It was notebook paper that was very old and coarser than those I used in school. She told me once that her Grandpa had told her all the way back to the first Rainey to live in the house in Rainey Town**. She had written down the names, the dates of their birth and death. Over the years this paper became so fragile that it was close to impossible to unfold- so she rewrote it and again explain to me the importance for this was my family history. I listened but did not sit down with those living to learn more. I am so sorry I did not do that, because people lose their abilities and they die. Once they are gone there is no way to discuss the details of the family.
I have found as I am now seeking to find that family history that others who have searched spell some names differently like Malissa Conwell- is often spelled Melissa Conwill, but since I have it from Ma and her Grandpa- John Henry Rainey. I will spell her name Malissa Conwell. Another time I will discuss the problems with one of the people on this paper- I call him "The Elusive John Rainey."
But Ma was right- Family History does matter. It connects us to our past just like being attached to land where your family once lived connects you to that past. We are a continuum from time's beginning until time's ending. We are just an blink of an eye in eternity. So we need to connect with all those blinking eyes back there.
So what happened to the "Raggle Taggle" piece of paper. Ma kept close watch on her pocketbook. I buried it with her and inside I left that buckeye, pictures that I had copies of, one was of my cat Dezia that we had for 21 years, a few tissues- she had to have tissues, a piece of elastic that she used for a garter for her hosiery, a safety pin( another necessity and that her "Raggle Taggle" piece of paper.
* from the Irish folksong _ The Raggle Taggle Gypsy ** the section of Anderson County that my family lived in was once known as Rainey Town due to so many Raineys living there.