Memory is all we really own. —Elias Lieberman
Sometimes you need a little help. Sometimes you don't know what you remember until someone asks. Sometimes a simple question can trigger a depth of memories that will be priceless to those who come after you.
That's why, in recent years, fill-in-the-blank memory books have become increasingly popular.
"There are a lot of them out there, for all different age groups," says Lisa Mangum, an editorial assistant at Deseret Book, who has been working on one such book featuring the art work of Al Rounds.
She sees a couple of reasons for their popularity. For one thing, the books, enhanced with artwork and quotes combined with memories, make a very nice package. Everything is all there together.
But more importantly, "the prompts are great springboards. A lot of people don't know where to start, or think their life is lame or that it's 'just me.' But you give them the prompts, and they begin to think about their life in different ways."
Such a book may ask you to talk about your favorite place in the neighborhood. Or, list the winner of the World Series the year you were born. It may ask you to note one thing you like to do, or to list what you think is your greatest strength, or to write about the thing you love most about life.
A book might ask you to talk about your grandma's favorite flavor of ice cream or what the fashion crazes were when your dad was in high school. It might want you to think about who were the influential people in your grandparents' lifetimes or to write down your family traditions on the first day of school.
These are the kinds of things you might not think about if you just sit down to write your life story. But think how fun it would be if you knew all this about your grandparents or great-grandparents. Think how fun it will be for your children and grandchildren.
"These books are a journey of self-discovery," says Mangum. "They help you say 'this is the way we are; this is the way our family has been.' That discovery can be very gratifying."
Mangum has kept a journal for many years, she says. "And it's always fun to go back and read. To see themes. To see the growth and progress. These books can help you do the same."
Plus, she says, "you have other nice things that go with them." For their book, "we loved the art of Al Rounds. It's so homey, so family oriented. And has such vibrant colors."
"Our Family History, Art by Al Rounds" (Deseret Book, $21.95) has a definite LDS slant to it, says Mangum, with places to list things like missions, baptisms and blessings. "Some of our prompts are designed so you have to look things up or go talk to other family members. We hope people will find out all kinds of new things, and may want to continue the process."
Other books are more general. Some are designed to be filled out in an interview setting. Some, for parents or grandparents to fill out themselves.
But they all have that little spark that might lead to more. They have that great potential, Mangum says. "In the past 10 years or so, there's been such a resurgence of interest in family history, in genealogy. There seems to be a need to have a connection with the past, to find out what came before. These books help fulfill that hunger, help people find their families and themselves."
E-MAIL: carma@desnews.com