The history of me...

I've always wondered about who I've come from. I know my mom, dad, and grandparents.. but beyond that not much. Up until recently it didn't occur to me to ask my grandparents about their life and about their families. (i know that sounds terrible... but hey i am making up for it). Within the past few years i have found out some pretty cool things about the line of people that i come from... I've found out some things that explain A LOT about my personality... and I've found out some things to make me aware of certain things i need to be concerned with.

It's interesting to look back into the past.. before i was a thought... before i was known... through the blood that has been running for years and the lives that have been lived to come to this point in history where I've come to life. I wonder if my great great grandparents ever thought about me...
I think about what my possible grand children and great grandchildren will be like, or have to go through, or if i will even have any! So .. really they had to think about me even in a small tiny minuscule way right?

I guess all this thought of where i came from and the interest in it came from a violin.

This one to be exact...

 

 

 

My grandpa gave it to me when i was in high school. He mentioned something about it being his grandfather's. He said something about how his grandfather use to play it at church and for weddings and funerals. I didn't push much beyond that for knowledge... i thought it was beautiful and wondered the make and how much it was worth... but of course i loved it and wanted to keep it.

 

About 3 years ago i was able to transport this beauty back from Minnesota to my now home in the Pacific Northwest. My grandpa (who gave me the violin ) came to visit shortly after that. It is then that he told me the story.. and it was then that sparked a desire to know in my heart.

 

This violin was my great great grandpa's... Charlie was his name. Charlie was a farmer and a musician. I guess he raised a little hell when he was a youngster... but he settled down and took on the responsibility of life. Charlie use to play his violin at dances and weddings and church.. he was well known in his area for his musical abilities. There came a day when Charlie saw an opportunity to start growing a new crop... Alfalfa... He couldn't afford seed, so he sold his violin and bought seed to start planting. He was one of the first alfalfa farmers in Minnesota. The towns people were devastated that there was no more music to be had at their functions. So they put their meager money together and bought him a violin... right out of the sears catalog. That's right.. that's where you ordered everything back then. It is not a Stradivarius... but a copy of one. ( can i say that i was a little disappointed when i found that out, but now i really don't care because the history behind it is all that matters to me). So Charlie once again was able to provide the people with beautiful music at town functions!

And now that violin hangs on my wall, framed in the very wood from great great grandpa Charlie's barn.

 

Every time i look at that violin hanging on that wall i am reminded of my roots... i am reminded that i come from a line of people... and those people have stories of passion and heartbreak and just LIFE... and those stories are also a part of who i am.. not just the story of my mother and father... but the roots.. the deep roots.

And some strange way, it makes me feel more alive.. it makes me feel like i can do more. I can't really explain it, but it gives me hope. call me sentimental.. call me crazy.. whatever... But you have to admit.. it is pretty awesome to have such a prized possession that was one's great great grandfathers with such a rich history!