Sharing Our Stories

If you’ve been around me for any length of time you’ve probably heard me say that every person has a story, a story that is uniquely their own. Our stories are what define us and this has been true throughout time. Think about our Bible…so many stories; stories that we love, stories that challenge us, stories that we identify with.

Last Christmas my son gave me a book on how to write your memoirs. At first I laughed it off but a short time later I went to visit one of our older members, Doris Chavez, and she showed me her “memoirs”. She had put together a wonderful book filled with her life’s story. Then she also gave me yet another book on writing one’s memoirs! I was beginning to feel the nudge that maybe this was something I was supposed to explore.

And then, as if to seal the deal, I read in the newspaper about a class being held at the Bay View Historical Society’s Beulah Brinton House on…how to write one’s memoirs. Now I may not listen well all the time but when the message keeps coming…

So I signed up for the 10-week session and had a wonderful time meeting new people and each week writing a short 2-page reflection on some aspect of my life experience. I subsequently signed up for another 10-weeks and plan to do a third later this summer.

I’m telling you all of this because I believe this is a great way for us to leave behind something for our children and grandchildren. Patty Tomaszewski is the instructor of these “Guided Autobiography” classes and her next class, to be held once again at the Beulah Brinton House, 2590 S. Superior, will begin Monday, April 21 and run through June 23. There is a free introductory class on April 14. The class runs from 10:00 a.m. to noon and the cost is $99. You can contact her at momtoma@aol.com for more info.

If you’ve ever thought about doing something like this now’s the time to do it! If you’d like to hear more or see the compilation of my writings just let me know. I’d be happy to share…but then you have to let me read your stories!

Blessings,

Pastor Andy