Thursday, April 18, 2013

Top of the Heap!


Monday’s Riddle was a tricky poem that got us thinking about where our stories come from. We are giving away three signed books in the Signed Book Giveaway Hop, which all tie into the theme for the week. Lizzy's review of The Junkyard Wonders by Patricia Polacco shows us the power of using our own stories in our writing. Friday, we will be showcasing our meeting with Patricia Polacco, and Saturday, we can't wait to hear from you on The DMS Wants to Know. Today, we thought we would share two of the coolest ways we know of to learn the stories of our lives…

This week's top of the heap: The best way to get to know our stories!
Ken Thomas, Wikipedia photo
Fairday: There are so many ways to learn about the stories that tell us who we are. Living so close to Ellis Island for most of my life, it became a magical thread connecting me to family members that I had never met. Walking in to the building, I felt like I could hear the voices of my great-great-grandparents whispering to me about their journey. Because the museum brought the past alive, it made me interested in where I came from and what life was like for my family. I know Ellis Island was badly damaged in Hurricane Sandy and isn’t open to the public now, but I hope its doors will open again soon so others can experience the wonders of history.  ~F
Lizzy's footprint: Day 1
Lizzy: I love to look at old photographs and have my mom, dad, or grandparents tell me stories about the old days. I think that is why I find it so fascinating to go through albums with black and white pictures. The pictures tell their own tales and capture a moment of interest. Nowadays, so many people don’t print out pictures, but I am lucky because my mom has been working on an album about me since I was born. It has journal entries from my mom telling about different events that happened, along with pictures. I love to curl up on the couch and flip through photos and mementos that I don’t remember, but that still teach me about myself. There are clippings of my first haircut, a hospital bracelet from when I got my tonsils out, and so many odds and ends. Keepsakes and photographs help me get in touch with my personal history.  ~L
Each of our stories makes us unique!

12 comments:

  1. that's so cool! Wish my parents had kept some of my baby things so I could look back at them :(
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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    1. Nutschell- I feel very lucky to have my baby things. Now I add to the book with my own memories of what is happening. I guess we can always start keeping track at any time. :) Mavbe some of your baby things are floating around somewhere. ~L

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  2. It's so true that each of our stories makes us unique. That's why we should all write our stories down. and poems too.

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  3. We all have our own special story to tell for sure. Thanks for the reminder. Oh no! I didn't know that Ellis Island was damaged. So much destruction and it is six months later and it is still trying to recover!

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    1. Heidi- I think it is so sad about Ellis Island and hope it will be back up and running before too long. It is an amazing place with so much of our history. ~L

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  4. I'd love to go to Ellis Island and see the museum. Rich with history and so many stories that most of us have a tie to. I find all that stuff so interesting.

    Lizzy, what an awesome thing your mom has been doing for you. Such a treasure!

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    1. LynNerdKelley- I hope Ellis Island opens soon and you can make it there. It is such an amazing feeling to be in a place that so many people came through to get to our great country.

      I feel very lucky to have the treasures my mom saved for me. :) ~L

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  5. I have a keepsake book like that for each of my kids, because my mom did one for me, and I STILL treasure it! So precious. And I love the pics. How amazing would it be to visit Ellis Island someday? :0)

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    1. M. Christine- How wonderful that you have made a keepsake book for each of your kids! They are so lucky. I love that your mom did one for you. I bet your kids love looking at it. :) Yeah! ~L

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  6. Ah, I love all of that stuff from when you were a child :D I have some things from before, but no picture of my foot, like you have.. *jealous* lol :) Thank you for sharing. <3

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    1. Carina- I have so much fun looking at all the old things from when I was little. It is amazing to me that they come from me. :) Sorry you don't have a foot picture- but I bet you have some fascinting things. I see what you get in your mailbox each week, so I have to imagine you have awesome items from when you were little. ;) ~L

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