Katrina Thornley

Do you ever find yourself sitting and wondering about your ancestors? What they left for you, what they gave to you, and how they somehow shaped you into the person you are despite never meeting them?

I can’t be the only person that does this.

Family history is a shared interest in my household. We live on a piece of land that has been in the family for generations. A parcel buried in the middle of nowhere in Rhode Island. It’s full of trees, rocks, wildflowers, and animals. Herbs grow wild and gardens seem to be popping up in the most random places each year. There’s a new bloom stumbled across each time we walk.

And I wonder.

How?

But the answer isn’t that hard to find. There are 3 giant apple trees on the property, their flowers breaking up the blue sky with petals of pink and white (presents from Great Grandpa Ed). My great grandmother Katie had gardens strewn out across the property. They grow each year, taking over areas that were once grassy. Orange, purple, and yellow: a rainbow in places that were plain.

So what did my ancestors leave behind?

Beauty and nature. Peace. Life.

Leave something behind for your future grandchildren. Plant a tree, a Rosebush, a daylilly. Something. Leave a mark.