Sharing Our Stories

I remember my daughter's friend, Alicia, who once told me she loved to visit because she loved to hear my stories. Not nighttime storybook readings, but family anecdotes, some of which have become legend. I suppose I came by it honestly - my Uncle Sim was a minister who regaled us with stories about his missionary work in Russia and the Cossacks and how he loved Germany and its celebration of Oktoberfest. Knowing how Auntie Kay felt about liquor and those who drank, it was probably the last time beer passed his lips...but I digress.
Oral histories have fascinated me for years - I loved listening to older people who had lived through the Depression, Prohibition, the Great Wars. My mother was so poor she ate relish and cream cheese sandwiches and had to live with Uncle Sim and Auntie Kay for a few years because her mother couldn't afford to feed her and her sister. My dad told me about having one pair of socks and one pair of underwear which he would wash each night to have a clean pair to wear the next day. And I digress again...
My point is that this is why I love StoryCorps. From their website:
"Since 2003, over 50,000 people have shared life stories with family and friends through StoryCorps. Each conversation is recorded on a free CD to share, and is preserved at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. StoryCorps is one of the largest oral history projects of its kind, and millions listen to our broadcasts on public radio and the web." And in honor of Mother's Day, they have released their first animated clip called "Q&A", which features Joshua, a 12-year-old boy with Asperger's who interviews his mom, Sarah.
http://storycorps.org/
Be sure to check out this wonderful treasure...and yes, have the tissues handy.