write my memories of her mother. My friend Sherrie had died in her sleep at age 43. I did so and dug through my photos to send along with the stories. I included the phone book I had saved from the time we lived in Coldwater, Michigan, as well. I explained how relevant it would be in years to come as she tried to remember places they had gone and people who shared their lives. Another time my first husband's son asked if I had any photos of his dad from the years we were married. Again, I pulled out photographs and wrote stories for each of them. He did not know his dad, but cared enough to learn a bit more about him. I have a dazzling rhinestone jewelry set that I am saving for when he is older. I want him to have this reminder of his grandmother who so loved him but was denied visitation with him. We are caretakers of memories, but only when they are shared do they truly resound. Smiles, Anna ----- Original Message ----- From: "Vee L. Housman" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 11:26 PM Subject: Re: [FOLKS] Phone book 1968/69 > Dear Kathy, > > Thanks for letting me know you appreciate the importance of such recent > publications. I have a 1958 Niagara Falls City Directory that I picked up > at a yard sale years ago. And if you want to know the value of it just ask > Janey(?) Wolfe (forgive the senior moment) how much information I was able > to tell her about her allusive Polish grandfather who lived in Niagara Falls > back in those days. > > Inexperienced genealogists tend to think they have to start from the > "beginning" of their families and work up to the present. Whereas if they > don't know the history of their present family they'll never get them > connected to what they've predetermined to be the beginning. Trust me. > Been there, done that. > vee > ----- Original Message ----- > From: <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, April 14, 2004 10:28 PM > Subject: Re: [FOLKS] Phone book 1968/69 > > > > Hi Vee - I understand what a find that is! I bought a 1954/55 Buffalo > phone > > book at an estate sale. I've done quite a few lookups for people from that > > book. (Plus it was great to see all of my own relatives phones numbers at > that > > time). > > Kathy > > >