Leslie's Vander Meulen Family Blog: OH MY GOSH THE POSTCARDS

About this Vander Meulen family blog

My grandfather died in 1978, leaving me his diaries and genealogy notebooks. I have spent over 2 years reading & in many cases re-reading the diaries through, although I have read parts in the past, and trying to decide how to share them. The blog format emerged as the best way to share. I hope family members are enjoying seeing the lives of my grandparents through grandpa's eyes as well as seeing how they fit into the world around them. If you think you may be related to us PLEASE email, I am willing to share information and love to correspond. PLEASE feel free to add comments - use the comment utility at the end of each post for asking questions, requesting information, or just saying hello! Before you get started, please go to the LABELS on the right side-bar and to the General Information posts to understand how this transcription of the diaries is going to be formatted. 1/1/2011 - my first typing of 2011 - the diary transcription has taken on a new dimension since I began in December, '09. I've discovered many things in my possession which I can use to illustrate the diaries, to say nothing of the magic of the Internet to add details and photos of the people, places and events that filled grandma & grandpa's lives. As I've said often, I now have to live to be 100, and be healthy, so I can finish! World War II years are almost finished, then it's back to grandpa's chronological jottings. There will be something for everyone, so I hope you are all enjoying reading as much as I am enjoying posting. Gelukkig Nieuw Jaar

Friday, February 12, 2010

OH MY GOSH THE POSTCARDS

I have been so busy thinking about all the photos and documents I can link to as I go along I forgot the POSTCARDS. When grandma & grandpa visited us when I was in early grade school, July 19, 1955, grandma bought me a packet of shiny colorful picture postcards of the animal shows and other scenes at our world renown St. Louis Zoo when we all went there for a daylong visit. That started a life long collection. I've bought cards nearly everywhere I've ever been, especially if I didn't have a camera along. I have inherited several sets of cards, to include grandma & grandpa's and dad & Betty Ann's. MANY were sent by family members, many are dated. I often dated cards I bought in my travels and told why I was there, and often with whom. It has just this week occured to me that these cards will be great illustrations of happenings in grandpa's life! Many are vintage cards and will be inserted as close to the actual date they were sent, if dated. Some will be used as illustrations whether or not I am sure the card is the same time period of the journal entry. Some will be quoted as grandma frequently added details grandpa left out. The cards are going to add another dimension to these records. I now have to live to be 100 in order to finish this project! Kert's 2009 Christmas present is going to last forever! I'm glad I realized about the cards before I typed too much more or everyone would have to start over to see the cards! Any colored text that is underlined is a link so check them out!