Thursday, October 2, 2008

last week for me and my dads birthday we got to do something really incredible. we got to do storycorps!



storycorps is the largest oral history project in the united states. it was founded by dave isay and the project started with the idea that everyone has a story to tell. over the past few years in recording booths in new york and mobile traveling booths across the united states they have collected the stories of over 30,000 every day americans- people like you and me!

when you go into a storycorps recording booth you get to interview your partner- it can be a parent, neighboor, bestfriend, whatever... after your interview is finished you get a copy of it on CD and another copy is archived at the Library of Congress in DC.
they have also came out with a really neat book called Listening is an Act of Love which has exerpts of some of the most memorable stories.

ANYWAYS! the mobile booth was in roanoke on september 25th- me and my dads bday! when i found out i was so stoked- it was the perfect birthday present! i made an appointment for 1:30pm on thursday, september 25, 2008 for the storycorps booth in roanoke, va for me to interview my dad. it was a complete suprise for him- i told him i had a special suprise present for him in roanoke but i couldnt tell him until we got there. and, i couldnt believe it but he actualy agreed!

we got to roanoke and i gave my dad a copy of the book and told him what we were going to be doing. he started crying and i started crying and it was just really beautiful.

i think we were both pretty nervous because its pretty intimidating to have a big microphone in your face- its easy to feel overwhelmed- and looking back it might have been a good idea to give my dad a heads up about what we were doing a week or so in advance to let him prepare because i forget his memory might not be as fresh as mine. but overall i think it was still a really great experience.
we talked about his parents and growing up, and meeting my mom, and working in the coal mines, and what is was like when i was born and when i was growing up.
i think maybe 3 people read this blog (maybe i am wrong) and they know my dad. but for those who dont i guess i would describe him as one of the most caring and sensitive people i have ever met. and in the interview i got to tell him that i think the reason i am the way i am- why i care so much about i dont know- the world and all the people in it and stuff is because i got to see how simply and genuinely he cared for my mom and i and everyone else close to him. hes kind of my hero because he really is so good to people.

anyways it was really nice because ya know, even though my dad isnt famous his story will now get to be a part of history. and really his story weaved together with all the other stories of everyday people becomes the story of us as a society, as a country, living together right now. it was neat to get to let my dad know that his experiences and his stories are important and that they matter- to be able to validate someones life and let them leave a mark.

it still makes me feel all mushy inside but it is really nice. check out the website or the book or the podcast-- and try and record your own loved ones story!


ooh! also the guy who facilitated and recorded our intervew mentioned us in his blog post, Ladies and Gentlemen, Start Your Engines
you can find it here:
http://www.storycorps.net/blog/