What will your "Comments" section say?

When I look on my family tree on Ancestry.com I see a bunch of names. So many names that I know are a part of what has made me who I am, and yet so many names that are just that… names. Names on a family tree. What do I know about them though? Absolutely nothing for the most part. That even includes names that sit in the slots for “maternal grandmother” and “maternal grandfather” … only two generations back.

And my thoughts slowly turn to my own mortality. One day I will be only a name on a family tree. You see, after a few generations, stories stop getting passed on and people move on with their lives. Who will remember anything about me? Surely my children will. And most likely their children (my grandchildren when they come). But beyond that, I will take my place as a name on the family tree. They’ll have a birth date and a death date. They may have places I was known to live and possibly an occupation. But, what will they write about me in the “comments” section of the tree?

As I was growing up there was a man who lived down the street; Mr. Blanchette. Mr. Blanchette lived in the little yellow house with the perfectly manicured lawn. He passed away several years ago. My 8-year-old daughter would visit with him with her grandfather. They would watch as he rebuilt lawnmowers to sell. My daughter remembers Mr. Blanchette and talks about him often enough, but beyond her; who will remember Mr. Blanchette in a generation or two? What will they write in the comments section under his name on the family tree? Will they know that he kept his lawn so immaculate that I’m sure even the bugs treaded lightly? Will they remember that he was amazing at rebuilding old lawnmowers? Or that he was always so good about turning on his light at Halloween, even if only for the few kids that lived on the street? Will they share even ten things about Mr. Blanchette in the comments section near his name?

On Monday one of my uncles passed away. He had said that he was ready to go, as he had been in pain for quite some time. I will remember him. My daughter will remember him especially - she was quite close to him and would visit regularly. Beyond that generation, what will they know of him? His obituary is beautifully written... but it doesn't paint a picture of the man that he was. You see, it doesn't say that he loved ice cream or that he was an amazing tree "cutter downer".  Will they know even ten things about him in a few generations? 

It is said that we are each the result of a thousand loves. All of those names on your tree are a part of you today, somehow and in some way. It is unfortunate that we don’t know more about the person behind the name. What will our family know of us in two generation? Will we just be a name on a tree? Or will we somehow be able to leave them with a glimpse of who we are? What ten things would you want them to put in your comments section?

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