I was privileged to have a great-grandmother that lived to be 97 years old. We shared a close relationship right up to the end. I learned so much from listening to her talk about life. One of the best things I have ever been a part of happened a few years before her death. My other cousins and I asked Grandmother and her sister (Aunt Bea) to sit down and let us video tape an interview with them. We began by asking questions about their childhood, their family, their memoreies of dating and courtship, what it was like to be a young wife/mother during the Great Depression, what they remembered about various historical events, and what they perceived to be the greatest inventions of their lifetime. It was wonderful. We laughed so hard listening to them tell stories on each other of childhood adventures. We connected with them as we listened to them talk about their teenage years. We marveled at the things they endured and wondered over all the changed they'd seen.
I've been thinking about a Thirty for 30! post about nursing homes and visiting the elderly. Our culture is not known for valuing it's senior citizens. I thought about suggesting a sing-a-long or making time to go paint the female residents finger nails. But, if you want to plan a ministry event at a nursing home or senior citizens center that might have as much impact on you as it does on them, schedule some interviews! Google "grandparent interview" and you'll be amazed at the resources available. I really like this very comprehensive list from The Legacy Project. It generally only takes a few questions to get the ball rolling before you have more information than you could dream. Be sure you bring a video camera!
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