“The best classroom in the world is at the feet of elders.” I have found validity countless times in this quote from Andy Rooney. After many years of a project where I interview and preserve the stories of veterans, as well as doing people’s life stories, I found these stories are full of personal and family history, advice, life lessons, and philosophies.
Brad Hoopes videos as someone shares his story.
While I have long been a strong proponent of preserving stories, it became personal for me a couple years ago. I was visiting my parents and was thumbing through their bookshelf when I came across a book written by a woman in Ohio. She had bought a signature quilt at an antique store there, somehow traced it back to Depression era Kansas, took the names off the quilt, researched each of them, and wrote this book. One of these women was my grandmother. Growing up I knew (I thought!) my grandmother as a quiet, simple, sweet, somewhat subservient to my grandfather, farm wife. I was now reading about the school valedictorian, star basketball player, trick pony rider, had the governor over for dinner, etc. Wait, What? How I wished I had sat down with her and learned her story. What about my other three grandparents? What were their stories? All I have to pass on to my children are memories that are now fading.
If you have someone special in your life whose story you don’t know, ask them to tell it to you as there is no better way to show them how much they mean to you than by doing so. As well, if you have never told your story, please, do so as there is no better gift you can give to those who care about you. Everyone has a story, and a unique one at that.
For more information: Contact Brad Hoopes, 970-631-2027 or www.rememberandhonor.com