STORY CORPS WHAT A GIFT!!!

Yesterday my sister, Cindee, and I went with our father as he shared his life story to a large microphone while sitting in a diner booth inside of a classic AirStream trailer. An associate at work told me about Story Corps. A group that is funded by donations that is travelling the country collecting stories of Americans....Americans just like you and me....and my Daddy. The recordings would be cataloged and preserved in the Library of Congress for future generations of Americans to hear and learn about average Americans during these times. Our local NPR arranged for Waco to have the opportunity to host this venture. The symbolic AirStream trailer is parked outside of our main library...easy access to all. I was able to sign up online for an "interview" time. The taping would take approximately one hour, with paperwork and simple instructions completed Dad was able to talk for about 40 minutes. I had printed off some sample "starter" questions from the website and had Dad look over them about a week ago. Cindee and I had collaborated to decide what we would want on tape for our children, grandchildren, etc.

What a gift this was! Daddy came prepared with notes and stories. We essentially sat across from each other in the diner booth and had a conversation about his life. And what a life it was! Anyone who is 79 years old would have stories to tell and though Cindee and I had heard most of these stories many, many times we were delighted to know that these were now captured digitally on a CD and would later be cataloged and preserved in the United States Library of Congress for our future generations to hear in Daddy's own voice.

From growing up as a young boy selling papers and shining shoes on the streets of downtown Waco, Texas to owning and running a family lumber business for 34 years to later using his gardening skills to help feed his children and grandchildren this man has had quite a life. He spent 40 minutes addressing the highlights of his life. Forty minutes to record a lifetime, seems like so little time. However, he seemed to be able to say all he felt like he needed to say. He was able to tell his wife, each of his children and grandchildren by name that he loved them and was so glad to be given the opportunity to be their husband/father/grandfather.

After being a businessman for 45 years, it was interesting to hear that he dwelt on the early boyhood years and the retired years for most of the time alloted for recording. He named childhood friends from schoolyard days and young men that he served with in the Air Force from the ages of 17-21. He recounted with wet eyes those young men that served but didn't return with him. He said again and again how much his children, and especially his grandchildren have meant to him these past years, their love and attention to an old man.

"To love and be loved is the greatest joy on earth." Daddy echoed this during his taping saying that he would like to be remembered that he loved others and that some of them loved him back. Very simple coming from the man that taught me so many things about life, business and the world. But what I have gained from This day is simply to love. That is what will be remembered.

At the end of the taping Daddy said a prayer for all of his children and grandchildren and ask, by name, for God to watch over and guide each and every one of us. Daddy has many more years of love to show to and receive from his family, but this legacy has been recorded for generations to come.... we will even have a Dewey Decimal number to be able to look up his recording if we ever get to the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. Until then the love continues. Thanks, Daddy.