When Do I Record Their Stories?

I am often asked when people find out about my work, "When do I record their stories? Mom and Dad are relatively young. Should I wait or should I do it now?" My answer involves a crystal ball and The Amazing Kreskin http://www.amazingkreskin.com/. If I could look into the future like those who know how to use a crystal ball (allegedly) or The Amazing Kreskin (I used to like watching him on The Tonight Show when I was a kid), I would have a date in mind when a loved one should be interviewed for their LifeStories...but I don't. Instead, my answer is, "Now." My answer comes from experience. On two occasions I was hired to capture and preserve a loved one's LifeStories on video. The Pre-Interview meeting (http://tinyurl.com/6yeu9od) went well. During the time between the Pre-Interview meeting and the filmed interview itself, however, in both cases, the interviewees had a stroke. We were able to conduct the interview, but in both cases, the interviewee was "not the same person" she was before. Both memory and speech quality were effected by the stroke. When can we predict a stroke...or other illnesses...or even death?

Even if, and especially if, your loved ones are young and healthy, now is the time to capture their stories!

In the next few weeks, I will be sharing some hints on how to accomplish this yourself. Stay tuned.