Why it is important? First – it will make us realize that we have counted for something; that we have made a contribution to this world. Second – it will let our descendants or family look back at us with different eyes in the later years when they read what we wrote. They will likely understand us better and see why we did what we did – for good or bad. I am going to pass out a worksheet. It’s only a guide line to get your started. You can likely think of more things. If you are not a writer, just fill in the blanks! But, I am trusting that you can write it more like a story, incorporating the points I’ve listed – and adding more to it. You can type it, handwrite it, dictate it into a tape recorder. Put it away in a safe way, such as with your important papers. Mark what it is so it won’t be discarded. Some day, someone will pick up those papers, or listen to the tape and think “my goodness, did my Mom do that? Did my father work there? Did they dress like that? And, they’ll love it! SUGGESTED TOPICS TO COVER IN YOUR STORY 1. When were you born and where? 2. Were you an only child or have siblings? 3. What did your father do for a living? 4. Did you mother work? 5. Did you move a lot? Tell about the houses you’ve lived in, states or towns where you l lived. 6. Where did you go to school and when did you graduate? 7. Do you remember the name of any of your teachers? 8. Who were your friends in school? 9. What were your favorite subjects? 10.What were your least favorite subjects? 11.Did you sing in the choir, play a sport, join any clubs? 12.Where did you go to church? Tell something you remember about church, the pastor or church friends 13. What was your first job? Did you like it? What kind of work did you do? Who was your boss? 14.Did you serve in the military? What branch, when, did you serve overseas? 15.If a lady, did you like to cook? What was your favorite food to eat or fix? 16.Did you marry? If so, when, where? Do you remember your wedding party? Were you married in a church service, by a Justice of the Peace, elope? 17.Do you have children? When and where were they born? Any special circumstances about their birth? 18.What are your hobbies? Gardening, farming, genealogy, singing, watching tv, collecting something? 19.Did you ever win any awards or special distinction for something you did? 20.What is your favorite time of the year? 21.What is your favorite color? 22.What sort of clothes have you worn over the years? Jeans – fancy dresses, casual? 23.What’s your favorite music? Any favorite singer or group? Any songs that you remember from your childhood that you liked? 24.What is or was your favorite television program? Favorite movie? 25.How did you wear your hair growing up? Pony tail? Crew cut? Sideburns? Mohawk? 26.What kind of cars have you owned? What was your favorite car? 27.What trips or vacations have you taken? 28.Have you ever met any one famous? 29.What are your political views? 30.Have you had any serious illnesses or been in the hospital? 31.Are you afraid of anything? Snakes, spiders, filling out this questioner? 32. If there was one thing you could change in your life, what would it be? 33.Is there something you would like to do before you get too old to do it? 34.Is there someplace you’d like to go? 35.What are you interested in – astronomy, archaeology, history, engineering, or various ways to take a nap? 36.Do you remember some big news events that held your attention? Such as – breaking out of WWII or the Korean War, the assassination of J. F. Kennedy, the first walk on the moon, 911 or others? You can add to this list, make changes - make it YOUR story! One of our readers added something that I think it really neat, taken from a seminar he attended. To help recall some of your memories, the speaker suggested drawing a picture of your home(s) to the best of your memory. Then go room by room in your mind and see if a memory is triggered about something that happened in that room. I hope I have motivated you to write down your story! Sandi Sandi's Puzzlers: http://www.gensoup.org/gorinpuzzles/index.php Sandi's site: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/