In addition to her academic writings, Janet wrote a number of self published journal telling different elements of her life and travels. The following is one of her last writings. It is a start of an autobiography. This was written around 2009 when she was still in Annapolis.
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WHY AM I WRITING AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY?
You may very well ask! Why my life and times? My hopes and fears? Most of all, I think this memoir is intended for my grandchildren (and any of my sons who might be interested - but primarily for the grandchildren) Simply put, I guess I would like my grandchildren to know who and what I am. We cannot be with each other very often - some of that is my own doing: some cannot be helped: distance, the busy hectic schedules their families have, and as someone pointed out - in this electronic age, quick ephemeral phone calls or emails take the place of the letters revealed what we were doing, thinking in the past. In my own case, I know that it wasn't until I was middle aged that I began to wish I had asked my grandparents questions about their lives - what was it like in Italy, what was the trip to America like, why did they come, what was it like when they first arrived, etc, etc - but it was too late - they were already gone.
This document can (if I am successful) present a picture of me and my times that my grandchildren might not otherwise have. To some extent I suppose, I also hope that by laying out my moral values and the principles that have guided me, they can benefit from those they want to keep and avoid those that don't fit them.
For another thing, I think I have lived through some very interesting years - the events and changes which occurred during the past 78 years, as well as the ways in which they affected my experiences may be of interest. It might enable them to see the amazing kinds of transformations possible in one person's life, and particularly, a woman's life in the 20th century - even granting that not all chages were necessarily good, or of my own choosing.
Another reason for writing this biography is that I think I want to see myself , and my life, my choices in some kind of perspective. Reaching the age of 78 is no big deal, but having to retire because of Ed's stroke, and coming to realize I have no great dreams or ambitions left, it gives me the time - and an outlet - to make the past available, to possibly make it a part of the context in which I am currently living, but also by putting all together, perhaps I can still develop some insights or learn something new about human nature, society or me.
Another part of it, if I am to be honest, is I have nothing else of interest to do. I do enjoy writing - I always have, but to a great extent I am filling time and simultaneously organizing papers, photos, memorabilia that will eventually have to be given or thrown away. I started this business of putting together accounts o our and other peoples lives by typing up and creating a journal of Frank X. Connolly notes - from an old copy book of his experiences in the US Air Corps during WWI. Some time later I did journals of Ed's WWII service in the Phillipines, his career in law and politics, our trips west in the motor home, the boys growing up, Ed's and my trip to the Soviet Union, the return visit to New Hope of our Soviet friends, Karinna and Sergei, my semesters in England and France as well as our experiences in Bulgaria.
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