From Trash to Cash: Dribbling a river

babymoo

I am doing "journal in a jar" for my grandparents for xmas. I am wanting to come up with questions that are tailored to them. My grandma is still alive but we lost my grandad on my mums side 4 years ago. My grandad from my dads side is still alive but we lost my nana 10 years ago this year. I would like to get to know the grandparents that I have lost through the grandparents I have left. I figure it is somethign that even if I don't get to see now it will be there when something happens to the grandparents that I do have left. Hopefully not for a very long time as theyre both healthier than me lol and I adore them both so much.

My question is what questions can I ask? I've asked how they met their partners. About the day they got married, about the day their children and grandchildren were born. Ive asked about their earliest memory, and their favourite memory with their partners. It is that kind of thing but I don't want to upset anyone lol. I know that I can go to either of them and ask them anything about my grandparents that are gone but it wouldn't get far before we would be in tears and I wouldn't be able to carry on.

I miss my grandparents so terribly, especially my nanna and with it being 10 years this year this is why I am wanting to do this. If anyone has any ideas I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks x

munchki

I can honestly say that where I am now is much to do with this forum and the amazing people on it. Yes, much has come from within me, of course it has, but so much in so many ways have come from here.

Saucy, yes I used to do them for pets as well.

babymoo

Saucy, Muncki, Jo, Joey, Em how are you all?

Just realised that I am rarely here for any of you and feel bit crap for it, sorry xx

EMminently

Hi Babymoo - what a lovely idea - i did something similar for my nan on her 78th birthday - i wrote 78 tiny scrolls each containing things that the family love her and then we took turns in reading them to her, over dinner with wine of course. I found that a good balance between soppiness and humour worked well - maybe you could ask some funny questions like... well i can't think of any but i'm sure others will help out lol xx In the meantime I'll think on...!

EMminently

maybe random things like what would they sing to in the shower?! what were the 3 funniest moments in your life together? Would they prefer to be attacked by 10 duck-sized horses or one horse-sized duck? Ok maybe not that one! I'll think on still...

trying_hard

well done skint:T:T:T:T:T

nixinixi

Eveming all!

Good luck with the job Munchki!! I'm intrigued what you are not commenting on.........;)

Hi Dilli - good to hear from you, have been worrying about you and hoping you are ok.

Hope everyone is ok and has enjoyed the nice weather - we just had a lovely bbq!

xx

EMminently

Here's a list of suggestions from a website - not overly suitable but some might just prompt other ideas/thoughts for you...

1. What is your full name? Why did your parents select this name for you? Did you have a nickname?
2. When and where were you born?
3. How did your family come to live there?
4. Were there other family members in the area? Who?
5. What was the house (apartment, farm, etc.) like? How many rooms? Bathrooms? Did it have electricity? Indoor plumbing? Telephones?
6. Were there any special items in the house that you remember?
7. What is your earliest childhood memory?
8. Describe the personalities of your family members.
9. What kind of games did you play growing up?
10. What was your favorite toy and why?
11. What was your favorite thing to do for fun (movies, beach, etc.)?
12. Did you have family chores? What were they? Which was your least favorite?
13. Did you receive an allowance? How much? Did you save your money or spend it?
14. What was school like for you as a child? What were your best and worst subjects? Where did you attend grade school? High school? College?
15. What school activities and sports did you participate in?
16. Do you remember any fads from your youth? Popular hairstyles? Clothes?
17. Who were your childhood heroes?
18. What were your favorite songs and music?
19. Did you have any pets? If so, what kind and what were their names?
20. What was your religion growing up? What church, if any, did you attend?
21. Were you ever mentioned in a newspaper?
22. Who were your friends when you were growing up?
23. What world events had the most impact on you while you were growing up? Did any of them personally affect your family?
24. Describe a typical family dinner. Did you all eat together as a family? Who did the cooking? What were your favorite foods?
25. How were holidays (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) celebrated in your family? Did your family have special traditions?
26. How is the world today different from what it was like when you were a child?
27. Who was the oldest relative you remember as a child? What do you remember about them?
28. What do you know about your family surname?
29. Is there a naming tradition in your family, such as always giving the firstborn son the name of his paternal grandfather?
30. What stories have come down to you about your parents? Grandparents? More distant ancestors?
31. Are there any stories about famous or infamous relatives in your family?
32. Have any recipes been passed down to you from family members?
33. Are there any physical characteristics that run in your family?
34. Are there any special heirlooms, photos, bibles or other memorabilia that have been passed down in your family?
35. What was the full name of your spouse? Siblings? Parents?
36. When and how did you meet your spouse? What did you do on dates?
37. What was it like when you proposed (or were proposed to)? Where and when did it happen? How did you feel?
38. Where and when did you get married?
39. What memory stands out the most from your wedding day?
40. How would you describe your spouse? What do (did) you admire most about them?
41. What do you believe is the key to a successful marriage?
42. How did you find out your were going to be a parent for the first time?
43. Why did you choose your children's names?
44. What was your proudest moment as a parent?
45. What did your family enjoy doing together?
46. What was your profession and how did you choose it?
47. If you could have had any other profession what would it have been? Why wasn't it your first choice?
48. Of all the things you learned from your parents, which do you feel was the most valuable?
49. What accomplishments were you the most proud of?
50. What is the one thing you most want people to remember about you?

munchki

Nixi - trust me, the more I learn the more upset and uncomfortable I get, perhaps one day I will understand the need for such childs play and stories lol

Babymoo - lovely to see you around, and do hope the warmer weather is helping you to feel a bit better of course! I think you are such a strong and so supportive person, pretty incredible really.

munchki

right....getting chocci ice cream, anyone wanna share?