Happy Birthday Sis'!

My (fill in blank; ie:big? older? I give up!) sister turns (fill in blank) today!Since she's beating me to this age by a few years, I'm not sure what's appropriate. Should I lie about her age? Hmmm...maybe I will. Anyway - Both of my sisters have been incredibly supportive as I tried to put the pieces of our childhood together for the book. HIn fact, Kathleen and I celebrated by eating at P.F. Changs (love it!) together when I sent the first big edit to my publishers at Sourcebooks. That's us in the photos. What fun! Looks like another celebration is in order.

Getting Your Parents to Talk

The following is part of a letter I received recently. I thought perhaps it might be helpful to others.

Karen,
I am curious how you...got the old folks talking. It seems like when
I was young and not really interested, my mom had all kinds of stories
to tell. Now that she knows I AM interested, she seems reluctant to talk.
Of course, it doesn't help that we are several thousand miles away from
each other, but even when I visit, it's like pulling teeth to get her to tell
me anything. -Sherrie

Dear Sherrie,
I know what you mean. When I was interviewing my father for what eventually turned into a book, he wasn't real big on talking. Like you, I'd heard his stories many, many times as a child. That said, here are a few ideas;

1. Spend time with your mom on a regular basis and without an agenda. A consistent time, even if it is on the phone is likely to bring you closer to your mom. I think we all want to know that we are important enough for a regular call or visit. Eventually, that time may provide opportunities for stories to be shared. It may seem time-consuming but in the end it's really not that much time at all. And there's something about knowing that someone set aside Wednesdays at 9am every single week, that opens doors to memories.
2. Photos are a great memory-starter. So are memorabilia or even just walking around someone's house and talking about the items contained in it. People keep things for a reason.
3. Talk about your own memories. Share them with no expectation.
4. Ask about memories that are common, yet individual. Ask the "where were you
when...?" questions. For example, "Where were you when JFK was shot?"

Above all, don't give up. It takes time for people to share, but it's worth your
effort and patience.

Thanks for asking! Good luck and let me know what you learn. ~Karen

VACATION

I will be taking a vacation from Friday, August 8, 2008 to Monday, August 18th. I will not have computer or internet access during this time. I feel like I'm going to internet rehab. I'm pretty sure I'll go through withdrawels. But unplugging is a good thing.

In the meantime, how about you write about a favorite or memorable vacation. And if you'd like, share the mini-version here and I promise to read it when I get back. In fact, I'll just let you know now that I'll be sharing a photo and 100-words on the theme of "vacation" when I get back. The first Photo-Finish-Friday after I get back will be on Friday (of course), August 22nd. Plan to join me then.

See ya when I get back. ~Karen

The Talkers in the Family

photo by Karen L. Alaniz

"I haven't spoken to my wife in years. I didn't want to interrupt her." -Rodney Dangerfield

I can't be the only one who has a few "talkers" in her family. Maybe it's your Uncle George who keeps telling the same stories over and over. Perhaps it's your Grandma Susie who has a story for everything. Or maybe it's your cousin whose stories of childhood have you rolling on the floor with laughter. It might even be a neighbor, who just seems to spout words of wisdom in passing. We all have them, don't we?

But the thing is, we also sometimes have little conversations with ourselves, when we see them coming. They start something like this;

"If Grandpa tells the story about his car breaking down on his first date with Grandma one more time..."

-or-

"I'm really not in the mood for Cousin Jeanie's stories today..."

-or-

"She never listens to me. She's always focused on what story she'll tell me next..."

Well, here's the funny thing; the more some people talk, the less we listen (I suspect that's true of Rodney Dangerfield's wife). But what if there were such a thing as a Life-Long Calendar. What if you could turn to January 22, 2009 and find out that that date would be Cousin Jeanie's last day on earth. Would you look at those stories differently? What would you do differently? How would you spend the next few months?

I know what I'd do. I'd listen more carefully. I'd try to commit each story to memory. I'd purpose myself to get those stories recorded. Whether with a tape recorder, a video recorder, a computer word processor, or just old fashioned pen and paper, I'd get them all saved for myself and for future generations.

