A bundle of letters tied in a bow...

Pioneer - while I wish you had known your grandparents (that is very sad), you are so fortunate to have those letters tied in the red bow; a link to your heritage and ancestors. 

Sometimes, I wish we had no email, really.  It seems people do not stay in touch like they used to, and that too is sad.  Oh, I know when we receive a "forward" that person had us in mind for, maybe, a second, and at least we know they are still alive.  Occasionally, I will write a letter to someone even though they have internet, but especially to those I know do not.  Nothing tickles me more than to have a handwritten response in my mailbox.

I have the letters my parents wrote to each other during WWII, and a few that my dad wrote to us kids.  They are precious to all of us.  We also have handwritten accounts of the Civil War by our great grandfather.  I was fortunate to have a grandmother on the maternal side.  The others had died, and or died while I was still too young to remember.

Thank you for writing such a heartwarming post.

Thanks, MeMaw.

My mind has been on letters received and written since yesterday. I went to my friend's 90th birthday party yesterday. She is still writing endearing letters and poetry to friends and family. No email to be easily deleted for her!

At the party, everyone got to say as many or as few words as you wanted about your memories of this dear lady. I was surprised at the number of party guests  that mentioned the letters or poetry they had received through the years written by this lady. The recipients of these letters and original poetry have received gifts of love through her written words.

By the way, she's still writing letters and poetry to friends and family every day. 

Merry Christmas pioneer,

What a wonderful gift to be able to re-open and enjoy year after year.  It must be special to read about the Florida of old written by the people who settled it.

Thanks for sharing gift with us all.

I'm going to write an elderly aunt and uncle a special Christmas letter to tell them how much they meant to me as a child, and how much I still love them.  Thanks for the inspiration.

Pioneer,

I really enjoyed reading about your letters, I have a few things that have lasted through 4-5 generations but they aren't letters.  Someday on down the line someone will be able to have some though because I have saved every letter my Parents & Grandparents wrote to me since I left home.  Written words and letters tell so much more then mere objects do. 

I hand write very few letters anymore, most of them are typed.  Perhaps if you have time during the Christmas Season you type the contents of one of your letters to share.  It's history, and I love history.

You mentioned that you'd found their graves, does that mean that their location was unknown for a period of time? 

My Daddy just turned 88yrs old, a few years ago when I was home visiting he took me to one of the houses way out in the country where he'd lived as a child.  His memories were so clear and it was actually a deeply emotional experience to visit this old run down home with him. 

Thanks for sharing, even though it's sad in some ways, it was uplifting in other ways. I think of all the blogs written here in the last several months I will always remember this one, especially this time of year.

Thank you, Marsha, MeMaw, and Bax.

Marsha--

No one in my family knew about the graves or the pioneers I mentioned. Years ago, I mentioned my interest in family research to an elderly aunt. She gave me the oldest letters regarding the Florida ancestors. It was through hunches, leg work, and many trips to archives and libraries that I have pieced the stories together, found the graves, and stood on the site that these pioneers lived and died.

I have many stories I would love to share with you, going back to the Reformation, Lady Godiva, Jamestown Settlement, etc. But standing on the land of my Florida pioneers is an humbling experience, indeed. 

Needless to say, at the family reunion each year, the cousins gather 'round to hear the stories and learn the story of another ancestor I have found since we last gathered. 

Bless be the ties that bind.

Merry Christmas.

Pioneer,

I cannot imagine the excitement of your research, I know some about my family history but not as much as what is out there to know, hopefully someday I will have the time to do some of what you have.

I look forward to your stories and/or letters when you have the time to share them.

Bless be the ties that bind.....Amen!