Last February, I did a presentation at the Lee County Enrichment Center for a class on “Telling Your Life Story.” My focus was on the process of writing my memoir. The participants shared about their projects that included delving into family history and collecting objects from their lives to share with their grandchildren. Listening to them, I realized that while I’ve written about my life in my memoir that is for adult readers, I’d never written down stories for my grandsons. I’d leaned on the oral tradition of telling them tales repeatedly but hadn’t taken the time to sit down and record them in a book.

This week, I decided to start writing them down.

I purchased small notebooks for each of my grandsons in their last favorite color — red for Baker and blue for Parks. I realize their favorite color can change as fast as their favorite flavor of ice cream.

The story they’ve requested the most is “The Black Snake Story.” It’s a not-too-scary tale of when I was bitten the night before my first day of 8th grade. When I started telling it, Parks was in Pre-K. He would repeat it to staff and parents coming in to pick up their children. In time, he added to the story and eventually, it was the tale of the snake biting him. I saw how imaginative and boldly expressive he was at such a young age. He had enjoyed being read to and nothing tickled me more than seeing his fondness for books. Of quiet activities, Baker preferred putting together puzzles. He liked stories but Parks loved them.

When I finally cleared the time to record the first story, I put it down on a piece of paper. I thought it would be easy — just write what I said when I told them the story. I’ve never published a children’s book, and while this wasn’t at that level, it had to be written for a child. I struggled with how to keep it simple without all the “add ins” I’d do if I were telling it.

Children’s books are filled with eye-catching illustrations. What would I use to keep their interest?

I remembered how both grandsons have asked me questions about their great grandparents. Mama and Daddy were both in the story. What pictures did I have that would fit? Most of my old photos were poses with the family. But twice, The Sanford Herald, our hometown newspaper, had featured a picture of them in their day-to-day life. Photographer Jimmy Haire captured Daddy in the June 12, 1974 edition. He was in the garden on a sweltering day where he hoed his corn patch. On April 2, 1977 Jimmy captured Mama in her role as a program aide with the Lee County Agricultural Extension office. It was in the “What’s Cookin?” section and showed her “very at home in the kitchen.”

Both photos will fit the story, I realized and had them laminated for my grandsons’ books.

I finally had the story to where I wanted it and carefully copied it into the book:

I remembered that recently Parks asked me a follow-up question about the story.

“Did our grandfather kill the snake?”

That had never occurred to me. My focus had been on jumping inside to safety. But Parks needed to know.

“I don’t know if he killed the snake — since it wasn’t poisonous,” I told him. “He may have put it in the barn to eat those grain-eating mice.” With the picture of Daddy with the hoe, I realized he could have used it for either purpose.

I’m keeping my grandsons next week and plan to give them their books. My hope is that we’ll continue to write down stories together. I want this to be part of the legacy I leave them when I’m a very old Grammy.

Do you have stories you want to share with those you’ll leave behind? I hope you’ll find a way to record them in some form so they’re not lost but treasured for years to come.

Best to you,

Connie