Time Capsule Memoirs is a way to make the most of the time that you have left with your loved one and preserve their legacy for you, your children and your grandchildren before it’s too late.
As I outlined in the first chapter of my book, my mother had a rich and varied life. Like most people she had many favorite stories that she enjoyed telling over and over again. Many were interesting for their historical importance. Others were humorous or packed with an underlying wisdom that defined who she was. They provided a snapshot of what it was like when she was growing up and they kept alive the memory of her parents, her aunts and uncles, her brothers and sisters, in addition to recounting her own unique friendships and experiences during the Great Depression, World War II, the Fifties, the Sixties, all the way into the 21st century. Eventually though, the ravages of Alzheimer’s caught up with her and the names and dates in her stories became so jumbled together in her mind eventually she wasn’t able to complete a sentence without forgetting what she was talking about in the middle of it.
Unfortunately, that same fate is on the horizon for anyone suffering from a terminal disease like Alzheimer’s.
So, I’ve created a personalized memoir writing service that I’m calling Time Capsule Memoirs for families eager to save the stories and personal legacy of their loved ones. As a writer, I wrote many of my mother’s stories down before they were lost. But not everyone has a writer in their family. Especially not one who is also a skilled interviewer and history buff. So, because I hope that other families will preserve the memories of their loved ones, I have put together a special done-for-you memoir writing offer.
My done-for-you memoir writing offer includes:
- detail driven questionnaires
- three, live, one-on-one interviews
- a professionally written biography of 7,500-10,000 words
- a cover design featuring a photo collage of your loved one
- a custom notebook format that allows for the inclusion of additional photos, life documents, or other memories
- an audio copy of the interviews so that you can preserve forever the sound of your loved one’s voice
Options include:
- a video greeting, or favorite story, told by your loved one
- full video recording of the interview sessions,
- conversion of the memoir into a re-orderable paperback book version
Even with our modern technology, in an ever-changing world the oral histories of our loved ones are often over-looked gems. All families have stories that are important to them. The stories we cherished growing up, or during holidays or other family gathering events like graduations, weddings, celebrations or yes, even funerals, can and should be passed along to our children for them to cherish too. For years, my mother entertained me, my wife and all those around her with the stories of not only her life, but also the stories and experiences of her parents and her brothers and sisters too. Because she was born in 1923, most of those stories were oral histories passed down to her from her parents.
Having a professional writer who is also a skilled and patient interviewer capture and bring together the details of your loved one’s life before they, or you, forget them is a gift that will keep on giving for years.
Alzheimer’s and other types of dementias progress slowly in some cases and rapidly in others. Generally speaking though, six months can make a BIG difference once forgetfulness starts to evolve from occasional to more frequent. Don’t let those cherished stories and pearls of wisdom fade away with your loved one’s memory. If you’re interested in finding out more about Time Capsule Memoirs, write to me at gericmiller(at)gmail(dot)com for pricing and more information.