True Memories in a Fiction Setting

I was thinking about the fiction story that I just started. At this time I have named it, A New Beginning. The title may change as I get more inspiration when I get it plotted out completely.

I am going to include parts of my early pre-teen and teenage memories as part of the story line entwined in a fiction setting. I've spent the last few weeks thinking back to when my grandparents were alive and living on their ranch in Colorado.

My grandparents worked hard and overcame a lot of difficulties. We used to go horseback riding, shooting, and fishing. We sat out under the stars around a huge campfires listening to stories of tall tales and true stories of when my grandparents grew up.

It was a life time ago, but the few times I was able to get away from the nightmare of my real life, and visit those beloved people, it held great meaning for me. The wide open spaces and the peace I found gave me hope, and it healed a broken spirit I didn't realize I had until later in life when understanding came easier.

The problem for me though is that I've been a suburbanite for all of my adult life. Things that I used to know about how the ranch was ran, how crops were planted, and how jargon and terminology were used back then have been lost on me. The things I just knew from being around that environment have been lost or are elusive and just out of reach since I have been away from that life for so long.

I would love to go back in time to capture those moments. To hold the essence of those family members and thank them for making such a huge difference in my life. I am looking forward to doing some research, talking to people,and going through old photos, so that when I write this story there will bits and peaces immortalized.