Immortality - how can a person's story live on after death.

[i-need-a-martini]

My dad is in his late 70's and is contemplating the end. He thinks because he has lived an average life and did nothing exciting that no-one will remember him a decade after death.

Anyway, he wants his name to 'live on' somewhere so his story lives on somewhere.

This week he is going to register for the Welcome Wall at the National Maritime Museum but he is disappointed that the wall only has his name and no other details other than 100 words he can add to a data base.

Can anyone think of anything else he could do? 

Or do you have things you remember your grandparents/ancestors by?

Or maybe you have already thought about what legacy you will leave your kids/grandkids etc?

All ideas welcome. Note he doesn't have any money to leave and English is his second language.

[azureline**]

I am going to sound like a good candidate for az's "people who ask for advice but then are really negative' thread but that won't work either twy.

Years ago I bought him a journal and I put prompts in it so he could just write a response. Things like "The best thing I ever did...", "I wish that I could have..." etc but he didn't like that cause it was too personal. I think recording stores would fall into the same category.

I'm clutching at straws a little in the hope that something will pop out that will be the perfect answer.

:^O

The post office has books atm, kind of like a journal but probably less personal. I saw 2 different ones but can't recall what the titles were.... I think one was to write to a descendant, the other to write your story, maybe.

What he thinks was unremarkable will be interesting in the future, to others.

I hope he finds what he is looking for. 🙂

[i-need-a-martini]

Martini, feel free to message me and I'll see what information I can find. Maybe if you show him whats available and that you can scrapbook it or something, he'll become more interested and take the time to diarise some stuff.

Is he in ill health?

No he isn't in ill health. But all my relatives are dead or dying and there is hardly anyone left in Australia. Plus one of my uncles is in hospital at the moment dying. I think that this is playing on his mind a little.

He doesn't want to write it down and he doesn't want to me to write anything down for him. I think it's just that it is too personal if you know what I mean. My son asked him to record some stories for a school project recently and he couldn't manage it (was being silly and didn't know what to say even though we were helping).

But perhaps the scrap book idea might work - I might pull out all his old photos and ask him to tell me about these. Perhaps I could record these conversations and type them up for him.

[i-need-a-martini]

But it's still not quite what he wants.

I think he wants something 'traceable'. Something that someone in 100 years time can track back and say "This man existed. He was my great, great, great grandfather. We know when, where, how he lived and died".

I know I am being vague - I suppose what he really wants is to be part of someone elses future story if that makes sense?

[punch*drunk]

When did he arrive in Australia? i'll see if I can find some links for you.

[i-need-a-martini]

I don't know punch.

Actually I do know cause he has told me but I can't remember.

Maybe I need to do the photo thing and get him started. Cause even if it isn't what HE wants, I'd like his history to pass on to my children.

[nevynreally]

But it's still not quite what he wants.

I think he wants something 'traceable'. Something that someone in 100 years time can track back and say "This man existed. He was my great, great, great grandfather. We know when, where, how he lived and died".

I know I am being vague - I suppose what he really wants is to be part of someone elses future story if that makes sense?

What did he do for a living? What were his interests? These answers may help someone find an answer.

I agree with the video record of his life. Hearing someone long gone is comforting and special to those still here.

[punch*drunk]

Depending on how long ago it was, there are online indexes and possible newspaper articles of his arrival, especially if he came by ship? They would be an interesting addition for descendants.

[nevynreally]

Just reread.

He wants to know he mattered. He was important to someone.

[i-need-a-martini]

What did he do for a living? What were his interests? These answers may help someone find an answer.

He was a tailor. Started an apprentiship  at 9 in Italy and when he arrived in Australia he worked in factories. He left Italy in the mid 60's to escape army conscription as he still had horrible boyhood memories of the war.

Interests? I don't really know. It's interesting that he inspired in me a love of architecture, art and books but I can't really say they were his 'interests'.

I agree with the video record of his life. Hearing someone long gone is comforting and special to those still here.

But that's about ME having his story (which of course I want!). His problem is that he wants to feel as if he is leaving something of value.

Depending on how long ago it was, there are online indexes and possible newspaper articles of his arrival, especially if he came by ship? They would be an interesting addition for descendants.

Punch - I think I need to get some basic facts from him and then I might come back to you. Are you on the ancestors thread?

[katydidthat]

katydidthat  where in Wales, if you don't mind me asking?

Twyngwyn, (funny enough, Dad's brother was called Gwyn).  Dad was born in the Ogmore Vale area in a small place called Lewiston.  Gwynn moved to Ogmore Vale later and we spent many holidays with him and his wife and my cousins.  Dad moved to London and worked as a teacher there.  When he retired, he and my mother moved to Chepstow, just across from the English border.  We've spent time across North and South Wales, mainly in the South.  When I used to visit my parents in Chepstow, we travelled a lot around the local area ... Cardiff, Bridgend, Monmouth, Tintern Abbey, Newport, and my most favourite place in the world, Porthcawl.  

No, I don't mind you asking ... always a pleasure to talk about Wales 🙂