subject: Keeping the Past Connected to the Future [print this page] Growing up I would listen to the stories my grandmother told of her youth. I loved those stories! She had such a knack of telling them and I would be drawn in to the story and could picture it happening in my mind. Of course when I was young I thought grandma would be around forever and that I would always remember the stories.
Unfortunately that isn't the case. When loved ones leave our lives, they take their stories and memories with them unless we have taken the time to record them. This can be done either through writing, video, audio or a combination of all these methods. We have so much great technology available for us to preserve the past. We just need to take the time to record the memories.
Writing there are several ways to help an elderly loved one make a written account of their life. You can have them dictate to you as you type it, or just have them tell their stories while you write them down. One thing I found that worked great was a little question/answer book that was made for grandparents. It asked them questions about their lives growing up, courtship, marriage, etc. There was space for them to write a paragraph answer. This has been a treasure because it not only has their memories, but their handwriting as well. If you can find a book like this grab it!
Audio/Video sometimes just hearing the voice of a loved one telling their story can be so comforting. This is something we could never get my grandmother to consent to, so it might be a good idea to set up the camera so it isn't distracting. Then let the person talk in a conversational manner as you interview them. If the subject is relaxed the stories and memories will flow easily.
Scrapbook If a loved one has a large box of photos as so many of us do! Suggest taking the time to help them sort and label them. Put them in a book and write the stories of the events and people. Seeing the old photos will spark memories that need to be recorded for future generations.
Convert Slides Slides were a big deal a generation or two ago, so now many of us are inheriting big boxes of slides that we don't know what to do with! You can find slide scanners that will allow you to convert the slides and negatives to digital images that you can then print, email, or save to DVD.
We need to preserve the wonderful stories and memories of our past. When we connect to the past we can learn from those who have gone before us. Stories of ancestors will help us maintain a family connection with distant relatives as well. You never know what family ties you may find!
