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Roller-Skating Grandma
I never knew Grandmother loved to tap dance. I also never knew she was voted "outstanding athletic girl," during all four years of high school, and won the posture parade competition
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For fun, Grandma used to hitch rides with the milkman to the city, and once, she roller-skated from Logan to Provo. I always knew my Grandma had stories to tell, but when I finally sat down and asked about her life, I learned things I'd never through to ask.
We all have living relatives with stories that should be recorded for future generations. Ranging from the remarkable to the simple and humorous, every person has valuable life lessons to share. Church members have been encouraged to learn about their deceased ancestors, but all too often we neglect gathering information about our living relatives.
For years I wanted to record a brief history of my 81-year-old grandma, whom we affectionately called "Munner." Munner is one of my heroes and the backbone of a wonderful family: six daughters who are as different as can be, yet love each other and stay close despite the miles between them.
When I was about to have my first child I finally found the motivation to ask Munner about her life, her background, and how she managed to raise a good family. I soon learned that gathering a life story takes a lot of work, but more importantly, I learned how crucial it is to have this information. It's her stories and her experiences that will keep her alive for my children and my grandchildren. Here are a few things the experience taught me.
Talk Face-To-Face
Gathering Munner's story started with a trip to Pocatello, Idaho. My sister and I drove up for a weekend of eating, talking and more eating. Whenever possible, interviewing a relative in person yields far greater results than interviewing over the phone.
It was hard to make my energetic grandmother sit down long enough to ask her questions about her life. While we were at her house, we made a baby blanket, cooked meals (she cooked- we ate), and toured her new home. When we were finally able to make her stop, I knew I had to make the time count. We stayed for the weekend, and I still wasn't able to gather all the information that I needed.
Have a Game Plan
Fortunately, I enjoy the mundane tasks of making lists and planning ahead. That may not sound exciting, but when you're tackling a big project, having a game plan is essential. Before traveling to Idaho, I made a list of 30 questions ranging from, "Tell me about your parents," to "What does being a grandmother mean to you?"
I skipped some of the questions I'd listed, and asked many I hadn't. You don't need to stick to your list. Let the conversation take you where it will. Without the list, however, I surely would've gotten sidetracked. The list made sure I remembered to ask some of the more important questions.
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By Gretchen Willard
>> Click here for information about LDS Living Magazine
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 Chocolate Chips and Charity
Welcome to a conversation! In this slim volume sisters from a wide range of life and church experience share their stories and insights about Visiting Teaching. In our widely expanding church this long established program faces new challenges and demands. As this book demonstrates, LDS women are up to the task.
>> CLICK HERE
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