Keeping and Writing a Journal

I admire my husband, Mr. Kerry.

He is truly the best person I have ever known in my life!

One thing that he is very disciplined about is keeping his journal.  Each day, while I am still lollygagging in bed, he has been up for awhile writing in his journal.

Even in this day of technology on every hand, Kerry has chosen to handwrite his journals.  His penmanship is impeccable - almost unheard of in today's world, where handwriting can be a lost art.

Kerry and I have similar handwriting.  When we would write letters or send cards to his family, they would always be guessing to see who wrote the message.

Kerry's journals go back several years.  He has kept a daily journal for the past ten years.

But, his record keeping goes back much further than those ten years.  He served as a missionary for our church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).  Each day of those two years is covered in his journals from 1971-1973.

As you can see, those earlier journals were all done in very meticulous printing, whereas now they are all done in cursive handwriting.

I am unsure who will inherit these journals.  I am just hoping that whoever does inherit them will be able to read them.  The threat of dropping the teaching of cursive handwriting in school is quite disturbing to both of us, for contrary to what may be the norm today, there I simply cringe at the thought of not being able to decipher the court records, marriage records, census records, etc.

Yes, Mr. Kerry is quite the example for me, for he is far more consistent than I am.  I have chosen to do it the easy way - through newsletters and blogs.

And though it is so fun to trace our histories back to a different time, there will be a time when someone will be researching us.  Have we left them a record that will tell them of our lives?  Our feelings?  Our concerns?  The things we hold sacred?  The things we detest?

After all, I want my posterity to know me through me - not through my children!!