Are there people in your life right now whose stories are flitting around in the wind? Pin them down, record them. Start small, if you must. Commit to writing down one story from one of the "talkers" in your life. They'll be flattered that you asked. And the fabulous part is that when you write down someones history, you are making history at the same time. So go ahead, WRITE NOW - BECAUSE IT'S LATER THAN YOU THINK

Pet Stories

Quick; Tell me about your family pet. If you're like me, you instantly saw your beloved childhood pet, or maybe it is your current one that jumped to the forefront of your imagination. Perhaps it was a white cat named Snowball. Or maybe it was a dog named Rover (though hopefully you were more creative than that). Telling about your family dog, current or past reveals a lot about you and the dynamics of your family.

Asking about family pets is also a great way to get someone to talk. It's a safe subject, but one that is undoubtedly filled with emotion and use of the senses. Animals follow us through good times and bad, through triumphs and tragedies. For many, they are the thread that is woven thoughout our lives.

A simple open-ended question is all you need to get started.

"Can you tell me about your childhood pet?"

Photo: The Cutest Dog in the World (TCDITW)- Mine!

~Karen

Boxes in the Attic

I think we've all heard the stories and maybe even in our own family. Great Aunt Mildred (I don't know why I always use that name) passes away and as the family is cleaning out her home, they find a box, a chest or a pile of old "stuff." As they go through the correspondence, photos, and other momentos, they realize that Aunt Mildred had a story to tell. But she never told it, or she told it but there are details in the now-treasured box that are a surprise to those she left behind. Though that chest of special items is truly a treasure, how much more would it have been if she'd gone through it with you while she was alive. And what a shame that time has passed. Lets you and me vow not to let that happen in our families.

Below are some suggestions on how to encourage your loved one to share now;

1. Think History. In a town a few miles away, where my aunt was raised, there was a terrible flood. I believe it was in the 40's but I'm not sure. I do know that my aunt, even at her young age, knew it was a terribly important event. She saved newspaper clippings and took photographs. She still has a notebook full of them. Think about the history around your loved ones and ask questions based on it.

2. Think Events. Have you heard the story of your grandparents wedding? Have you heard the story of your parents wedding? Now, I'm not talking about just the wedding itself. I'm talking about the WHOLE story. For example, if I were to tell my story, and if I were questioned the right way, I might share some funny things I remember. My husband and I forgot to pick up our marriage license from the court house. And it didn't occur to us until a few hours before the wedding. By then the courthouse was closed, so we had to make phone calls and talk someone into meeting us there to open up the marriage records office for us. Another vivid memory for me was sitting on a stool with my dress fluffed around it, so as not to wrinkle my dress. I hadn't eaten all day, so one of my bridesmaids handed me a yogurt to eat as I sat on my "throne." Also think about births, birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and even funerals and deaths.

3. Think Correspondence. We are such an instant nation. We email, text message, and use our cell phones without a second thought; it's a part of our culture. But it wasn't always that way. Ask your loved one about how mail was received when they were young, and ask if they saved any of the letters. Looking at the correspondence of yester-year is like peeking through the key hole to a time you only dreamed about. Letters and postcards not only tell the story of the sender and receiver, but also tell about that time in history.

After listening to the stories, after looking at photographs, and after reading letters and postcards, don't forget the cardinal rule; write it down. Don't assume you'll remember everything that Great Aunt Mabel said. And don't assume that you will be around forever to pass on the stories. Write down everything you remember now.

Write Now-Because it is later than you think. ~Karen

Interview Complete - Now what?

Congratulations! You have taken the first step and interviewed a parent, grandparent, neighbor, or friend. Maybe you've used a tape recorder. Perhaps a video camera. Or maybe you just typed the information in question and answer form, onto your laptop. In any case, you've taken that first very important step. Now you have the information. But what will you do with it.

Think like a publisher. What is the best way to show off your work, honor the person you interviewed, and at the same time, create a living memory that will be enjoyed generations from now? Below are a few suggestions;

Write it up
Even if you have the interview on video or audio tape, those mediums are notorious for not standing the test of time. In addition, people are more likely to pull up the written form and read it than go find the video of it. Of course, you should keep the tape too; in years to come it will be priceless to see/hear the person you are interviewing. So how do you go about writing something like this up, you might ask. There are a few choices.

