Tuesday's Tip - Take time to gather stories.

Tuesday's Tip - last week I mentioned StoryCorps as a wonderful site for helping each of us gather stories. Well just in time for Thanksgiving (hopefully you are picking up that turkey soon!) comes another great website with some terrific questions to ask family members as you gather round the table. Check out the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage's questions to engage family members.

My suggestion - choose some of these questions and type them in blocks - cut out the blocks and fold in half. If you have specific questions from a particular person, place those questions on their plate/place setting. Otherwise fill a bowl and pass it around during dinner. Then sit around with the voice recorder on and ask individuals to read the question and tell their story. You will have not only the story but their voice to add to your family history. Definitely add their story to your Legacy Family Tree family files.

Take a look at the questions - which ones do you plan to use and why?

Let's all remember (whether you celebrate Thanksgiving or not) to be thankful and grateful for family and friends this year. Learn a little bit more about the family members you might only see once or twice a year. Next week I'll let you know how my after Thanksgiving conversation went. But in the meantime

(1) I am grateful for my Portland area brother's family coming up to the Seattle area to share Thanksgiving on Wednesday with my brother & his family (the one with cancer). They are making everything and taking a burden off my brother AND they are sharing the holiday in the best possible way (thanks Jim & Dayna - and have fun Mike, Gilda, & boys)

(2) I am grateful for Legacy Family Tree Software and the folks who continue to make it happen (maintenance and improvements & especially those beta testers). We have what I think is the best software out there, a dedicated staff and wonderful webinars that not only teach us about the software but also have branched out to all sorts of great #genealogy and #familyhistory and #software needs. It is such a treat to learn at our own pace and know that Legacy Family Tree Software has our back.

(3) I am grateful for all the terrific medical professionals who do their jobs with professionalism and caring - if you have ever had a serious medical situation in your family you know just how important it is to deal with people who have your best interests and who treat you and your family with dignity - it is scary for the patient and the family members and you do so much to help us through it. (Shout out to Harrison Hospital & CHI Franciscan Health teams).

Everyone stay warm and safe

be careful on your travels

and enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday!

http://www.folklife.si.edu/the-smithsonian-folklife-and-oral-history-interviewing-guide/some-possible-questions/smithsonian