Create a family scrapbook with a difference
Rose Osborne, 67, was a registered nurse for 45 years before retiring to become a personal historian, owner and creator of Write My Journey, a life story writing service that turns memories into a beautiful hardcover book.
A client rang recently wanting a solution to keeping their elderly grandmother, Vera, orientated with all that was going on in the extended family. Too many names, too many faces and too much activity is a challenge for anyone. The family members had no time for a big project and so needed something that was achievable with minimal effort.
I suggested a Family Album Scrapbook. The scrapbook would target the special needs of Vera with large writing, clear themes and tagged photos.
The client and I set about listing all family members and identified them into groups and sub-groups. It was decided that Vera’s seven children were a priority to Vera and she always sought information on what was happening with them so they became the prime groups. Their families formed sub-groups. This meant we had three generations of family to consider.
A spokesperson for each of Vera’s seven children was chosen and contacted. My request was simple: Could you please give me a digital copy of family activities for the past 12 months?”
Into their smart phone photo galleries they all went and the photos streamed into my inox – children’s parties, 40th birthday parties, 21st and 18th celebrations, family holidays, graduations and so on. Even ordinary events like bike riding, soccer games, cricket, dancing and picnics were included and before long, we had many photos to choose from.
Working with my list of family members, my client and I put a name to each person in the photos until we had everyone included. Within each family group, I worked on generations and then activity themes.
A collage of photos of a theme were put together to give dimension to the story. Any photos that needed explanation, I gave a quick phone call to the spokesperson for a more detailed account and from that, I was able to write a few sentences on each page.
The assembly of the Family Scrapbook was a pleasure. Using good photobook software that was easily accessible online, I commenced work. I loaded a favourite family photo of Vera’s to remind her of the focus of the book on page one. Each of Vera’s siblings was allocated a few pages.
A family photo highlighted each sub-group with their descendants and then the relevant activities of those family members. Each photo was clearly labelled in large black regular font.
The grandchildren and great-grandchildren were impressive and diverse in their interests and activities. Their little personalities seemed to jump off the page particularly when we created a collage of similar photos, e.g. trail bike riding or dancing.
The Scrapbook told its own story as it unfolded. Although we clearly named each person, the only life dates included were those of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren as Vera was always interested in how old the children were. We did include on the back page, the list of family members and their life details as a reference for future family historians.
Family members were invited to write a few sentences to Vera or they were able to ring me and I wrote their verbal contribution. There was only one spokesperson that was ‘too busy’ but in the end, came to the party because ‘everyone else had’.
I decorated the book in colours and designs that I knew Vera loved and presented the album in a beautiful presentation box complete with silk lining. Vera was thrilled.
The outcomes were amazing.
Many of the family ordered their own book to keep as a record of the period in their lives and their extended family.
Vera loved the book which she gazed at it daily while she sat quietly in her chair with her crochet rug over her knees. She saw patterns in people’s lives that triggered some lost or hidden memory in her mind and little snippets of stories emerged that simply delighted her. Her face became animated and her eyes danced as she chatted about people and events past and present.
I only hope that someone flicked on their smart phone to start recording stories that Vera offered to her lucky visitor. Hopefully, I will get a request for a follow-up book that will tell all those wonderful stories that Vera has shared.
Our lives are like tiles forming a mosaic and together, trigger a magnificent story that is important. The stories of families are heirlooms that just need preserving and it is just the little things that create the magic. Ordinary details are the connections that future generations will crave.
We ensure our wealth is preserved, so why not our life stories? Aren’t they more important?
OFFER: If you would like Write My Journey to write your life story, contact us for a FREE 15-minute review on your life story. Rose Osborne also does guest speaking to small groups on Writing your Life. If you want more information, read your way through my website, www.writemyjourney.com.
Read Rose’s past columns on life writing here and here and here.