• Word for Word - Go through the interview and write down the exact words of your questions and the exact words of the response. For example;

Q: What year were you born?

A: 1855 (haha)

• Life Story Form- This is a bit more time intensive, but turns out nicely. Beginning at the...well-beginning, write the story of your subject's life. To make it more interesting, look for themes. Was the person shy, and this affected them throughout their life? Was he always interested in trains? Weave that into the story. You may find that you need more detail, and will have to go back with a new list of questions, but it'll be well worth the effort.
• A Piece of the Story - If the information you've collected is more anecdotal, you will probably want to write it up as such. For example, if Aunt Mabel just told you a specific story about the time she won the pie baking contest, you probably want to write that up as a small piece of the puzzle of her life. Be sure to date it. Then when you interview her again, you can put the pieces together. Which brings me to my last point.

When I titled this post, "Interveiw Complete" it was a bit of a lie. You're never done interviewing. There is always one more story. So look for parts of your interview that aren't complete. Notice the small stories that could splinter off from this one. If you don't see any, then look to someone else you can interview. Ask your aunt or uncle, what your mom was really like. Different perspectives mean that your story is more real, more cohesive.

But above all, Write Now-Because it's later than you think. ~Karen

Lost Video Tape - My Grandmother's Words

My aunt gave me a video tape recently. She told me that it was of my grandmother. Apparently in her last years, the nursing home she resided in decided (wisely) to interview their residents. The video tape was the result. My grandmother has been gone for a long time now. The tape was dated 1990.

With a fake fireplace in the middle of the screen, the interviewer sat across from my grandmother. She was very hard of hearing by this time, often having to ask that the question be repeated. And the audio wasn't great. It was hard to understand her responses. In fact, I plan to go through slowly, so that I can transcribe the interview.

She talked about coming over in a covered wagon. She had eleven siblings. She talked about the games she played with her brothers and sisters. She looked down at her weathered hands when she talked about a brother, who was named after a relative who died tragically. The brother died when he drown at the age of two. But when the interviewer asked more questions about what they did in their spare time, she emphasized that they worked. They didn't have a lot of time to play.

Then at the end of the interview, she was asked an important question. "Mae, is there some message you'd like to leave for the little ones? Is there something you'd like to say for posterity?" It was at this point that I asked my son to listen. He'd been playing a video game.

"Brian...Listen to this." I said. "It's my grandmother and she's about to tell us something." I said.

Mae looked up and down and then said, "Don't ever lie and don't steal."

Oh, I thought. OK...that was kind of basic, but good advice.

My son started to go back to his game. But then the interviewer asked again, "Is there anything you'd like to tell your children or grandchildren?"

"Listen Brian. Listen." I said.

He looked at me. "Mom, why are you sitting like that?" he asked.

Unbeknownst to me, I was sitting on the edge of my seat.

Grandma Mae looked a bit bewildered, as if the interviewer had asked a silly question.

"Any message you'd like to leave your children?" she asked again.

"Well..." Grandma started. "I hope they don't live this long. It's too hard."

And that was it. My husband and son went back to whatever they were doing. It was me who was left with that thought. I wanted to cry. That night, I couldn't sleep. I remembered taking my toddler daughter to visit her great grandmother. Did I visit enough? Why didn't I ever pick her up and take her to my house or to the park? I never even thought of that. She was obviously lonely. But I would never have known that. She was always so positive. I would have never in a million years dreamed she'd say those words.

I talked with my husband about it. He had no answers. My parents are now reaching the age my grandmother was in that tape. As I sat in church yesterday, still contemplating my grandmother's words, something occured to me. She no longer had a purpose. She'd outlived her friends and most of her family. She and my grandfather lived in their own home until they were in their early 90's. And then, like many her age, she went to live in a nursing home.

The words, "I hope they don't live this long. It's too hard," were a reflection of a loss of purpose. Sad, isn't it. I think that even at my age, which is less than half of hers at the time of that taping, I can begin to adopt a philosophy of purpose. It's a mindset really- a way of looking at life. Making a difference isn't about your age. It doesn't stop at 70 or 80 or 90. There is a purpose to all of our lives. And perhaps we need to reach up to that generation, just as we reach down to the generation which came after us. Together we form an unbreakable chain. What is your place in the chain?

