The holiday season is upon us now and I want to help you with a few solid reminders that I hope will help you get through this season happy and healthy.

First, the holiday season is a time for great cheer, but also of reflection. You may miss a parent or a grandparent who was so special to you while you were growing up.

This special person might have done something each holiday season that you will always remember and cherish.

During this season, please take the following steps to secure the precious history of your friends and family and the treasures they all hold.

1. Talk to your parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. Ask questions about your family traditions and stories about your parents’ and grandparents’ youth. I cant help but think of my daughter always making sure we had the special ornaments on the tree. The ones she made or my mom gave me, or even the ones that I was given when I was very young.

2. Take this information down. Today’s technologies have allowed us to video-record, take photos, write and preserve the family’s histories better than at any time in our history. Take advantage of this.

3. Buy a hope chest. Keep family heirlooms, photos and heartwarming family memories in an important area. Log information on your computer and catalog important events.

You might not see this as a huge deal now, but, trust me, in time you will. Someone in your family will want to carry on the traditions you had and it could be that beautiful baby daughter or son that you are holding right now. When these younger generations get older, they will have questions about the past and what a shame it would be to not have that information for them. Please take the time and record your families now. You will not regret it.

Thanks for listening

Scott Schmeltzer is the publisher at The Tribune. To reach him, call 740-532-1441 ext. 16 or by email at scott.schmeltzer@irontontribune.com.