to inspire and enable
below is a letter from a StoryCorps participant who was touched deeply by this amazing service
Dear Friends of StoryCorps,
The StoryCorps interview I recorded with my dad this summer while the MobileBooth was in Charleston, West Virginia, has taken on tremendous new significance for me and my family. You see, we buried Dad just weeks after our interview. Needless to say, I'm still numb and probably in denial. I simply cannot comprehend that he's not coming back.
But let me tell you about the significance of our StoryCorps experience. Dad's illness and death happened so quickly that I had not had time to label the CDs and get them to my siblings. When Dad died, we decided to use part of the interview in his funeral. I had asked Dad about what he was proudest of in his life and how he wanted to be remembered. His answer both astounded me and humbled me. . . . His answer to both questions was, "My six kids." With that answer I saw him cry tears I had never seen. Then, at the end of the interview, I turned the tables on him, telling him all those special things I wanted to make certain he knew. Little did I know how very important those words would become.
We used the excerpts in the funeral, so all my siblings heard, in Dad's own voice, what was most important to him. And we all were able to smile, knowing he had heard from us what was most important to us as well. Then, at the end of the interview, Dad sang for/with me one of our favorite songs from childhood.
Last spring, when I first heard about StoryCorps on my local NPR station, I knew it was something I wanted to do with Dad. Now, looking back, I cannot even put into words the gratitude I feel for the fact that this opportunity was there for us. My entire family will forever be grateful.
I want to encourage everyone to join me in supporting StoryCorps so that this same chance for remembrance is open to many, many more people across America.
Have a wonderful New Year,
Kay Spencer
Eden, North Carolina
Dear Friends of StoryCorps,
The StoryCorps interview I recorded with my dad this summer while the MobileBooth was in Charleston, West Virginia, has taken on tremendous new significance for me and my family. You see, we buried Dad just weeks after our interview. Needless to say, I'm still numb and probably in denial. I simply cannot comprehend that he's not coming back.
But let me tell you about the significance of our StoryCorps experience. Dad's illness and death happened so quickly that I had not had time to label the CDs and get them to my siblings. When Dad died, we decided to use part of the interview in his funeral. I had asked Dad about what he was proudest of in his life and how he wanted to be remembered. His answer both astounded me and humbled me. . . . His answer to both questions was, "My six kids." With that answer I saw him cry tears I had never seen. Then, at the end of the interview, I turned the tables on him, telling him all those special things I wanted to make certain he knew. Little did I know how very important those words would become.
We used the excerpts in the funeral, so all my siblings heard, in Dad's own voice, what was most important to him. And we all were able to smile, knowing he had heard from us what was most important to us as well. Then, at the end of the interview, Dad sang for/with me one of our favorite songs from childhood.
Last spring, when I first heard about StoryCorps on my local NPR station, I knew it was something I wanted to do with Dad. Now, looking back, I cannot even put into words the gratitude I feel for the fact that this opportunity was there for us. My entire family will forever be grateful.
I want to encourage everyone to join me in supporting StoryCorps so that this same chance for remembrance is open to many, many more people across America.
Have a wonderful New Year,
Kay Spencer
Eden, North Carolina
posted by Muzachary at 12:59:00 AM
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