Today Is an Important Date

Today is an important date.

Today is the day 77 youth were inspired to learn about their family history by local Las Vegas attorney, Todd L. Moody, JD, at the National Genealogical Society's 2013 Conference's Youth Camp held in the morning on the last day of the conference, Saturday, 11 May 2013.

The boys and girls -- some of which were Boy Scouts earning merit badges -- were provided information on how to start their family history journey by being shown an example of some family history documents and then being asked to list down important dates either about an ancestor or about themselves so they could later break down into small groups and write biographies, or autobiographies.

Understandably, many decided to write about themselves, which is what we, as family historians, sometimes forget to do. Write about ourselves. We focus so much on the dead, we forget to record the living, especially ourselves.

Of course, when it comes to our own important dates, it's sometimes hard to list those important dates. After all, what is important? Is it important enough to record?

And this was certainly something that came up with the youth in the camp. Here's what I overheard while they were eagerly brainstorming:

"Is Chicken Pox an important date?"

"What day was I adopted? Do you remember? I know I was wearing my pretty new dress..."

"What day did we receive our medallion?"

"I don't know any important dates."

I wanted to yell out, "Write it all down! Don't leave anything out!"

But then they would've wondered who the crazy lady in the red top was in the back of the room and why she was yelling to write all those details down.

And I would've told them. It's because a person's stories and personality are in those details. That's how we'll know who you really are or were. As family historians, we yearn for those small and seemingly insignificant details about our ancestors. {Can I get an, "Amen"?}

It's why after finding out a fellow researcher has inherited their ancestor's personal diary we celebrate with them while secretly thinking, "I want that. Why can't I get one of those? Why them and not me?"

It's why we do happy dances in the middle of cemeteries and fist pump, "Yes," after, of course, making sure there are no interments being performed at the moment.

It's why we tear up and our hearts ache at microfilm readers after finally finding out that our 3rd great grandmother passed away after having her previously-unknown-to-us 4th child and then finding out that her 4th child passed away several months later -- all between when the censuses were recorded and well before the time period vital records were recorded.

It's why we smile and nod our heads when after reading about the school supplies and school clothes our second great grandmother listed in her daily farm journals of expenses, we realize some things just don't change.

It's those details that lead us to stories about our ancestors.

It's those details that will lead others to who you really were.

So, yes, when you had Chicken Pox is an important date.

Tell us about that dress you wore on the day you were adopted. You know, the dress that put that beautiful smile on your face and that dreamy look in your eyes when you were trying to remember the date you were adopted.

And tell us all about your medallion. Why did you get it? When did you get? And how did it make you feel when you got it? What were you wearing when you received it?

Write down any and all dates you can remember. They're all important -- even if you don't think they are. We do. And someone else will too. Maybe -- no, especially -- the older "You" will.

Tell us everything about you.

And don't forget to tell us about today.

For today is an important date.

It's the day you started learning about your family history.

~Caroline