If you have an elderly grandparent (or relative), or pastor, or neighbor who loves to talk and share their life story, then this option is for you! 

FIRST and foremost, please be very respectful of your time with your guest storyteller.  They are offering you valuable information and deserve to be treated kindly.  “Please and thank you’s” are in order! 

SECOND:  Time allowances.  Remember that they might get tired before you think you are through … allow them to stop if need be.  On the other hand, make sure you have reserved plenty of time for them to tell their story.  You should not be in a rush to get done!  Enjoy this time together and respect them with the gift of your time.

The assignment is to ask them to share about life before all our “bio-discoveries” of our recent 20 year past.  Areas of interest could include such things as; life before the discovery of penicillin (especially if they served in a war,) living with the realities of polio and TB, comparing medical care then to today’s ER and hospitals, purchasing foods before “chain stores”, crop diseases before mass spreading of insecticides, the conditions surrounding having a baby (were they born in a hospital?), what medicines were available then compared to now, etc.  You can probably come up with some other great topics to cover. 

Another part of their story might be asking them their perceptions of 21st century breakthroughs; like advances in bio-technology (using DNA in law enforcement, etc.) in medicine (organ transplants,) and cloning? 

If you choose this option, you will be a storyteller, retelling their story.  Your written report should reflect your question/answer format.  You might want to record your conversation with your elder and then make your written report later from the recording … like a reporter.   

I suggested that some visuals be included in your final project, visuals that would reflect the historical time frame of your storyteller.  Pictures from the internet are fine (autos, store fronts, dress styles, popular music groups of the time, etc.).  If you are interviewing family, they might allow you to copy some pictures from their personal, family collection.  The decade or so that you choose will probably be reflective of the time frame that they mostly choose to talk about.  

I hope you enjoy the conversation with your honored guest.  The stories past down from generation to generation are priceless!   If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.