As frequently happens I have awakened far too early this morning, 7/11/10, and realize I am not going to be able to go back to sleep because of all the thoughts swirling around in my head. So I might as well try to get some of the stuff down before the clatter of the day drowns them out.
Yesterday I met with a close friend who believes my new business is worthy of pursuing and is trying to help me get it started so that others may also think it has some merit. She wants me to develop something called a rack piece (?) that can be handed out with a short but pithy description of why this is important.
There can be many generic groups that might be approached but two come to mind quickly: your parents of grandparents who may still be with us; or you, who may be parents today and grandparents tomorrow.
The older generations have possibly lived through the depression years, WWll, the Cold War, Civil Rights,the fear of MAD (Mutually Assured Destruction), the decline of the Soviet Union and communism, and the tremendous explosion of technology. How wonderful and probably important it could be to see and hear them talk about such events as 9/11, Iraq, our first black President, healthcare, immigration, etc.
Can you imagine what it would be like if you could take a DVD down from your shelf and see your mother or grandfather talking 50 years ago about their past and current experiences and thoughts about their world at that time? Would that not be significant to your family and possibly historically?
Now consider how your children or grandchildren, 20 or more years from now, would welcome seeing a similar DVD of you recorded today. I don't think for a moment that it would not be important! Change is occurring so rapidly today we have no idea what is coming. Your expressed ideas of what may happen may turn out to be inconsequential, important, or naive -- but of some historic value.
I am reminded of the letter I wrote home as a 20 year old on the afternoon following the dropping of the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima. I naively said there could never be another war. I wonder what other words of wisdom (?) might have come out if I had been questioned by someone with a camcorder back then.
If any of you who may read this blog would like to comment or make suggestions, positive or negative, I would be honored.
Ralph, I think this is the coolest thing ever and I know it's going to be very lucrative for you. Who wouldn't want to do this? All of us have seen how the stories and family history are lost forever. Oh, how I wish I had tapes of mom and dad. I don't have any video of them and just to hear their voices and see their faces would be a joy, for me and generations to come. Plus, the guts to start this business after your recent 39th birthday is even more remarkable. Way to Go Ralph. XXXOXOXOXO
ReplyDeleteWhen a person we love passes, part of the great sadness is that our children and their children will never have the chance to learn from them. Life Stories by Ralph eases this loss, when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, my Dad is still strong, and for a Christmas gift to my siblings, I scheduled time for him to sit with Ralph during his recent visit to Park City.
I cherish my Dad's thoughts, advice, expressions, words and voice, and when I received the Life Story recording, I was overcome with a sense of peace and security at having something tangible to share with generations to come.