A Piece of History

For a long time now I have been obsessed with family history, journaling and artifacts. I have spent many hours researching my ancestors. I enjoy reading about their lives, hearing stories from my Grandmas and being able to touch things that they touched. It all makes me feel like I am getting to know them and keeping them alive in some way. I can actually feel the anticipation in my heart for the time I will finally meet them in the Spirit World.
One line in particular is my Mothers maternal line, the Washburns. I have a journal form 1885 written by Ida which is my most valuable possession. I have stayed in the houses they lived in, I have shopped at the store which was once owned by a great great great Uncle. I have visited them at their resting places and talked with them and cleaned their headstones(with help from Kaitlyn and my Mom). I feel like I know them.
Then one day I got a phone call from my second cousin Carrie. She had acquired a box which has in it many letters and writings from our great great great grandfather William Washburn from Sebec Maine. She also has notebooks from our great great aunt Lucy which attempts to recount our family history. Aunt Lucy documented a lot of information which is amazing to me in the 21st century that she could have found all the information she did in 1906. I am boring everyone! Long story short, Carrie came over yesterday and I was able to see all the documents and I will admit I had to hold back my tears.

To see and hold those letters was amazing to me. I will admit my jealousy over our side of the family having none of that stuff, but she wants to share the information with everyone. I have spent 4 hours since our visit making copies of everything, and will spend the bulk of today doing the same. I am grateful this information still exists and that we are all able to use it to trace our ancestors and get to know them a bit. I hope they can feel our love, wherever they are. The letters written by William Washburn to his sons and correspondence back range in dates from the 1870's and 1880's. The letters are fun to read and play like a diary of life back then. I will enjoy learning more of them and feeling closer to them.

Finding these letters and old journals just makes me more passionate about us writing things down. Even everyday life is more romantic and interesting 138 years later!