Why did Grandma never throw out that old dusty-green hat in the back of her closet, but never wear it either? Is there a reason Aunt Rita and Uncle Stan live so far away from the rest of the immediate family? How did Great-Grandpa acquire that Ming vase? And what's with that rickety old shed in Old Man Nathanson's backyard that he cares for so intently?
Stories are important. They teach us lessons, entertain us, make us laugh, or cause tears to fall. Regardless of the length, purpose, or teller, my the end of a story, we have been arguably changed just a little bit.
StoryCorps is an organization that serves as a forum for people to share their stories with each other in a familial and historical setting. Often heard on NPR, recorded conversations, about anything the listening participant wants to know, can be found stored in the Library of Congress for all to discover.
I often think about how fortunate we are to have documentary interviews - and out takes, no doubt - from the last remembering survivors of such events as the Titanic or the landing on Omaha Beach D-Day morning in Normandy. But it's just as important to save the smaller-scale stories; the vignettes that might have changes the lives of only a few but were just as important to those few.
Go to the blog portion of this site and check out some of the videos and stories "from the road." Beware, though, for you might be here for several hours! The people, much like their stories, are captivating!
Sergio del Limónar
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