Family Recollection

I never met my great-grandparents, but I have heard that they sure could dance. I have been told tales of them jitterbugging from dusk until dawn, and although I sometimes find these stories hard to believe, they are all I have to base my past on since my family isn’t too in touch with our ancestry. Whether it is truth or a tall tale, what I know of my family history is based mainly on the memories and insight that have been passed down through the generations.
From their demeanors to their late night dances, I have vivid picture of my great-grandparents painted by the stories of my relatives. My favorite stories are the ones told about their Saturday nights at the Ault Park Pavilion. Bands would play and they would pay nickel per dance. I’ve been told that my great-grandpa was the best dancer on the floor, a trait that he apparently passed on to my grandpa. These days, my grandpa has a hard time even standing on his own, and thus dancing for him is simply not a possibility. Sometimes it is hard for me to believe he once possessed such stellar moves. These impressive dancing genes were ones that certainly skipped the members of my immediate family, also leading me to believe the stories of my grandparents’ dancing abilities were somewhat fabricated.
Although the memories I’ve been told of my relatives may not be completely accurate, they are still the essence of my family history. None of these events were recorded in books or journals, but instead told by word of mouth. I personally prefer to picture them through eyes of my family members even if their memories are slightly skewed versions of the real story.

Julie C.
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