Ask them while you still can

8 Apr

Welcome to The Back Verandah.

I’ve just returned from a very special Easter with two of my daughters and grandsons in Alice Springs.

We spent some of our time camping in the bush beside a pristine waterhole, far away from the woes of the world. The country around Alice Springs is truly magnificent — red hills, endless blue skies, and a vast, raw beauty that’s hard to describe. It invites a feeling of awe that’s hard to explain until you’ve been there. It was hot, a bit grubby, and yes, thick with flies, but that felt a small price to pay for the environment, the fun, and the time together. A memory I’ll always cherish.

While I was in town, I met two remarkable local women — a mother and daughter. The mother had spent more than 60 years living on an isolated cattle station outside Alice Springs.

Both spoke about how much life in the bush has changed in a single lifetime, and how, unless those memories and experiences are written down, they will be gone forever.

The conversation stayed with me.

Many people feel the same. They know these stories matter, but they’re not quite sure what to ask, or where to begin.

So I’ve created a simple guide:

12 Important Questions to Ask Your Parents About Their Lives

If you’d like a copy, you can access it by joining The Back Verandah on my website.

And if you’ve ever thought about writing your own life story, but don’t know where to start, I’d be very happy to talk with you.

With care,
Natalie

Natalie Stockdale
The Memoir Writer
www.thememoirwriter.com.au