"Lessons For The Next Generation..."

Harvey Oyer, a fifth generation native Floridian attorney and recent author acquaintance of mine, gave a talk sponsored by our local historical society recently.  He introduced his second book for children (but great for adults too) "The Last Egret" that night, during his talk that brought Florida's important history to life.  It followed his "The American Jungle...The adventures of Charlie Pierce".  Both are collections of true stories that were passed down from generation to generation in his family.  In one part of the book Charlie Pierce, Harvey's great grand uncle as a child reached out to befriend a young Native-Indian boy, and begin to bring peace during the Seminole War, the longest war in American histrory. 

The books taught lessons...History should be passed and kept alive to enrich our present and future times.  One family can make a big difference in our world.  The openness of children can bridge cultural boundaries.  One person can change history, and more.

I loved listening to the stories of my grandparents and uncles and aunts and parents.  I absorbed the numerous ones that showed how much a part of world history our family has been.  I recall many...My maternal great great grandmother was a tutor to the Hapsburgs.  My maternal great grandparents had been sent to America separately for an arranged wedding (and we went to their 60th anniversary!).  A relative signed the "Declaration of Independence".  Another grandfather was in the California Goldrush, and was Eastman Kodak's best friend. My maternal grandmother was a friend of Ameila Earhart, and later a freind of many renowned artists and politicians.  One grandfather was president of the New Jersey Medical Society.  Another grandfather was International Vice President of General Electric (he left copies of his autobiography for his grandchildren that outlined his life philosophies and his international travel destinations (that I've been visiting 80+ years later)), and on and on!  My mother is a "wealth of information" on these...and she loves to reflect and share these stories...

Often with today's hectic "live for the momment pace" we forget how important passing lessons from one generation to the next is...It would be ashame if this trend is not reversed...