The Gift of a Lifetime

In my research about journals, I have noticed an increasingly large number of memory books on the market.

One in particular struck me by its honesty and the depth of questioning it contained – “Memento”, by Michael McQueen www.mementobook.com . Inspired by finding a small notebook his recently deceased father had written, which contained a wealth of stories and experiences from his father’s life, the author contacted all his friends and contacts with one simple question, “What do you wish you could ask a loved one who is no longer alive?” The results of his survey are contained in the book.

This is clearly no new phenomenon. McQueen suggests that this may be a response of the younger generation to growing up in an era that doesn’t value the past, and therefore wishes to find meaning in a connection between generations. Perhaps the success of shows such as “Who do you think you are?” attests to this also.

Honestly, I can’t say that my life lacks an appreciation of the past. It seems like a vast majority of my childhood was spent wandering around cemeteries, recording all the details on little pink cards, and visiting historical homesteads, towns and seemingly EVERY museum in Eastern Australia. Not to mention trying to occupy myself while my parents pored over the tiny type contained on microfiche, looking for a missing date or person for the family tree.

But he has a point. In our throw away society, when obtaining “newer” and “better” is a primary goal, the art of story telling, passing down history from elders to children is being eroded.

Many of the books on the market are aimed at grandparents, “Grandma, tell me what life was like when you were a little girl”. And to the young, it is a most fascinating story – life before TV, the internet, computers, jet aircraft travel. It’s amazing what has been achieved in the last 50 years – and what destruction has occurred as a result.

My dad has started writing a story to my son, in the form of a letter, of his life during these times – what drove our society to such intensive growth, what views and values underpinned it.

Dad’s not really a born-again greenie (he was always going on about saving electricity and water when we were kids, but I’m not sure if his real concern was environmental or cost-cutting), but he has really embraced the latest in energy and water saving devices. He is very concerned that today’s generation, who will bear the brunt of climate change, and possibly turn their anger on their grandparents’ generation, without really understanding the economical, political and personal reasons that drove growth during the second half of the 20^th Century.

It’s his way of connecting and leaving a legacy for the future, I suppose. The wisdom of age…