According to tradition, the stories took the listeners on a journey to the past where memories were preserved for future generations. Evidently, the story telling sessions took place at the close of the day. Whether stories of a long past hunting trip or a tale of the search for a great leader or a quest for love, each generation saw to it that the oral traditions were passed on virtually unchanged, over the years. This Native American tradition is commemorated by Storyteller images like this pottery figurine I purchased on my last trip to Arizona.
I remember delighting in storytelling times on my grandparent’s porch during our annual visits with them. There was something particularly comforting in hearing their stories as the sunset and darkness washed over us. As the light waned, the voices became all the more important as they guided the visual imaginings of my mind.
And that is why I scrapbook. Passionately. Because our family and friends are scattered and the voices and the connection and the sense of belonging to something bigger than ourselves or our nuclear family has suffered. Scrapbooking provides a way to recapture and reconnect.
Creating a connection to my family, culture and values by recording them not only affirms us, but also declares that everyone matters, everyone belongs. It develops a social conscience and a sense of responsibility to others as we see how each life impacts on another. In spite of the distance, we do not live in isolation.
Recently a fun online poll by the Minneapolis St Paul Business Journal pitted various high profile Minnesota brands against one another to determine which was the best. The marketing experts behind the poll predicted that Creative Memories would fall in its first heat, but instead the company dominated the exercise, defeating such heavyweights as Target, Arctic Cat, Wheaties, Mall of America and finally Mayo Clinic.
As the dust settled the marketing experts began to realise that while CM is not necessarily a household name brand, it has a firm hold on the households in which it is known. Not because of its product per se, but because of the value of the memories that these products help to preserve. There is nothing closer to our hearts and identity than our memories.
Why? Because telling our stories define who we are and how we fit in to the bigger picture of life. Do you have memories of listening to family stories from your elders? Have those stories been documented? How do you keep your stories alive?
Top layout of my Storyteller figurine - will probably be the cover page of a Book of Family Heritage stories. Fonts: Text: Arial; Title: Archeologicaps and Dinstik; Papers and circle embellishment: Deena Rutter, Maybe; Borders: Lorikeet Design (me!).
Bottom layout for my son’s 21st birthday album which will contain many favourite family stories from his life. Font: DreamScar; Papers and photo stitching: Karen Funk, For the Boys; Other Elements: Flags/RicRack: Little Feet Digital Design, King of My Heart; Vertical stitching: Creative Memories , Vintage Romance; Baby blocks from a photo at a fun site for new mums); and the Teddy Bear was extracted from a photo
It pays to proof before posting! Yes, the title in the top layout has a typo. Everyone is one word and yet I have made it into two words. Something to correct - later. Along with the double full-stops at the end of the last paragraph. None of it life threatening. Gotta laugh. :)
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