Write Now ~Karen

My Mother's Memories

The following is a portion of the interview with my mom. I'm posting it here so that you can see how simple it is to do. And I'm posting it so that you can also see how very much you can learn about a person from listening to their memories.

1936 – Second Grade (Mulberry, Florida) Idelle and Fletcher McLaughlin lived next door, and Idelle was my second grade teacher. We were never supposed to go over to her house, but I was sure she’d want me over there all the time. I’d hear her playing the piano and I wanted to go over and play the piano too. Our porches had a big divider so you could scoot from ours to hers, but Mother wouldn’t let us do that. Mrs. McLaughlin gave Arminta and me a ride to school every day. My mother made extra money by fixing lunch for Idelle and she would come home for lunch with us. Mrs. McLaughlin made everything fun. One morning when there was frost on everything, she said “Oh Jack Frost came in the night. He’s the one who painted all this- see all the frost on everything? I dearly loved my teacher. My mother sewed beautifully and one time we needed coats that year. But we didn’t have the money for them. My teacher had bought this beautiful material for winter coats and she asked my mother to sew coats for her nieces. She worked and worked on them. Then on Christmas morning we opened our presents and there were the coats; they were for us all along. It was a magical time.

Write Now, Karen

A Story Worth Telling

Everyone has a story to tell. But not everyone has someone to tell their story to. The theme of this blog is, "Write Now-Because it's later than you think." And it's really a double meaning. It refers to being a writer and it refers to writing down family history. But not everyone has family. And even if they do have family, their story still may not be told. That's where you and I come in. When you choose to write down someone's story, you are honoring their life. You are honoring their memories and what better way to do that than to create a permanent record of it?

As I contemplate this in my own life, I first think of my parents and the stories they have to tell. But I also think of my children; why not ask them to share their school memories? And I think of my grandparents and wish I'd had my life together enough to realize that they wouldn't be around forever to tell their stories. And that's why I'm here. I'm writing this now to encourage myself as well as my readers- to do something today to make a difference.

When you think of writing down someone's stories, consider;

• Your Children - Even if they are young, or maybe especially if they are young, they have exuberant stories to tell.
• Your "Greats" - Chances are that your "greats" have less time left to tell their stories than anyone else in your family. Great aunts, uncles, grandparents and anyone else of that generational age are a wonderful place to begin. Their stories are full of thoughts, vocabulary, and history that will too soon be gone forever.
• Your Parents - Sometimes we forget that our parents had a life before us. And that means that there are stories we haven't heard, let alone experienced.
• Cousins - first ones...second ones, and once removed ones-Oh MY! If you have cousins you can interview, you'd be surprised by the stories they will tell. You'll learn things about not only your cousins, but also your aunts and uncles that you never would have known.
• Your Siblings - It may be tempting to skip talking to your siblings. After all, it would seem that they have the same stories to tell that you do. But what you will find is that they do indeed have stories to tell which are unrelated to you. And you may even learn more about your parents and yourself.

When you think about interviewing someone, don't forget about your non-blood-relatives. Consider the following.

• Neighbors
• Nursing Home Patients
• In-laws (brother, sister, mother, father)
• Members of your Church
• Friends
• People who are Ill
• People who are lonely
• Children (with parents permission of course)
• Step Children/Step parent

The possibilities are endless. Tell someone's story today. ~Karen

300 Words - My Mom's Turn

As promised, I interviewed my mother*. I didn't ask her permission or warn her. Maybe that's not fair, but I didn't want her to worry about it. I simply showed up at her house with my laptop, and said, "OK, it's your turn. Mom, I want to interview you." She was less than enthusiastic. But once she got to talking, memories-things she hadn't thought of in years, came to the surface and I typed as fast as I could. Thank God for my high school typing class. I can type without looking at the keys, and pretty fast too. From this experience, I would highly recommend doing this. And here are a few tips on how to do it.

