|
Memory Planning: The Art of Documenting Your Family
Vacation
by Colleen Langenfeld
Copyright (c) 2003
You have saved and planned for your family vacation.
You are drooling with anticipation. You dream of idyllic
time spent with your spouse and children. Of course,
you'll be taking photos to remember this great time
spent together.
Maybe using a video camera, too!
Would you consider doing one more thing?
Locking in those great moments forever with a little
'memory planning'?
What's that, you say?
Memory planning. Simply put, plan the 'taking' of your
memories and you will end up with a more vibrant and
satisfying collection of momentos. Much better than
just a few rolls of film or cassettes of videotape.
Intrigued?
It's easy!
- Start by collecting brochures, postcards, ticket
stubs.
- Keep a small notebook or assign a family member to
take notes. At moments when someone says 'this is the
best time ever' ask him or her to describe their feelings
& jot down the details.
- If using a video camera, narrate what was exciting
or compelling about the event you are taping.
- Try to identify scents and sounds with events as
well as visual clues. Write these things down in your
notebook and collect samples when possible.
- Be a reporter; always ask yourself and others 'why'
when they say they love something. Identifying
the why helps to stamp the event firmly in our memory.
Doing these steps faithfully will really help later
on when you are pulling all of these independent parts
together. Your accurate journalizing will make all the
difference, says Lygia Brown, Independent Scrapbook
Consultant:
'After safely preserving our photos, the most important
part of scrapbooking is journalizing. Compare
a beautifully decorated album with no words, to one
with words and you will see the value of documenting
events, people and places. Journalizing adds meaning.
Use the questions of a journalist as a guide. (Who,
what, when, where, or why?). Journalizing is a priceless
enhancement.'
( For scrapbooking questions Lygia can be reached at
Lygiabrown@yahoo.com )
So make sure you plan your memories this vacation with
as much care as you plan your route. Pack a
small bag designed to hold the memorabilia you will
collect plus your journal. Schedule the time now
that you will need after your trip to complete the archiving
of your vacation memories.
You'll be so glad you did!
|
