by Lee Kolinsky
Personal history is a funny thing. It makes up everything that you are and helps determine everything you will be. However, only you know your history and you're the only one responsible for it, unless you're famous in some way and then you have a biographer.
That brings me to the existence of a regular person and the fleeting history known as ones life. How do you keep the memory of yourself alive when you're long gone? What's the best medium to do leave your mark on this world?You can write in journals, tape video diaries, and take hundreds of photos of yourself. Do they really cut it? Whether your life is on DVD, in a diary, or in a photo album, one hopes the next generations pick these items up and find a way to connect emotionally. However, most people don't really delve into their past unless it's easy. So the DVD may be a good way to try unless someone scans through to the good parts. In any case, most people will likely get the Cliffs notes for their family tree.
With computers and that thing called the world-wide-web, social networking web sites are popping up all over the place. MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter are just a few that give the opportunity for anyone to can catch up with lost buddies, reconnect with family members, post photos of your life, and make comments about anything and everything.
But are these web sites something you want your future family members to read. I'm not sure if I want my ancestors finding out that my last post on Facebook was "Lee had the best Turkey sandwich ever!" I don't even want my kid seeing that when she becomes of web savvy age.
Though, if your ancestor did find you on one of these social web sites, they would probably find out what your favorite movies, books, and music were. It gives that human side of your personality to the reader. Maybe your ancestor would feel closer to you. Most likely these web sites will be outdated in the next 50 years and if someone looked you up, essentially you may be just name listing, not unlike the phone book.
So how does one really connect with several future generations and without being an important figure in history? I guess you can keep on naming the next family member after yourself. But who would want to be named Lee Kolinsky the 19th. That doesn't really have a ring to it and how deeply can you be connected to the first one. I doubt the 19th would care.
I guess a headstone would cut it, if you don't exaggerate like the father Royal in the film Royal Tenenbaums, who had engraved: "Died tragically rescuing his family from the remains of a destroyed sinking battleship." It didn't happen. Royal was more of a deadbeat dad. Besides, how often do you find yourself at a relative's gravesite from 100 years ago anyway?
Maybe it does come down to a few simple words on the family tree of Cliffs notes. A piece of paper you can add to and pass from generation to generation. Birth, death, and name. Who knows? If you're really lucky, you may even get a cool adjective to describe you. Then again, not everyone can be known as being perfect.
