My Heritage Journal has been wildly neglected for much of this year. The simple truth is that I’m attempting to begin each ancestor’s spread in order and I’ve just not been ready to dive into my paternal grandma Jean’s spread.
Jean was a complicated woman who I never had the opportunity to meet and the more I learn about her, the more questions I have.
She is quite the enigma.
As much as age and experience have tempered my concrete-sequential tendencies, I do still thrive in spaces where at least the major queries can be answered. This is not, and probably never will be, the case with Jean.
And so I finally surrendered to the creative process and just let myself begin.
I’ve created layers and layers with colors and patterns and mini pages within the spread to be turned and lifted/looked into and beyond.
I know she loved music and gardens, so there’s that.
I’ve incorporated her own typewritten words she left behind about motherhood, intimate relationships, and how she might have been remembered. Her words were not abundant, but they offer some wild insights into some of her experiences and perspectives.
I know she gave birth to six children from four different men between 1937 and 1947 and married many times throughout her life.
I’ve also left a lot of blank space that can be filled in later, either as inspiration moves me or more information is uncovered.
In the meantime, I am reflecting on my nephew’s authentic question when faced with a new-to-him person, “Who even are you?!” and directing it toward the ghost of my grandma in the hopes I’ll find a few glimpses along the way.
Onward,
Melissa