Thank you Kris! Yes! It's important to collect our stories, anecdotes, photos, maps... and to put them into writing in an organized fashion.

Inevitably, sooner or later there comes a time in life when we all want to know who came before us in our families, what they did, where they lived, why they lived like they did. We realize that who we are, where we are, is always in some way (big or small) a result of those that came before us, and having a book on hand that recounts those stories, as simple as they may be, gives us a sense of closure and understanding (whether we like the past or not).

I've come to see that this type of work (memoir recollections) affects and is interesting to many more than just our direct family members. Extended family, our/their friends, neighbors, small townships, historical societies, genealogy groups rely on the those stories too because they add valuable pieces to the puzzle of our histories.

Wisconsin is a wonderful state! And their resources are immense! Good luck on your trip and feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need any pointers! Sounds like a beautiful project!

It reminds me to collect my family stories and the benefits it can bring to others. I intend to visit the motherland of Wisconsin soon if all conditions are a green light. Your post is very timely for me.

Thank you for sharing this, Linda! Another thing I like about memoir is that while it can be therapeutic for the writer, it also helps readers feel less alone--and gives them perspective on their own experiences.

Me too! Nothing like getting to live someone else's life, excitement, pain or adventure in the comfort of my own sofa! Do you have any favorites?

denise

Thanks, Linda! I actually am in the middle of a life-changing event that I believe will end up being another memoir. I haven't lived enough of it yet, but I have a gut feeling the universe is slapping me upside the head with that fact that I am a memoir writer, and I need to be more open to these lessons.

I thought my current memoir was about the stress and rigors of an insanely high-risk pregnancy, but really it is much more about coping and the fallacy of "being in control." There is no "control" over so many things, especially when it comes to the body and chronic hereditary disorders. It is much more about the mindset of coping with, and playing the hell out of, whatever crappy hand of cards you were dealt.