First, it is a family-sharing web site whereby I can post pictures, artwork, stories, and videos of the family and share that with our extended family around the globe. It's a nicely formatted, easy to use, and fun to keep updated web site for that purpose.
Second, it is my not-so-private journal. I have little modesty, so I don't mind people reading my journal. I have named my journal This Normal Life, and in it, I have a place to do some writing and capture some of the family history which I often feel compelled to store for posterity. As with any family, we have a rich history of amusing and interesting stories which are largely passed on in an oral tradition, and begin to be lost as people start to pass away.
Starting with my grandparents, who are all now dead, passing on through my parents and their siblings, on through my generation and into my kids, there are stories to be told and captured. Someday, I will weave these into a complete chronological book. But for now, I am content simply to capture them.
One thing that Blogger is not really suited for is ordering various postings into a complete single place. My postings for This Normal Life (TNL) are scattered and peppered throughout various months of the blog. It's difficult to go back and read through them in order. So, I have decided to capture that material here, and will post updates as I write more. This is really mostly just for my own use, but others in the family may find it useful.
This Normal Life
Chapter 1: Okies
- part 1 - Introduction
- part 2 - Ponca City
- part 3 - Dad's Family
- part 4 - Dad's Baldness
- part 5 - My Mother
- part 6 - Mom's Family and Grandma Guier
- part 7 - Grandpa Guier
- part 8 - Grandma Harris
- part 9 - Grandpa Harris
Unassigned chapter material
- Babenhausen years, "Why I Don't Play Basketball"
- Piper years, "And now, for my father's story"
- Starkville and Atlanta years, "Mother's Day comes early"
- Ponca years, "Goodnight, Grandpa"