• Limit the time you'll spend interviewing. I spent only about twenty minutes and made that clear when we started.
• Start with a question. It's overwhelming when you're trying to think of your entire life story in one sitting. Begin by asking about times that are framed by an event such as a grade level or a holiday. I asked my mother to tell me about kindergarten. I didn't know they didn't have kindergarten then, so we started with first grade instead.
• Only ask questions pertinent to the clarity of the story. You may have a lot of questions while your loved one is talking but ask only the questiong that will help to clarify the specific story they are telling. Resist the temptation to go on "rabbit trails" that are actually a separate story.
• End on a Positive Note. If the particular subject is not a happy memory, encourage your interviewee to then share a good memory. First grade was not a happy memory for my mother, so when we finished first grade, I had her also tell me about second grade, which was much happier (and made up for a nasty first grade teacher).
• Have a Plan B. Not all memories are pleasant and some may be traumatic. Be prepared to change to a different question if your interviewee is uncomfortable sharing. Have a "Plan B" question that is very different from the first question. For example, if you first asked about kindergarten memories, your "Plan B" question might be, "What is the best Christmas present you received as a child?"
• Plan for the Next Interview. Let the interviewee know what you'd like to talk about the next time you get together. And when you get home, reread what you've written; make sure that it all makes sense. Then jot down any additional questions you have.

*Remember, you can interview absolutely anyone.

300 Word Interview

Taking the theme of writing your story in 300 word increments, something occured to me. What if you wrote someone elses story the same way? For example, what if I sat down with my mom or my aunt and asked them to tell about a specific memory, such as kindergarten? My experience has been that most people enjoy talking about their memories. But when you bring out a tape recorder, or a laptop, or a note pad, they freeze up. But I wonder if that might change if I let them know that I don't want to write any more than 300 words. That amount seems so managable, doesn't it?

I think I'll give it a try. My mother is the perfect candidate. Because I have written a book about my dad, I've spent a lot of time with him learning about his past and his memories. But my mom is another story (haha). Though I've heard her tell stories of her childhood, I've never written them down. I need to do that. And when I do, you'll be the first to know.

Is there anyone you could try this with? It doesn't have to be someone older than you. In fact, it could be one of your children, or a young person you know. Who would you ask?

300 Word Sample

I decided to post my very first 300 word history, just so you can see how basic and, well...corny it can be. For this one, I wrote about the first thought popped in my head regarding Kindergarten. Here it is;

Kindergarten - I was five years old when I started kindergarten, but with a September birthday, I turned six soon after. Mrs. Baker was round and wore dresses every day. The first day of school, a little girl in my class cried and cried. She cried every day for weeks. I was curious about her. I watched her come in with her mother. Outside the door, she didn’t shed a tear. But once her mother guided her inside our classroom door, the water works began. She cried all morning. When she wasn’t shriek-crying, she was sobbing, her shoulders raising and falling dramatically. I don’t remember tears, but I do remember that she had a hyper-productive snot gland. She stood there helplessly while Mrs. Baker tried to calm her. Every morning it was the same. Every morning, Mrs. Baker assured her mother that Miss Cries-a-lot just needed a little more time. Months passed. Suddenly one day the classroom was quiet. She was gone and I knew exactly where she was before Mrs. Baker even made the announcement. She was next door, in another teacher’s room. You see, that little crybaby didn’t cry because she missed her mommy. She cried because she wanted to be in the other kinder class – the one with more toys. That’s what she howled about every single day. But that’s not the story Mrs. Baker told. During circle time that morning, she announced that the little girl was now in the other classroom because there were too many kids in her class. I suspect that every single one of my classmates had the same thought…”move me…move me.”

After circle time, all the kids were playing when I approached Mrs. Baker. “She really got to move because she cried, right?” I asked. She didn’t answer. “Go play,” she said.
She would later tell my mother how smart I was. “She figured out exactly what happened.” She shared.

It didn’t take a rocket scientist.

