One of my greatest regrets in life is not having asked my parents and grandparents so many questions about their past. But they’re all gone now, and their stories are lost forever. If only I had bombarded them with my questions! I’d love to hear my dad’s stories as a WWII pilot, or what it was like growing up during the Great Depression, or the path that led him to becoming a professional entertainer.
I’ve often pondered and marveled at the technological advances that my grandparents experienced – from the invention of the automobile to putting a man on the moon! And what was their upbringing like? So many unanswered questions… If only they had created a written legacy of their lives for us!
But I don’t blame them for not having done so. Back then it was very costly to print and publish a book, and writing a book seemed to be something reserved only for an elite few, which is not the case today.
In fact, I believe that everyone has a story to tell.
Some years ago, my wife and I went on a road trip through five national parks to celebrate our 35th anniversary. As we spent a lot of time driving, I began sharing some of my childhood stories with my wife. We laughed out loud, and she kept telling me, “Rob, you have to write these stories down for our kids and grandchildren!”
So, when we got home, I did just that. It’s a short memoir of my childhood from about age 7 to 16, compiled in a book titled, Becoming Tarzan. Soon thereafter, I gave a copy of Becoming Tarzan to a family friend. Some years later, I received a sweet note from her, the contents of which I’ll share with you below.
Dear Rob,
Throughout my life several books have become “soul mates” to me. In different seasons I will pull them off the shelf and dip into them again, or reread them for refreshment, comfort, warmth, and pleasure.
You need to know that Becoming Tarzan has been added to that category for me. It transports me back into the world of your childhood. By turns I am amazed, chuckling, delighted, moved, inspired as a grandmother – but always drawn in intimately by your vivid retelling so that I find myself reliving your escapades and relishing them.
I rejoice for you and that you shared these stories to bless others like me.
Gwen
I must confess that I was deeply humbled and surprised by Gwen’s note, and her words have encouraged me to keep on writing. For a kid who hated writing and avoided it in school, I’ve had the privilege of writing over 40 books, some are my own and others I’ve ghostwritten for others who also had a story to tell.
As I’ve worked with others to help them write their stories, I too have been inspired and moved by their lives.
How about you? Wouldn’t you like to leave a written legacy for your kids and grandchildren? And you never know who else will be enriched by your story.
If there’s a story in you just clamoring to get out, let me help you write it and publish it for the benefit of others and for your own sense of accomplishment. Don’t let your story be lost forever.
Send me an email or give me a call and we can discuss what you would like to do.
Sincerely,
Rob Fischer, MA, MS, Author, Editor and Coach
509-280-0544