Recording Your Story—Easy as Can Be!
By Steve Busalacchi 

      Occasionally, something will trigger a fond memory of my father, and I’ll miss him just a bit more. Playing a few minutes of an interview I recorded with him more than 20 years ago is especially comforting now. Just hearing the sound of dad’s voice is almost a magical experience—a part of him that remains and is so real. We played an excerpt at his funeral almost two years ago where he discussed being wounded during the Battle of the Bulge and never expected to survive. Dad himself mesmerized those who gathered to celebrate his 88-year life via a recording. 
      Having spent my professional life as a journalist, I’ve long appreciated the power of story-telling. But you don’t need to be a pro to record a simple conversation. You just need a recorder, a microphone and an inquisitive interviewer.
      What a shame it is for family events and recollections to fade away when a loved one dies. Think of how much knowledge and experience we can pass on to the next generation by taking a little time now to permanently share part of our lives.
      These interviews needn’t be arduous several hour-long productions that take months to complete, either. You’d be amazed at how much you can convey in 45 minutes to an hour.
      The best kinds of questions which elicit surprising answers are open ended ones. Tell me about your childhood? How did you meet grandma? What led you to pursue a legal career? Then just ask follow-up questions.
      The ultimate format could be an audio CD, a video DVD or simply an edited transcription of the conversation. If you do it yourself, it’s very inexpensive, not very time-consuming and a lot of fun. And if you hire out the process, I can guarantee it will be the most valuable gift you leave behind.
      Every time I play my dad’s tape, I revel in the fact that I took the time to record his story. Perhaps more importantly, I can pass it along to my young daughters who didn’t have a chance to really know him.

     Steve Busalacchi is the author of White Coat Wisdom, an oral history of extraordinary Wisconsin physicians. He is also principal of Busalacchi Communications, which provides public relations services.