I bet you can think of someone right now that you wish you could talk to again. An elderly neighbor who always had a bit of wisdom for you…a grandmother with a kind word…an uncle who always made you laugh. Every culture around the world places a premium on honoring and learning from their elders. There is a generation slipping away from us. A generation we need, but they feel forgotten. Historians
call them the “Greatest Generation.” They were the hands that built this nation. They survived the Great Depression and a series of wars. They are our last link to the pioneers, the industrialists, the statesmen that made our country great. They see patterns in the sands of history that the rest of us overlook. They sat at the feet of their grandparents and learned in a way our generations have lost. They carry on traditions and stories that have roots in faraway lands and forgotten languages. They have wisdom that comes from failure, from falling and rising again – a wellspring of wisdom from which we could be – should be – drinking daily. But we are losing them – and all their stories – to the dust. Capture the Stories That Shouldn’t Be Forgotten
We can catch those stories and share their wisdom with our grandchildren. Our team here at Generation Bridge interviews grandmothers and grandfathers and catches their favorite memories in high-definition video for posterity. We capture their favorite photos and the stories hidden inside them. We ask simple questions that are easy to answer and get to the heart of the family legacy. Most importantly, we treat our elders with honor and dignity, never pressing for uncomfortable details or painful recollections. Have you ever watched A&E’s “Biography,” or documentaries of famous leaders on The History Channel? Imagine your grandfather in the interview chair, recalling the foundation of your family. But this is not some cold, impersonal, historical review…it’s a memoir – a love letter to a simpler time. The interview is not an interrogation, but a quiet conversation over coffee, so there’s no pressure to be perfect for the camera. We don’t expect anyone to recall their whole life history in one take; the host will guide the guest along with questions and our team will tidy it up later, so the focus is all on the guest. The conversation takes about two hours, plus an hour to set up and take down the cameras, and can be done in the comfort of your home or a site of your choosing. We’ll lovingly scan your favorite photos and include them in the program. Who gets involved? Well, that’s depends. Some folks like to film the conversation in secret and surprise the rest of their family at a reunion; others like to include everyone in the taping. We’ll do what works best for you. You will be amazed at the things you learn about your family history that you might never have known. Jim from Naples told the story of how his life was nearly cut short as an infant, and how he went on to play Major League Baseball. Others have recounted tender moments they had never shared before. All those memories make up who we are as individuals…and who our families become. Who Am I? At this point, you may be wondering, “who is this guy and why does he care about my family’s story?”
My name is Chad. I grew up in a little town in Minnesota. My grandparents lived next door for many of those early years, so we were close. Sunday morning meant church and Sunday afternoon meant dinner and football at Grandma’s house. As the first of eight grandchildren, I tended to gravitate to the grown-up table more than the kids’ table. I sang in the church choir, where the next youngest member was my mom’s age. The youth group used to visit the nursing homes and sing for the residents. They were so lonely, so sad. I hurt for them. I learned how to talk to older folks, how to honor them and treat them with dignity. When I was in college, my other grandfather died. It had been years since I had seen him, and I knew I had lost something important. Something had been taken from me that I could not replace. That still grieves me. His story would have been awesome to tell. Flash forward 20 years to when I was working full-time, doing the marketing for a fast-growing church in Florida. I worked with all the different groups to help them get their message out, but I had a special place in my heart for the 50 and over group. They had so much wisdom, so much life experience to draw from, and they loved me and my family. They were like parents to me, while my real parents were far away. I began to interview them on video. We made a series of short videos for the youth group, so they could hear first-hand what it was like to grow up in a different era. They poured out their hearts: jubilant moments, painful times, the rush of young love, hard choices, regrets, and redemption. It was a huge success. But it got me thinking (in full disclosure, it got my wife thinking): why couldn’t I do this for everyone? Why couldn’t I help everyone tell their stories? So many millions of people are racing into their golden years, hoping someone will hear what they have to share. Wondering if anyone is listening. We’re listening.
