http://www.caring.com/community/groups/caring-central/discussions/have-you-documented-your-parents-lives en-us 60 <p>How beautiful, Cindy!&nbsp; You used the perfect word - pricless!&nbsp; Thank you for sharing!</p> Fri, 23 May 2008 19:53:13 -0000 www.caring.com:5:138:696 Missy http://www.caring.com/community/groups/caring-central/discussions/have-you-documented-your-parents-lives <p>hi Missy,</p><p>I was lucky...I didn't document my G'ma's life other than lots of pictures but after her death I found that she had documented her own life..I have found so many notes and letters that she wrote in her own writing..She wrote about life as a child, trips she took and quite a few notes to me telling me how much she loved and appreciated me for caring for her all those years...</p><p>These notes are priceless to me and I cried as I read each of them..</p><p>She lived with us for many years and I took care of her till the day she died and will never regret one day I was blessed enough to be with her..</p><p>My kids grew up thinking that it was normal to have your grandparents living with you and all of the times that I had to miss a play or something special they knew why and never complained because they knew why I couldn't come, it was never because I didn't want to, it was because I couldn't leave her alone...</p><p>I love the idea of documenting your loved ones life so that your children and their children can read all about how their grandparents lived and loved...</p><p>If you can find a way to make time to do it I can promise that after their time has come you will hold all of the things you wrote as a priceless piece of history that can be shared for years to come...</p> Fri, 23 May 2008 18:21:55 -0000 www.caring.com:5:138:692 Cindy57 http://www.caring.com/community/groups/caring-central/discussions/have-you-documented-your-parents-lives <p>I was just watching the Today show, which is something I rarely get to do, and I got to see an absolutely beautiful piece Ann Curry did, <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/24789975#24789975" rel="nofollow">documenting her father's final days.</a> [msn.com]&nbsp; His attitude was that if it could be useful to someone, he wanted her to do it and share it.&nbsp;</p><p>As I watched it, I shed a few tears, thinking about my own parents' mortality.&nbsp; About a year ago I started documenting my father's life with a fantastic little book that prompts me with questions.&nbsp; My intention was to interview dad then turn his words into a book for my brothers and I.&nbsp; My goal is to do the same with my mom.&nbsp; But as life got busier with kids, work, home, etc I stopped my &quot;two questions a week&quot; momentum and haven't picked that book up in several months.&nbsp; As an impending surgery grows nearer for him, I suddenly feel the urgency to ask him the remaining 120, or so, questions.&nbsp; I hate to &quot;what if&quot;, but like most of us, I let myself go down that path sometimes.</p><p>So I'm wondering, have you documented your parents' lives, whether they be still living or deceased?&nbsp; If so, what did you do?&nbsp; Something similar to me like interviewing and writing?&nbsp; Are you using a video camera?&nbsp; Are you simply recording their voice?&nbsp; I'd love to hear!</p> Fri, 23 May 2008 11:58:35 -0000 www.caring.com:5:138:691 Missy http://www.caring.com/community/groups/caring-central/discussions/have-you-documented-your-parents-lives