One of the themes you may have noticed around here is that we want to encourage you to not only start your life stories project, but also to FINISH it. If you have made the effort to write it all down, don't let obstacles near the finish line set you back. If nothing else, print or copy your work on 3-hole punch paper and put it in a three-ring ... Read More
My Family History Book
I finally cracked open my family history book. Well, it's actually my grandmother's book that she passed down to my mom, but the history in it is all of ours. I remember seeing it often during my childhood, because it was a passion project for my grandmother, her siblings and their cousins. She would occasionally share something that I thought was ... Read More
Preserving Old Journals
My dad has this little 4" x 6" journal where he has been recording a very small amount of information about each vacation that he has taken since he and Mom were married more than a half century ago. Although there are only the most basic details about each trip, there is enough information that it occasionally has to be pulled out to verify ... Read More
A Memoir Blog Can Provide Immediate Satisfaction
My mom had surgery last week and I've been helping her out during the recovery. Now that she's feeling a little better, she wants us to go through the boxes of "stuff" in the basement that she inherited upon the passing of my grandmother and my uncle. It's a difficult task to wade through the memories of a lost loved one and even more difficult to ... Read More
Taking Photos of Photos and Documents
Taking photos of photos and documents can save you a tremendous amount of time and money. This technique is not about perfection, but it is about getting it done! Most people won't be able to tell the difference if you learn to do this well. All you need is a digital camera, an iPhone or any smartphone that has a decent camera and of course the ... Read More