Do you hold onto the memories of your deceased loved ones?

November 2, 2010 8:30pm CST
I always try to recall the people who've sadly passed away that's touched my life, especially my grandfather who shaped my world and after his death it was that loss which made me change the direction of my life. This is probably very common, although I hate it as I get older as I'm starting to forget things that I really don't want too. I generally like trying pay respect to those who've gone and so I try to make sure I can at least hold onto one dear memory. I planning to go through our old family albums and I'm going to take a digital backup, I also want to show my children as this is something I experienced and I enjoy hearing about my past relative. Do you hold onto the memories of your deceased loved ones? This makes me think I really should make the most of our families video camera, as I always plan to use it but I tend to forget or not bother. I'll be making sure from now on that I at least take it out with us when we do family activities. Happy mylotting
3 people like this
12 responses
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
3 Nov 10
It is good to take pictures when you can. Since my late husband passed just a little over a year ago, almost everything I see or do still causes little tugs at my heartstrings and probably always will. For the present I am trying not to keep too much of his stuff around as I need to get on with my life. But there are some things I need to keep.
1 person likes this
3 Nov 10
My wife think I'm crazy because I can literally can take hundreds but it's nice being able to have more, as when I was younger we only had photos taken when it was a special time. (Birthdays, Christmas etc) I can relate to what you said, when I had counciling my shrink (have to say that as it makes me see the funny side of things) thought that I didn't let go of what she considered to be "raw" emotions that effected my depression but I refuse to let go of the way I see things because I can be very happy thinking about things. Sorry to hear about your husband :(
1 person likes this
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
4 Nov 10
Thanks. One of the things I like to hang on to is the connotation and derivation of certain words, like "shrink" for example, but I've completely forgotten how and why that became a trendy expression. Seems to fit, though, just from the sound of it, eh? Makes me want to tell one of them "Go shrink yourself." RFLOL. I've never been to one, but I have socialized with a few. In fact, I used to eat lunch regularly with one of them and the ongoing saga of one of his patient's lives used to read like a soap opera.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 Nov 10
It's really sweet that you want to hold on to memories of your grandfather. My husband had a close relationship with his and he would relate more to your story than me as my Grandad didn't have the same impact on me. Obviously, I loved the guy but our family isn't as close-knit as my husband's. I reckon he got on better with his Grandad than his own parents. I have seen photographs of him and it's obvious there was a lot of laughter when his Grandad was around. It's a shame he's not here as I'd probably get along with him as I get along better with John's Dad (his Grandad's son) than his Mum, which is interesting in itself. Good luck with the digital back-up thing.
1 person likes this
3 Nov 10
I try, I find it hard to recall them which is frustrating but when I see pictures it comes flooding back and I would like to get copies myself, so the digital back up will be a lot of work but worthwhile + I'm sure my mum especially will be glad to have it stored safely. Thanks for sharing your response. :)
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
3 Nov 10
You're welcome.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
3 Nov 10
My parents have been deceased over 20 years and I would say that I remember them nearly every day still. My Dad especially had a big impact on my life as we used to work together in a small business and I learned a lot about running a business from me and from seeing business opportunities. _Derek
1 person likes this
@elmiko (6630)
• United States
3 Nov 10
yes, i can't forget them. i wouldn't want to.
1 person likes this
3 Nov 10
Thanks for your response.
• United States
3 Nov 10
One thing I have learned in life my friend that things are simply just that things. So what I try to do is hold on to the fond memories of when the person was alive and this way I keep their love and their memory to continue to thrive. I do not have anything to save as I did not have family of my own. I do however have a boyfriend who had a father who use to be in the army. Who has certain memorabilia of him during the war saved in a room. We never take them out nor speak of them however it is his way of saving his fathers things. I wonder though someday after my boyfriend is gone who will save and carry this memorabilia on for the memory though. As he has a daughter but she lives in England and I do not thing these things will have any form of meaning to her.
1 person likes this
• India
3 Nov 10
i always keep the people who are very dear to me. And i caanot bear thier passage from this world. I will always do my best to keep them happy when they live.. Even they passed i will keep their memories sillythings, good things with me. Because i want to be with them forever if its not possible i would like to their memories with me for ever so i will keep their photographs, their things with me to not to forget them at any time in my life time... even the things passed the people whom i have loved and their memories should be with me forever... Happy lottting friend
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@tammytwo (4298)
• United States
4 Nov 10
I have some great memories of my grandfather. He was a great man and I recalled some of those great memories in a newspaper column one year near his favorite holiday, the Fourth of July. My grandfather loved that holiday, as he was ill from emphysema in his final years. It seemed to be about the only time he was able to get outside for a bit. He would go out that night and watch as we shot off the night time fireworks. He would tell us children the louder we cheered for the fireworks the more he would purchase the following year. I hold dear the memories he etched into my heart and my mind.
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
3 Nov 10
I don't even have a camera, I am so pressed for cash, and now my rent is more than it was before. But I hold my loved ones in my heart and sit and think about different things they did and I have written about them so they are always close to me.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Nov 10
yes I do Joye of my departed husband and all our 33 years of marriage, they are bittersweet but also lovely. the fun we had, the challenges we met together, our two children, the heartbreaking loss of a little daughter thus bitter sweet but more sweet than bitter.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
3 Nov 10
I will always hold on to memories of deceased loved ones. it may be all we have left of them. They can still live on in our hearts by the treasured memories we have of them.
• United States
3 Nov 10
Both of my grandparents on my dad's side of the family passed away before either one of my daughters were born. I show my girls pictures of them often, and will continue to as they get older. I want them to hear stories about them, and get a sense of who they were. I also think about my best friend J. who passed away when I was 16. I think about him alot still, and sometimes I worry that my memories of him will fade the older I get, especially since it's already been 11 years.
@Cutie18f (9551)
• Philippines
3 Nov 10
Yes, but not really to the extent of not being to function normally. I would only feel some sense of sadness mixed with some wish that they were still alive to enjoy more time with us.