When to collect stories : Festive Season 3

Gift giving at this time of year is always a challenge. What do we give those who have what they need or want. How can you make yours and their Festive Season even more unique? Is it possible to give a gift so special that it can enhance the holidays for your family? My answer is YES!

Consider giving Familore. It is the quintessential treasure of your family's story. When they began, where you have been and where you all are today. The Holiday Season is fast approaching and without speaking a word members of your family are remembering. It may be the weather, the sights, the sounds, the buzz in the Mall, what ever it is we all have thoughts of earlier Christmases or Festive Seasons.

Your aunt could be remembring her first Christmas as a parent. Little brother is reminded of the first pair of skates he was given. Grandmother still remembers the smell the cookies and pies spread throughout the house. Dad worried over finding the right tree and Mom was making sure the presents were under the tree before the children got up.

Encourage the recounting of your family's stories. They all have their images, their memories and these pulled together and shared become your Familore.

Begin this year. Start with a few stories, a few remembrances and soon you will discover the treasure that is Familore. Call a member of your family and begin to collect their stories. You can record these in many ways. Audio, video, even typed up in Word with a seasonal image watermark will help you capture the story. You can later add these to a CD and distribute copies to family members. Every year you can add to it. Old photos, maps, charts, children's drawings and cards can now be collected as never before.

Be the teller,

A time for collecting stories : Festive Season

You know who you are! The one in a family gathering that asks all the questions. The person most likely to wonder when our family first cut a tree for the holidays. There is one in every family. Is is curiosity, concern or just being inquisitive, inquiring minds want to know. But remember this is, it is all up to you.

Familylore is like that. We all have it, we all use it and no one tells about it. That is where the family teller comes in. The Festive Season is one of the most popular times of the year to record such stories. Are they interviews? Will they bring up bad memories? You never know, you can only be sure that you are asking in order to preserve, encourage and share your Familylore.

The next time you are in the kitchen helping to stuff a bird, bake a pie or sugar cookies pull out your recorder, and ask open questions to your mom, grandmother, grandfather, sister, brother, nephew,niece or other.

• Mom Dad : What did you do on your first Christmas together?
  

• Sis: How did you decide to become _____________?
  

• Neighbour: Remember Grandad, and his gardening, what was his favorite flower?

These and other open ended questions will help get the story started.

Be the teller,