How to Interview Family Members: The Step-by-Step Process

Have you ever thought of conducting a life story interview with a family member? It’s probably safe to say that each of us has at least one relative who has led a seemingly exciting life, has inspired us because of their ability to overcome significant challenges and/or has actively participated in a significant historical event. You probably love to listen to their stories and may have encouraged them to write them down before it’s too late.

Maybe they’ve said they’ll get around to writing their stories one day…but they’ve been saying that for years. Or maybe they don’t see the value of their experiences the way you do. Or maybe they simply don’t like to write.

Rather than pleading – or worse yet, arguing – with them to get it done, consider a different approach. Ask them if they would allow you to record them as they tell you their story. It could be an audio recording or a video recording, but for the purposes of this article, I will focus on audio recordings.

You don’t have to be a professional journalist; anyone can press the “record” button on a digital recorder or smartphone. However, here are a few tricks of the trade that will enable you to achieve the best results possible.Read More

6 Ways to Preserve Family Stories This Thanksgiving

In just a few days, those of us here in the United States will celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Family members will travel across the country (sometimes, around the world) to be together on this special day that is steeped in tradition.

And while this would seem to provide ample opportunity to reconnect and spend quality time together, we Americans are busy people. We often disburse into various groups:

  • Those who watch the Macy’s parade on television.
  • Those who participate in local Turkey Trot races (often done in an attempt to compensate for the overabundance of calories they will consume later that day).
  • Those who gather to watch the football game.
  • Those who go brave the elements (and the crowds) to jump-start their Christmas shopping.
  • Those who bustle around the kitchen preparing the day’s feast…and the list goes on.

Yet there’s one time that you can be certain that everyone will gather in one place: When the food is served.

Typically, this brief time together is full of laughter and catching up with each other’s latest endeavors. But with a little advanced planning, you can extend this time of fellowship and turn it into an opportunity to share and preserve your family history. Here’s how: Read More

An Uninvited Pet

Lizard on Truck - reducedThe great thing about personal history is that everything that happens to you is relevant to your life story. Take pets, for example. They provide innumerable moments of joy and happy memories, prompting some people to devote entire chapters within their memoirs to their beloved pets.

I’m certain that my family could write several chapters about all of our pets through the years, as we have almost always had at least one pet. However, since the passing of our cockatiel a year ago and our cocker spaniel three months ago, we have been pet free. The boys are frequently asking for a new companion, of differing species depending on the week. The five-year old has asked for a fish and a frog. The eleven-year old would love another dog, but has also asked for a cat. The upcoming 4-H project involves a dozen incubated chicken eggs, but their father and I have put our foot down on keeping the eventual cute and fluffy chicks that will quickly turn into squawking, clucking, and generally annoying (and occasionally aggressive) hens and roosters (I know this from firsthand experience, but that’s another story).

Although I truly loved our beloved and now-deceased pets, I must admit that I do not miss the scattered birdseed and rogue feathers, nor do I miss the incessant and futile vacuuming required as the owner of a dog with black fur. I have actually been enjoying the pet reprieve and am not in a hurry to replace them.

It never occurred to me that perhaps an animal would make the decision to become our pet on its own. As I drew back the dining room curtains the other morning, I was startled by movement near the top of the curtain rod.  Glancing on top of the china cupboard, I was met by the intense stare of a green lizard as he sat perched on one of my son’s trophies.

Lizard on Roof - reduced IINot daunted at all by my immediate order to get out of our home, he merely jumped onto the side of my son’s model rocket. Amazed that the creature had not knocked over the lightweight rocket, I grabbed my camera (see photos below). I couldn’t resist the chance to take some photos of him – after all, how often does a lizard pretend to blast off into space? He didn’t mind the photo op; in fact, I think he posed for it before meandering across the top of the cupboard. I wasn’t sure what to do. Not generally a fan of reptiles, I do think the little chameleon-like lizards native to our coastal home (Green Anole – Anolis carolinensis; they change from green to brown, depending on their surroundings) are cute. However, they’re not cute enough for me to want to hold one, and certainly not adorable enough to reside inside my home.

Of course this occurred while my children – who love to catch and play with the things – were at school. As I pondered what to do, the impudent lizard decided to go for another joy ride. He climbed onto the bed of my youngest son’s derby truck and simply stared at me. Then he climbed onto the roof of the truck, as if perhaps that would make him go faster. After taking a few more pictures, I turned to place the camera on the counter. Turning back around, I no longer saw him.

That was two days ago. I have not seen the lizard since. I hope that he managed to find a way outside and is not galavanting around different rooms in my house, proud of his new abode. I’ll keep you posted if I see him again. In the meantime, please share your own wildlife stories – I would love to hear what has happened in your household!