TapatiM

I am finding that sorting my papers and organizing my files has gone hand-in-hand with my memoir writing project. I really needed material organized so I could put my hands on it as needed.

I financed a year of disability leave for myself (since I didn’t fully qualify for aid) to try to improve some serious health problems, then had trouble finding a job right away when I was ready. I have maxed out my considerable credit and added to my car payments (first almost new car I ever bought and I’m almost 50) I have now 37 K in debt. I am stunned by the amount but I am disciplined and as soon as I have a job I will start really tackling it. I grew up poor so I know how to live on little and will pump every extra cent to paying off my debt asap.

People have often told me I should write a book about my life just because a lot of interesting things have happened to me. I have finally started to do so mainly so my grandsons and their families someday will know what my life was like, and because I am the only one who knows about my family of origin and bits of their stories as well. I think everyone should write about their lives and remember that what we know about life in the past is because others did the same! This is history we’re writing!

Even if you think you haven’t lived enough yet, do some writing and save it. As you get older it will help you because you’ll have forgotten some of the details. Also save letters that have anything significant in them from others, and any supporting documents for events you’ll want to write about.

A related project is to acquire favorite family recipes and record them in a book as well. Once your mom/grandma/aunt/cousin is gone the recipe may die with them. If they just throw things together, watch them and record amounts and methods.

I learned the hard way how important this is when I had to re-create a favorite recipe the hard way, once my mother died.