A family treasure

28 January 2015

I want to share something super special with you all today. For as long as I can remember (and even before I was born!), my Mom’s Mom wrote some pretty epic Christmas newsletters. (Actually, to be more accurate, she typed some pretty epic Christmas newsletters. On a typewriter.) After my youngest uncle went away to college, Bingie uprooted her life and moved from New Jersey to Maine to start a new chapter, and the newsletters were a favorite way to keep in touch with her wide circle of friends and family. They detailed her year as well as the happenings of her three children’s families with humor, wit, and candidness. Taken together, they’re a surprisingly detailed recording of our family’s highs and lows over 25+ years.

christmas-newsletter-book

For Christmas, my aunt and uncle compiled all of the newsletters they could get their hands on into a simple book and made a copy for all of the cousins. What a treasure! I love that they used her familiar signature on the cover – Mom to her children, Mombo (short for Mom Bogart) to her in-laws, and Bingie to her grandchildren.

family-history-book

We immediately started flipping through the pages, and soon were making each other squeak with laughter over certain entries and lines, reminiscing about famous (and infamous) episodes in our family’s history.

christmas-family-newsletter-book

She was a great writer, and her dry sense of humor and unique way of seeing the world really shine through in her yearly narratives. One of my favorite moments below:

funny-family-history

As a lifelong secretary and correspondent for countless beloved organizations and associations, her writing and her handwriting are two of the things I associate most strongly with her, so this is an extra special memento – it really feels like having a true piece of her to keep. Makes me wonder what John’s and my future children and grandchildren might treasure from our life together!

P.S. Another favorite note, from the 2006 letter. #typewriterproblems

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Hales
January 28, 2015 9:16 am

What an incredible gift and what lovely handwriting!

January 28, 2015 9:22 am

That is so sweet! In the early 90s.. my husband’s extended family put together a family cookbook filled with tons of family history and photos, and of course recipes! Last year I mentioned to his great aunt that I would love for us to put together a refreshed version- so that’s a project we’re working on in the days ahead! It’s kind of similar so I thought I would share! :)

Kelly
January 28, 2015 9:40 am

What an wonderful keepsake! I love this idea. Keeping these memories alive is so important and will be something you cherish forever! Thank you for sharing. :)

January 28, 2015 12:39 pm

Oh, this is such a special and beautiful gift!

January 28, 2015 4:16 pm

What a wonderful and thoughtful gift! I know that you and John will enjoy reading that for years to come and I’m sure your future children and grandchildren will too.

January 28, 2015 9:44 pm

This is delightful! What a treasure.

January 29, 2015 7:45 am

Amazing! What an incredible gift. And, if I may make a prediction, I think your future grandchildren will cherish your wedding pictures, among many other things, I’m sure! :)

January 29, 2015 9:22 am

What an amazing gift!