I have always loved a good story, especially one that ends in a way that you least expected. The following story is such a one:
“One dark night outside a small town, a fire started inside the local chemical plant and within minutes it exploded into flames. An alarm went out to fire departments for miles around. When the firefighters arrived, the chemical company president rushed to the fire chief and said, “All of our secret chemical formulas are in the vault in the center of the plant. I will give $50,000 to the engine company that brings them out intact.” The fire chief ordered his men to strengthen their attack on the blaze. After two hours of fighting the fire, another fire department was called in and the president of the chemical company offered $100,000 to the fire fighters who could bring out the secret files.
In the distance, a lone siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight. It was the local volunteer fire company composed entirely of men over the age of 65. To everyone’s amazement, the little fire engine raced passed everyone and drove straight into the middle of the inferno.
Outside, the professionally trained firemen watched as the old timers jumped off their rig and began to fight the fire with a performance and effort never seen before. Within a short time, the old timers extinguished the fire and saved the secret formulas. The grateful chemical company president joyfully announced that for such a superhuman feat he was upping the reward to $200,000, and walked over to personally thank each of the brave, elderly, firefighters. The local TV news reporters rushed in, after capturing the event on film, one asked, “What are you going to do with all that money?” The 70-year-old fire chief answered, “The first thing we are going to do is have the brakes fixed on that old fire truck”.
Maybe you and I haven’t had experiences like that, and even if we have, possibly we haven’t put it down on paper or recorded it some way. We have all had interesting things happen to us as well as those that we may not think were very interesting. But, just because they may not have been interesting to us does not mean that they will not be very interesting to our children and our grandchildren. I have used the following phrase many times while teaching a class in ‘Writing Your Personal History.’ It is a quote from the male actor in the movie, ‘Australia’: He said: “After all, all we really are is our story.” Let that sink in for a moment. Another has said, “When a man dies, they bury a book.” When a person sufficiently understands the meaning of those statements, they will want to find a way to leave a message behind to their family about their life. It doesn’t have to be a biography, leather bound and fancy, but whatever you leave behind will be something of value. Even great value to your family. Don’t cheat those who love you by neglecting to recall for them your life experiences, what you learned, and how you felt, including your love for family members. If you do not, your tombstone may have your name and dates on it. Yet, the person buried will be no different then the Unknown Soldier, but It will be the ‘The Unknown’ Grandfather/ Grandmother.’ Without your story left behind, within three generations you are not only dead/buried but you are forgotten and ‘unknown’ as well. You may have a hard time writing and putting words together in meaningful ways—that should not excuse you. In today’s world, a person can dictate to another or even a machine to preserve various stories, thoughts and feelings about their life and times. Do not cheat your posterity, those that care about you and love you.