By Bobbie Helbig
I always had a diary growing up, (just found them and what a hoot to read them now!) and continued using notebooks as I got older. I never really put much conscious thought into the outcome, just that I needed a place that was my own, a place to let it all out! My diary /journal always understood my point of view, never argued with me and allowed me to see the that things might not be that bad!
Fast forward to my 50’s. Life had thrown me a few curve balls, more than I expected! Not being a sports minded person, I didn’t know what to do with the balls that were thrown to me! So, I started journaling again.
This piece will seem to jump around, bear with me, it all comes out in the end and is all related!
I now do Memoir Writing with Senior Citizens. (Strange segway). As I was researching articles on writing/journaling, I came across Mari’s site, ordered the workbook for January and I was off and running. That was the good news, the bad news was that January turned into March before I was done, but done I was!
My father in law was 90 and couldn’t remember what he did yesterday but as we drove down the Merritt Parkway, he could name all the information about the dealers he worked at when he worked for GM. Happiness came into his voice.
My mom, who is starting with dementia, enjoys her old photo albums. She had a wonderful childhood with many adult relatives she can retrieve information about! We take pleasure in looking at them together as she reminisces.
I had worked with senior citizens in my junior high classroom using a novel that took the reader from 1929-1942 each year, a chapter. The adults and students shared then and now stories of their lives prior to reading the novel together. Each year/chapter was discussed and the senior citizens relayed their memories from that time period to the teens.
I retired from 19 years of teaching and although content, I am the type of person that becomes involved!
ALL those above reasons led me to create my senior memoir writing class. We meet once a week for 8 weeks, share what they have written, write, and then share again. Some, with my direction put together books printed at Staples. Most “publish” them and give them to family members! I journal with them and realize as dysfunctional as some of my upbringing was, that many memories bring a smile to my face! From them, I have learned some historic facts, felt their pain, laughed at their humor and relate to their joy as they share their memories with the group. I get pleasure out of watching them walk in slowly, smile on and notebook in hand! I explain to them that they inspire me as much as they say I motivate them.
ABOUT
I am a retired 7th and 8th grade reading teacher! I had 7 weeks off due to a medical issue. It allowed me to start journaling again and I realized retirement was where I was headed! I have been an active journaler since then.
When chatting with my elderly mother and father in law in the last year, I found such enjoyment in listening to their stories from the past. Their memories of long ago, came back to them so much easier than their daily life stories of now. Both came alive when they reminisced. Long story short, my memoir class began. I hope to continue with my passion for memoir writing as I move forward with this idea of mine!
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