Now it's your turn. Open up a page on your word procesor and begin with Kindergarten. Write just a paragraph or two of the first memory that comes to mind. Tie it up quickly and stop.
Then challenge yourself to add to it regularly. As a writer, I find it is a good "warm-up" to the writing I must get done on a particular day. Or you may want to use it if you are stuck for what to write. And in the mean time you are doing something even more amazing, you are taking something that is yours and yours alone- a memory- and recording it for generations to come. Good for you! Write Now, Karen

Writing Your School Memories

Not having electricity for a few days is an interesting experience for a writer. I have a laptop with a battery, so obviously I can still write...until the battery goes dead anyway. (I DID have a place to go plug it in to recharge) My problem was that a lot of the articles I was working on at the time were dependent on the Internet for research. So what's a writer to do?

And honestly, it was difficult to concentrate. When you're figuring out what is cookable on the wood stove, it's hard to concentrate on work, for me anyway.

Well, luckily I was reading "Bird by Bird" by Anne Lamott. In the book, Lamott talks about purposing yourself to write just 300 words. She encourages readers to start with their childhood, a time when memories are vivid. So I did that. What fun! Really. It was fun to just write what I wanted. First I tried to think of what my very first memory was but that was kind of impossible. So I started with kindergarten and wrote about my strongest impressions. Later I wrote about first grade and then second. I didn't include every single thing I remembered about it, just the memories that jumped to the front.

Lamott has a purpose in having readers do this exercise. There are memories that you have that you don't even know are there until you write them. You may use one of them in the novel you're writing, or it may trigger another memory that can be used. But I can think of another use.

As you know, a few years ago, my father gave me more than 400 letters he'd written during WWII. That single act changed my life. It changed how I see history. Now imagine your great-grandmother stepping back through time and handing you something she'd written; letters, a diary, a journal. What a treasure that would be. In writing our family history, we must remember to include ourselves. All of these memories that we're trying to drag out of our parents and grandparents, we have too. And believe me, someday, one of your relatives will be thrilled to read about your life.

I'm up to the 7th grade now and plan to keep going, 300 words at a time. What's your earliest memory? Have you written it down? ~Karen

Write Now - A Holiday Perspective

Write Now. It's the name of my blog. After my father shared letters he'd written during WWII, we began having breakfast at a local diner once a week. We talked about what was in the letters and we talked about what was not. And I learned something that I think just about everyone can benefit from.

I grew up hearing several of the stories. I knew them well...or at least I thought I did. But as my father retold the stories to me over breakfast and I went home to write them up, I realized that memory is a funny thing. My memories of what he'd told me as a child were not entirely wrong. It's just that I had run stories together, I'd even added detail. And here's what I think we can learn from that.

When you remember a story that Great-aunt Mabel or Grandpa Burt told, your mind fills in details that they don't mention, in order to make sense of it. The memories are not your own so you don't have the benefit of recalling them. So your mind makes assumptions without your permission.

So now, as an adult, I was hearing my father's stories for the first time...again. And when I went home to write them up, I realized that the story is truly in the details. I often followed up our time together with a couple of emails to clarify the story. There is something about writing it down, that ensures more accuracy.

The holiday season is upon us. Family will gather, for many it is the only time of year that everyone is all together. And for a few, it will be their last holiday. Take the time to "write now" during this season. It can be as simple as taking a small tape recorder to the dinner table. Or it may be that you take Grandma to lunch and have her tell you that story you grew up hearing. Writing your family history isn't as daunting as it sounds. It just takes a little planning and a little time. ~Karen

Write (your family history) Now- Your Child

No family? No problem! Whether you were adopted, or are estranged from your family, there is still a family-history that only you can write. There are many reasons why a person is unable or unwilling- to begin sitting down with a relative for the purposes of writing down history.

When we think of family history, we often think of the oldest in our family. We think of the senior citizens at our table and the stories they have to tell. But that is not all there is. Instead of looking up, look down. Your little ones- your sons and daughters have a story to tell, no matter their age. And there is a story that they will want to read one day-your story.

Think of those baby-books that most moms-to-be are given at the baby shower. Inside is a place for your child's birth certificate, a lock of hair and places to write about the numerous firsts he/she will experience. Unfortunately, even if we manage to keep up with the baby-book, we usually stop at the first year. And most of us don't even manage to make it that far. Whether your child is six-months or 16, it's never too late to start. But for the sake of a place to begin, lets start with a child who is less than 12. During these summer months, here are a few activities you can have fun doing.

