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family history
On April 9, 1917, 100,000 Canadian soldiers fought at Vimy and 3,598 of those died -- the most Canadian deaths recorded in the war. A century later, it appears many have forgotten their sacrifice. Worse still, many like me (until recently) don't even know they have a link to the battle.
I may have never been to South America, but in many ways my whole life has been spent hopping from one place to another. With all that in mind, and the research I did on Bolivia, I landed in Cochabamba on September 28, 2015, fully expecting to fall in love with the people and culture. What I didn't expect was to fall in love with a man -- but that's just what happened.
First and foremost answer the question why you want to write your memoir. What is driving your need to write? The memoir you are writing is your story, unique to you. Pack your fear of honesty at the door and answer why this story is important to you. The truth frees you to be who you are honestly -- as a person.
What are the hidden roots of your family tree? Is your history really as black and white as you believe? In the spirit of the ghost and ghouls season, here is a bare-bone guide for uncovering your family secrets this Halloween.
A story that always struck me growing up was that of my great-grandmother Florence Crofts whose mother died when she was just five. She was sent to live with her grandparents at Windwhistle Farm in Grassmoor, a little village close to Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England.
As weeks, months and years fly by, we are all missing opportunities to talk about real things -- important things -- with our parents.
With Valentine's Day around the corner, people everywhere are scrambling to figure out a special way to show their loved one they care. If you're looking for a unique way of expressing affection to that special someone in your life, why not try something out of the ordinary.
Said Oliver Wendell Holmes: "Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often it's because they're always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out." It's a reminder that legacy-building shouldn't wait.
I saw my father cry twice. The first time was just after my mother died. The next time was when I was gathering the stories of his WWII experiences, because I didn't want them to go away. I spent two years gathering my father's stories -- do you know someone whose story you'd hate to disappear?
