Blarchive & Easter holiday

You're amazing... not just because you're family but because you - like all of us in this big tapestry of a family - hold an important piece of our collective puzzle. History is merely a select collection of stories (HER stories as well), diluted and embellished over countless tellings. The focus comes when we compare our stories, when we share and when we listen.

Our collective family archives comprise a trove of documents, photographs, personal letters and films, all indexed and waiting for you to discover. And as they grow with us, our family thread weaves into our fabric all the colors and flavors of those we love and wed; our cherished cousins who strengthen and balance this grand tree. These stories are captured not only in dusty, brittle-paged albums, but in each new submission to our collective history.

What we have today in archival content has been thoughtfully submitted by cousins, distant relatives and associates over many decades. And as cousin Charlie Driscoll mentioned in his Blarchive post, we now look to the present as tomorrow's past in an effort to bring our family story up to date in a "Living Archive." This is where each of us plays a role.

This Easter holiday, if you find yourself in person or on a call with 'cousins', be the spark that ignites a warm, shared memory of the past. Ask a question of an elder cousin that helps you discover more about them when they were your age, and thus brings you and them 'full-circle.' Reach out to a cousin in the 7th (yes, 7th!) generation and share a funny story from your youth. These shared discoveries and memories ARE the tie that binds us together. These conversations are the very reason why family archives exist: to share, discover one another (passed and present) and to serve as a common language that evolves over time.

If, through these tales, you share posts of your memories or uncover a box full of puzzle pieces - take the time to absorb them for what they are - a piece of your history. We have the blessing to have so many cousins and thus so many pieces of our puzzle to discover! And now is always the best time to start a puzzle!!

Much Love, 'Cuz you're Amazing!

Mike