My dad began to write his memoirs about ten years ago and, at the time, I suggested I type them up for him. The pair of us began this process with great enthusiasm: I would type a few pages up, he would check and correct them. But then I lapsed with the typing and Dad, because of his illness, Motor Neurone Disease, found it more and more difficult to write. I bought him a tape recorder and he continued his story on tape for a little while. However he never finished his memoirs and I feel so guilty for not encouraging him further.
Dad died in February this year, 2011, and I have only now picked up his old blue book, with his wonderful handwriting in it, and decided I must type up some of it every day. It then occurred to me that it would be a great idea to create a blog of his autobiography so the family can read his story right from the beginning. Then, if I become lazy and forget to update, I will have plenty of people to chivvy me up.
If you would like to read his story, the new blog is called Memoirs of John Michael Grinsell. Pop over there and subscribe or ‘follow’ if you’d like to receive regular updates.
What an amazing thing to do and what a record to have. I have an answer machine message of mums and I listen to it when I need to hear her voice.
Great idea Trish. He sounds such an amazing man from your previous posts. I look forward to reading his memoires.
@Mad House – thanks Jen. Don't know why I didn't think of it before.
I can understand why you find comfort in listening to your mum's voice.
@Sarah – it was you typing up your mum's holiday diaries that gave me the idea so thank you!
Great start. I look forward to further installments. My dad has been gone these 14 years and I still miss him terribly. I would give anything if he'd left even a few pages written in his own 'voice'. It must seem a bit like he's talking to you when you're typing them up.
@MsCaroline – Once I get going with it I find it very comforting and actually it makes me smile. His handwriting tilts to the right lke mine and is quite difficult to read so I end up asking him out loud what a certain word is. I'm also editing just a little bit, often saying, "That's a lot of old waffle, Dad, I'm cutting it out!".
I'm very lucky to have his words to read and whereas, awful to admit, it had become a chore when he was alive to type it up, it's an honour and pleasure to do it now
Oooh, great. Will also send mum the link.
What a fantastic idea…I can't wait to read it! Emma ! 🙂
@Expat Mum – Makes so much more sense to make it a more usable document and Jen has suggested I add photos of his paintings to it as I go along.
@Emma – Right, better get on with it now: I knew you lot would spur me on!
Stabbed me right in the heart, this post did. I found my Dad`s old Olivetti typewriter in my attic during the recent renovations and when I unzipped the cover, inside were his typewritten notes he did while taking his Higher English, the year before he died age 53 (left school at 14 straight into a plumbing apprenticeship). I felt as if I`d found a million pounds in that wee typewriter case. Fathers are everything.
Thank you for sharing.
What a lovely idea. Will be reading with interest.
So wish I'd done this with my granddad…
@Nana Go-go – How treasured those notes must be to you. We don't realise how precious all these things are until they become a link to the person now gone. So sad your dad died at such an early age.
@Plan B – Thank you. I've seen your comment on the new blog too x
@Steve – You were very close to him, weren't you. At least you have been able to write about him on your blog to keep some of his memories alive x
Everyone's parents should be encouraged to write some memoirs. My father started his some while ago but then gets bogged down about some detail and grinds to a halt. Mind you, anything is better than nothing.
I've lost my Mum even though she is still with us (clue-Alzheimers) and just wish she had done something prior to losing it all herself.
I would LOVE to read it. What a lovely idea. And sorry about your dad but nice that you can immortalize him a bit here 🙂
How incredible, like you he was obviously a writer. A great idea to load it onto a blog to share. I wish my father would sit down and write, he wants to but finds it hard to take that first step, tried to encourage him to start a blog
@Troy – So sorry to hear about your mum. Let's hope you can keep encouraging your father to continue his.
@Clippy Mat – I think it's going to be a great way to honour him: I can incorporate photos, links and the fact that people can comment makes the whole thing more interesting.
@About last weekend – Keep on encouraging him: it's well worth it.
What an amazing thing to do….I'mm off to sign up. Well done you x