Lair Family History: Afterword

These stories of our family history were written for the benefit of my sons:  Eric and Monty.  It was written so they might better understand who and what they are...after looking at their antecedents.  Some traits seem to recur from generation to generation;  sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes not.


These stories are also written for those few I still hold close, that they may read some lines which may cause them to smile in remembrance.  If a casual reader should stumble over these stories, perhaps they might learn something or at least be entertained.


This history was compiled thanks to a family tree, penned by Genevieve, which dates back to 1714.  Madlyn, JoAnn and Diane provided accounts and anecdotes, along with letters written during World War II.  I include my own recollections, albeit in some cases I had to connect the dots.


I made some discretionary omissions of some stories that might cause embarrassment to anyone I care for.  I also left out several stories that were too long, but shall write as stand-alone articles.  I also omitted anecdotes which might clog the narrative... which might make it appear more like a child's scrapbook.


I have tried to draw a picture of a culture that evolved over three generations in the twentieth century... of a culture that was gentle, civil and caring.   Many of the members of these generations lived most of their lives without air-conditioning; their electronic entertainment system was a Motorola radio, sitting in their living room.  Their greatest entertainment seemed to be one another:  the women clever and catty and the men facetious.  The activities and misadventures of their children were their sit-coms and melodramas.


I have tried to show a fabric of a way of life that, over time, has frayed to the point of being threadbare.  I despair at that, but hope my sons have gained some insights and some stories that they will pass on to their kids...and their kid's kids.  I suspended the history when they were of an age to make their own observations.


There are "great families" of immense inherited wealth (usually originating from a crime) who proclaim their greatness with each new generation.  But few of these families do anything other than procreate and count their money.  Small lives are often damaged by their activities. To paraphrase Fitzgerald: "The very rich are often careless with other people's lives."


 "Ordinary families," besides scratching out a living, do all that they can to make sure that their children have better lives than they do.  Their nobility or greatness is in their care and love of those who follow them. 


"Royal families" can trace their lineage and bloodlines back centuries.


So too can a thoroughbred race-horse...