This touched me deeply. Bertha's words carry such tenderness that they seem to collapse the decades between then and now. What could have remained an old family letter instead becomes a living conversation across generations. The love she held for your family shines through every memory, reminding us that the people who leave the deepest marks on our lives aren't always connected by blood, but by kindness, loyalty, and shared moments. Thank you for preserving her voice so beautifully, it feels like a gift to both your family and every reader who treasures family history.
Paul, thank you for this wonderful observation. So much of family research focuses on bloodlines. But there perhaps people in all of our trees that may not be blood relatives, but have had an impact on our ancestors lives. With your comment, I am reminded of another “non-blood” relative who was the “favorite aunt”
of my great/grandmother. She had married into the family as a second wife and had never had children of her own. She was gifted storyteller and generous soul who was endeared by everyone she met. I have often thought about writing about her, but have hesitated since she’s technically not kin. But your comment reminds me that family history is more than blood. It’s also about understanding the bonds that connected people as “family” beyond genetics.
Absolutely Helene, these wonderful people who touched both our lives and our ancestors lives, are very much a part of our families story. There voices most definitely need to be heard. We are all a product of nature and nurture and that’s why we should tell their stories as well.
The payoff for me as a reader of the memoir is that this letter hits so many references to things I'd previously learned about Helen. I really appreciated the annotations to her letter. Family is more than blood relation.
It’s so wonderful to be able to weave these family stories together from different perspectives. Through this process I’m also learning new things about my grandmother and the connections that make us family. Thanks for following along on her memoir.
What a treasured step into her life. Just from the one letter, I love her! And a wonderful companion to your grandmother’s writing as well. I laughed out loud at the advice to write the book! 😍. Thank you for sharing these beautiful memories with us!
This touched me deeply. Bertha's words carry such tenderness that they seem to collapse the decades between then and now. What could have remained an old family letter instead becomes a living conversation across generations. The love she held for your family shines through every memory, reminding us that the people who leave the deepest marks on our lives aren't always connected by blood, but by kindness, loyalty, and shared moments. Thank you for preserving her voice so beautifully, it feels like a gift to both your family and every reader who treasures family history.
Paul, thank you for this wonderful observation. So much of family research focuses on bloodlines. But there perhaps people in all of our trees that may not be blood relatives, but have had an impact on our ancestors lives. With your comment, I am reminded of another “non-blood” relative who was the “favorite aunt”
of my great/grandmother. She had married into the family as a second wife and had never had children of her own. She was gifted storyteller and generous soul who was endeared by everyone she met. I have often thought about writing about her, but have hesitated since she’s technically not kin. But your comment reminds me that family history is more than blood. It’s also about understanding the bonds that connected people as “family” beyond genetics.
Absolutely Helene, these wonderful people who touched both our lives and our ancestors lives, are very much a part of our families story. There voices most definitely need to be heard. We are all a product of nature and nurture and that’s why we should tell their stories as well.
The payoff for me as a reader of the memoir is that this letter hits so many references to things I'd previously learned about Helen. I really appreciated the annotations to her letter. Family is more than blood relation.
It’s so wonderful to be able to weave these family stories together from different perspectives. Through this process I’m also learning new things about my grandmother and the connections that make us family. Thanks for following along on her memoir.
What a treasured step into her life. Just from the one letter, I love her! And a wonderful companion to your grandmother’s writing as well. I laughed out loud at the advice to write the book! 😍. Thank you for sharing these beautiful memories with us!
Thank you Kyla. I was amazed too when I read the comment about writing a book 😄. Her comment was made 7 years before my grandmother wrote her memoir.
I love that she sent this letter and you saved and shared it! It’s fun to hear the twins’ stories from another perspective.