I wonder how many of my readers remember the 1965 song, “I am Henry the Eighth, I am,” by Herman’s Hermits. Well, I am William the Fifth, I am.
I get a little grief about that little “V” at the end of my name from time to time. Some people even tell me they’d “never do that to a child”, or “a child needs his own identity.” Hogwash! I’m proud of my “V”, and all of the roman numerals before me. My first son is just as proud of his “VI”. Not to say that my younger boy, Henry, isn’t equally proud to be the first!
I’m sad, though, that I know virtually nothing about William I, II, or even III. Their stories died with them. I know that they had interesting lives. I just know it. Even if each considered his own life mundane, I’m certain that I would read his story with relish. I want to know about his adventures, his loves, his day-to-day experiences. Who was his first girlfriend? What did he do for a living? What were his greatest threats? I’d love to know about his faith, his friends, and his in-laws. I’ll never know about these great men, as their stories died with them. That’s disappointing to me and a little sad for them.
I never knew that I’d grow to have a passion for the personal life story. I guess I’ve found myself on a bit of a mission. With Father’s Day around the corner, take this opportunity to make a record of old Dad’s life. What a great way to show your love and respect. What a great gift to your kids and theirs.
First I want to thank the folks who commented on our most recent blog. Some great stories about your Dads! Very meaningful.
I’m pleased to write that, for the first time since I moved from Texas in 1987, I’m spending Fathers Day with my Dad. We’ve planned out his visit, and have a few hours booked to get a good start on his ArchivaLife. The cobbler’s children have no shoes? Well, my Dad has no ArchivaLife. Yet!
Dad and Linda are going to bring some photos, key dates, and travel records. We’ll start by entering his age, education, and career on the LifeLines. Then comes the fun stuff. We’ll talk about (and record!) his military service, their travels, friends, and hobbies. Gosh! I just can’t wait! I mean, my Dad and I have had a great relationship since we barely survived my rebellious teens. Thank God for that. And, we’ve had many meaningful conversations over the years. But, never have we discussed the facts, events, and timeline that made him who he is.
When I look at myself, I see a lot of my Dad in me. (My wife might say “You’re not kidding!”) Spending a few hours with him to complete his ArchivaLife will give me a fresh understanding of who he is, as well as part of what made me who I am. And, I’ll have a permanent record of his story, which my sister, my sons, and one day my grandkids will treasure.
Okay, Dad, if you’re reading this, we’ve got a pretty tall order to fill. I’m going to report back after Fathers Day, you know.
I’ve got to tell you about a very cool event last weekend. I swear there was not a dry eye in the place – or in this case, in the oak grove.
So, I’ve got two boys, ages 8 & 9 ½. They’re in an Indian Guide tribe through the local YMCA. In fact, my older [...]
I just returned from a trip to New York City, where I attended the Holiday Gift Show. I visited with lots of media, and interacted with loads of entreprenuers with a wide variety of gift ideas. Perhaps my favorite was the Money Savvy Piggy Bank, which helps children learn to collect their [...]
Can you imagine? It’s already time for me to start thinking Christmas thoughts. I’m heading to New York in a couple of days for the annual Holiday Gift Show. This is a show in which various members of the media are looking for gifts to highlight in their magazines, or [...]
Let’s talk about what will make this a Mother’s Day to remember.
Flowers? Sure, that’s nice. Chocolate? Okay. A nice lunch? Of course. But, to make this a meaningful celebration of Mom, try focusing on memories. I would suggest that you give her the floor, ask her questions, pull out [...]
It’s an impossibly large task, isn’t it? But, studies have shown that microcredit loans can raise families and entire communities out of poverty. I support such an organization called Foundation for Women. In fact, La Jolla Rotary – of which I’m president – recently funded an entire microcredit bank in Liberia, in Western Africa. Funds [...]
I’m occasionally asked to speak to groups of people who are interested in personal history. I speak to people from many walks of life. One thing I find compelling is that today’s seniors are so very modest about their lives. Bear in mind, these are the people Tom Brokaw calls “The Greatest [...]
I’ve been watching “The Pacific” on HBO with my family. What stories our “Greatest Generation” has to share. Through the series, from time-to-time a soldier will receive a letter from home, and read it to his buddies. Other times, he may read aloud a letter that he’s writing to his girl back [...]
Have you seen the new TV show on NBC, “Who do you think you are?” It’s very interesting, as they discover the family history of a different celebrity each week. So far, we’ve learned that Lisa Kudrow had family in a concentration camp, and Emmitt Smith descended from slaves. I keep thinking, [...]
