Life moves by quickly and if we don’t take time to grasp those great memories and stories that surround us, then we might forget just how important they truly are.
After all, your recorded memories have an expiration date. Tapes and film weren’t meant to last forever, and they will deteriorate over time. And even though we don’t like to think it, our grandparent’s tales of “a time that once was” also have an expiration date.
So, it’s time we take the past into our own hands and ask our grandparents some fun questions to stir up some glory day recollections. Who knows, you may just learn an old-school history lesson or two.
- What was my mom/dad like when they were my age or as children?
- What was your mom/dad like when you were a child?
- How did you and grandma(pa) meet? Do you remember your first date?
- Without phones, TV, video games and other technology, what did you do for fun as a child?
- What was the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your life?
- What was your first job and how much did it pay?
- What were you like in high school?
- What did you want to be when you grew up?
- Did you ever have a nickname?
- Where have you traveled and what was your favorite place?
- What are some traditions you’ve passed down from your parents and your parent’s parents?
- What’s the best piece of advice you can give me?
- Tell me about any pets you had growing up?
- If you had a time machine to do something in your life over again, what would it be and when?
- Have you ever met someone famous?
- What’s your most valuable possession?
- Do you have any old photos, film or the like? (Get them digitized)
- Who is your favorite grandchild?
Okay, so maybe don’t ask the last one – you might not like the answer. But the rest are fair game; questions to learn about your family and a past era. Life is made of memorable moments, so don’t let yours pass you by before it’s too late.
And speaking of memories … if you or your grandparents have a box full of old tapes, film, photos and the like, send them in to get digitized and preserved for future generations. After all, no one said a Kodak moment couldn’t last a lifetime – or forever.