Buy a simple three-ring notebook and 10-20 plastic sleeves. You will need paper of some sort and markers. If you talk to anyone who is a true scrapbooker, they will extole the virtues of buying only archive-safe materials. And it's true. But if you get so overwhelmed with all that, that you give up before you begin, then we've lost something really precious-a moment in time.

Before you start- Here are the rules:
1. Forget perfectionism
2. Do it today
3. Date everything

Now- choose one of the following activities and begin:

1) Favorites Interview- Ask your child the following questions
*What is your favorite color?
*What is your favorite toy?
*What is your favorite food?
*What do you want to be when you grow up?
*Who is your best friend?
*What do you like to do?
*Where do you like to go?
*What do your favorite T.V. show/movie?
*What is the best thing about (sibling's name)?
*What's the silliest thing your (mom, dad, grandma etc.) has ever done?

2) Feet and Hands- Using paint or markers, have your child get good and gooped up, one apendage at a time. Quickly have them put their foot or hand on a piece of paper. Hold the paper down while they pull their hand straight up. Let it dry. Repeat on remaining hands and feet until all are sufficiently messy.

3) Yarn-it - Take yarn or string and measure how tall your child is, then cut the string to size and put it next to a yard stick to see the actual inches. Using masking tape, write the inches and body part on it with permanent market and double it over around the end of the yarn. You can make this a fun project by having your child guess the length of string before measuring. Just for fun, you can do the same for length of arm, leg, circumference of belly, head or whatever you like. Have your child draw a picture of himself on a piece of white paper. Help him write his measurements on the paper with arrows pointing to the part of the body. Glue an envelope to the paper and put the strings inside.

4) Everyday Photos - We all remember to take photographs at special events like baseball games and occasions like Christmas, but what about documenting what his everyday life is like at this particular age. Begin in the morning by taking a snapshot of him sleeping. Take photos of him brushing his teeth, eating breakfast, playing on the floor with his army guys or lining up his matchbox cars for a make-believe race. Take a picture of him at the park and at the grocery store. At the end of the day, when he is tucked into bed, print off the photos and place one or two on a sheet of paper. Label it and put it in the notebook. Be as creative or as simple as you want.

You didn't forget to label everything with a date did you? These activities can be repeated every so often. But now that you're thinking, be creative. Does your child love Nascar or Dora the Explorer? Make a special page just for that. The key is to keep adding periodically. Your child now has his own special book. Take a moment to talk about history. Every piece of history we have- started when one person took the time to write it down.

Next Time: Writing Your own History

Karen

Why Write Now?

My blog is titled, Write Now, and there is a good reason for that, but it's probably not what you think. I guess it has a double meaning. Perhaps I should explain. I'm a writer so Write Now makes sense right? Well, the reason my blog is named Write Now has little to do with my writing career and a lot to do with you.

My father gave me two tattered notebooks full of letters he wrote during the war. They had sat on a shelf for more than 50 years. And when he shared them with me, it not only changed our relationship, it made me contemplate history. I'm not talking about the history you learned about in your 10th grade history class-I'm talking about the history that sits across the table from you at Christmas dinner. We all have a relative (or ten) who has a story for every occasion.

You know the one-it's Aunt Emma who rode the Oregon Trail. It's Grandpa Burt who fought in World War II. You may have grown up hearing the stories-maybe even rolled your eyes behind their back. But now Grandpa Burt and Aunt Emma are gone and all the stories went with them.

And that's what this site is about. While I create history by writing here, I hope to also encourage you to begin to treasure your own history before it's gone. This is not a, "someday" site. This site is about taking the time you have today to sit down with a relative and instead of relying on memory (that's a scary thought), writing it down. It doesn't have to be fancy-it doesn't even have to be in person. What's important is that you get it written down. What's important is that you, Write Now!

In future posts I will cover subjects related to family history. Of course, I'll also keep writing my musings that will be interspersed inbetween. If there is some specific subject you would like me to write about as it relates to family history, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

In the future, you can find my posts on family history by looking for the, "Write Now-..." on the title line.

-Karen