While watching this weekâs or last Fridayâs Who Do You Think You Are with Spike Lee I was reminded all of us need to get our families stories downâNOW. There is no better time to start than this weekend.
“Being a filmmaker, I should have been filming her, interviewing her left and right. You take stuff for granted, and you think your mother, your father, your grandmother, your grandfather could be forever,” Lee said in the program.
http://www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/video/?sssdmh=dm13.244929&o_iid=43509&o_lid=43509
I am sure if he thought she would live forever but really I think it more like he is like most of us, or like me, we do not know what we have until that love one is gone and the stories are gone too.
This Motherâs Day as the family gather make the day matter and have everyone, give the stories about their ancestors. Use a camera or a recorder to get as many stories as possible. You may want to start with Grandmother and work back words but life is too serendipity to think that Grandmother is the next to go. Life doesnât work like that or call it death doesnât work like that. Lee mother died while he was in college and taken care of by his grandmother.
I am a firm believer that most of us given the day and time when our love ones would pass we would not get the stories unless we have lost one relative only to know the importance of the stories that were lost with their passing. I use the word stories since the information is retained with a stories rather than facts. Facts are gotten at the courthouse, newspapers or genealogically libraries. To me, all the other stuff is just stories and they are very important.
Let the relatives know before this weekend that they will be part of family project and that they will asked questions about their family and their growing up. Do not expect them to just rattle off answers to questions unasked. Start the session with one of your favorite memories and then ask them what is theirs. That should get the session start. Bring lots of batteries for whatever way you document these stories. Get all the family involve and have a great time.
If you need help in finding stories and questions, buy my book âRememberingâ¦life story triggers and memory essays.â The essays are my stories but they bring back memories for others. My can be purchase on http://lifestorytriggers.com/wordpress/order-your-copy
