Unless you have been living under a rock this week, you’ve probably noticed the media coverage of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Many people are taking to social media outlets to report where they were when they heard the sad and shocking news.
Source: patrioticcoloringpages.com
Since I wasn’t born yet, I have to wonder where my parents were on that fateful day. I’m pretty sure my mom was in the Navy but I’m sure she will let me know in our next phone conversation. I’ve written many times on this blog about how my Dad practically worshipped the Kennedy family. So I know he would have taken the news particularly hard. His naturalization record is dated 1965, so I’m guessing that in 1963 he was already in the Los Angeles area. Since it happened on a Friday afternoon, I’m guessing he would have been at work, but sadly, I don’t know where exactly he was when he heard the news.
And that’s not because Dad didn’t talk about it. I’m sure he told us on several occasions where exactly he was and how he felt, etc. But I never recorded the information. In fact, I probably ignored it, because when Dad started talking about the Kennedy family, he could go on for a long time. As a teenager, I never thought I would care about remembering such information. But of course, you grow up and wise up.
And now I’m left wondering where Dad was and how he felt on such a personally devastating day. Don’t be left like me, with gaping holes in your family history. Ask the questions now, while your loved ones are still alive and able to provide you with answers.
![Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000038_00069]](https://memoriesproject.files.wordpress.com/2014/02/reluctant-caregiver-cover.jpg)
The Memories Project 
Maybe you should start your own memoirs with where you were on specific memorable dates like 9/11, etc. i was in college walking back to my dorm after class when I heard. I do plan to write it up for my own journal. I asked my parents once about their memories of Pearl Harbor and one remembered it was in the morning and the other said it was in the afternoon — and they were together! Maybe I’ll ask dad about Kennedy since I don’t think I ever did ask him that. But his memory is probably better for the 1940’s than for the1960’s though still better than for last week!
It’s fascinating the way the memory works or doesn’t work in those who have dementia. Guess we should be thankful for what they do remember instead of lamenting what is lost.