Not long afterward, Kaplan's grandmother died. Or that her grandmother had polio when she was younger and her brothers strapped her to a board and carried her around. Her experience is common. We think we know our parents and our grandparents, but in reality, there may be huge gaps in our knowledge. Photo albums and scrapbooks can store words as well as pictures.
Handwritten captions give the scrapbook a personal touch.
Kaplan, a Creative Memories consultant, helps others compile family stories. But time passes, and we don't get around to it. Then, when elders die, their memories die with them. You can even turn them into Christmas or Hanukkah presents that will be more cherished than anything you can get at the mall. Here are four ideas from Kaplan and others on how to get started.