You can tell their story
Friday is StoryCorps' National Day of Listening. Since you can order your Making Trouble DVDs conveniently online at www.makingtrouble.com, there is no need to go shopping on Black Friday. Instead, join Storycorps and sit down with a loved one and record their story. Ellen wrote about the National Day of Listening last year, and explained why the tradition of listening is so important to Jews, especially in the context of Thanksgiving, a holiday important to many Americans with immigration histories.
As I was reading about this project, I was upset that I missed the opportunity to interview my grandmother before she passed away in February of this year. She is on my mind because this will be our first Thanksgiving without her, and because we will be holding her unveiling over the weekend. But after talking with my colleagues at JWA, I realized that I could still participate in the National Day of Listening and honor her memory.
I will be bringing my video camera to Thanksgiving dinner and the unveiling in order to capture stories and memories of my grandma, Frances R. Schaffer. (Not too many protests from the family so far.) Hopefully, I will turn the footage into something I can share with you after the holiday.
Is there someone in your life that you would like get to know better? An older relative or a friend? Take advantage of this opportunity, and participate in the National Day of Listening with us. If you need help getting started, JWA offers a list of 20 great interview questions, and Storycorps has a downloadable Do-It-Yourself interview guide. You can also tune in and listen to more stories at NPR for inspiration.
Who do you know with a story waiting to be told? Today, with Youtube, digital cameras and iPhones, it's never been easier to make and share a video. Please share your stories with us. We are listening.
Have a wonderful and meaningful Thanksgiving!
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