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A race, invisible to most, is on to solve the nation’s health care crisis.
Will Obamacare or private sector reforms carry the day?
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Let history guide our political compass
I often wonder if public officials give any consideration to the historical lens that will define their current level of enlightenment decades from now.
Schedule your annual health screenings today
You’ve likely heard the “set it and forget it” line from Ron Popeil on countless TV infomercials over the years, and may have even enjoyed the resulting convenience of his rotisserie ovens. The line is catchy because it’s memorable. Unfortunately, when it comes to our personal health, too many of us are not setting annual checkups and are forgetting to talk to our doctors about routine screenings.
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Smiley has earned salary hikes and bonuses
Editor’s note: Ted Kellner, chairman of the board of Milwaukee World Festival Inc., which oversees Summerfest, recently sent the following letter to the organization’s board of directors.
The best gift you’ll ever give your mother
Another Mother’s Day is upon us. No matter how much we love our mothers or look forward to celebrating the day, a perennial worry sprouts like the first daffodils of spring: what to get Mom? And even though she says she doesn’t want anything and is happy with a visit or call, a slender thread of guilt prompts us to start The Search.
True, some people are born with a genetic disposition for buying the perfect gift…but most of us aren’t so lucky. We’re doomed to repeat the trek to the mall, wandering around the pricey perfume counters like nomads in a retail jungle or we venture off to Barnes & Noble, where, with a latte in hand, we peruse countless books, rejecting one after another unsure of mom’s literary predilections…will she really like it? Few things pass the test, because the truth of the matter is that in addition to not really wanting anything, Mom doesn’t really need anything. Yet the pressure mounts as we click our way through page after page of online bouquets, credit card in hand.
But there’s a way out of this annual ritual, a way to give your mother a present she’ll treasure forever because it doesn’t come from a store, it comes from your heart. And you can do it with a minimum of expense right in the comfort of her own living room.
The gift I’m talking about is taking the time to capture and preserve the story of her life – her childhood, marriage and family, career, achievements, what she fought for and what she believes in – in sum what makes her the incredibly special person that she is. Sharing her story celebrates and honors her life, and ensures that ten, twenty or even fifty years from now her life and legacy will not be forgotten. Another plus: she’ll very likely enjoy the journey. Research shows that reminiscing can be a therapeutic activity, especially in older adults, that is joyful and gives life new meaning.
This project requires a big shift in gears from daily life. It’s so easy to get caught up in the here and now – texts, tweets, Facebook, email, cell phone apps – that we tend to lose sight of the fact – and let’s face it, no one ever wants to think about this – our moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas won’t be around forever. Memories fade, things change. Know this, and move forward.
Here’s a few tips to help you get started. First talk to your mom and decide on format: a book, DVD or audio CD are some options. Books are my favorite because they’ve endured for centuries. Draft a list of interview questions and put some time into this, because the questions are important in shaping the story. An excellent resource for interview questions is Linda Spencer’s book, Legacy.
Schedule a time for the interviews. Two hours is a good length for one session, many life stories require four or more. Keep in mind this is a project you can work on for as long as you need to. (It can be next year’s present too!) The goal isn’t the finish line, the goal is to start the process.
Transcribe your interviews and print out a backup copy. Gather photos. If you’re doing a book, edit and organize the material but keep the narration in your mom’s voice. Blurb is a great online platform for life story books, or you can order custom books from a local book bindery. If you need help along the way, you can tap professional service providers through the Association of Personal Historians, www.personalhistorians.org.
So there you have it. No more chasing around, wandering down store aisles or web surfing looking for the perfect gift. This Mother’s Day, grab a digital recorder, put on a pot of coffee, pull up a comfy chair and have a long chat with Mom. You’ll never regret it and neither will she.
Linda Abbott is the owner of Never Forget Legacies & Tributes in Middleton, Wis.
True, some people are born with a genetic disposition for buying the perfect gift…but most of us aren’t so lucky. We’re doomed to repeat the trek to the mall, wandering around the pricey perfume counters like nomads in a retail jungle or we venture off to Barnes & Noble, where, with a latte in hand, we peruse countless books, rejecting one after another unsure of mom’s literary predilections…will she really like it? Few things pass the test, because the truth of the matter is that in addition to not really wanting anything, Mom doesn’t really need anything. Yet the pressure mounts as we click our way through page after page of online bouquets, credit card in hand.
But there’s a way out of this annual ritual, a way to give your mother a present she’ll treasure forever because it doesn’t come from a store, it comes from your heart. And you can do it with a minimum of expense right in the comfort of her own living room.
The gift I’m talking about is taking the time to capture and preserve the story of her life – her childhood, marriage and family, career, achievements, what she fought for and what she believes in – in sum what makes her the incredibly special person that she is. Sharing her story celebrates and honors her life, and ensures that ten, twenty or even fifty years from now her life and legacy will not be forgotten. Another plus: she’ll very likely enjoy the journey. Research shows that reminiscing can be a therapeutic activity, especially in older adults, that is joyful and gives life new meaning.
This project requires a big shift in gears from daily life. It’s so easy to get caught up in the here and now – texts, tweets, Facebook, email, cell phone apps – that we tend to lose sight of the fact – and let’s face it, no one ever wants to think about this – our moms and dads and grandmas and grandpas won’t be around forever. Memories fade, things change. Know this, and move forward.
Here’s a few tips to help you get started. First talk to your mom and decide on format: a book, DVD or audio CD are some options. Books are my favorite because they’ve endured for centuries. Draft a list of interview questions and put some time into this, because the questions are important in shaping the story. An excellent resource for interview questions is Linda Spencer’s book, Legacy.
Schedule a time for the interviews. Two hours is a good length for one session, many life stories require four or more. Keep in mind this is a project you can work on for as long as you need to. (It can be next year’s present too!) The goal isn’t the finish line, the goal is to start the process.
Transcribe your interviews and print out a backup copy. Gather photos. If you’re doing a book, edit and organize the material but keep the narration in your mom’s voice. Blurb is a great online platform for life story books, or you can order custom books from a local book bindery. If you need help along the way, you can tap professional service providers through the Association of Personal Historians, www.personalhistorians.org.
So there you have it. No more chasing around, wandering down store aisles or web surfing looking for the perfect gift. This Mother’s Day, grab a digital recorder, put on a pot of coffee, pull up a comfy chair and have a long chat with Mom. You’ll never regret it and neither will she.
Linda Abbott is the owner of Never Forget Legacies & Tributes in Middleton, Wis.
Investment capital means job growth for Wisconsin
It’s no secret that Republicans and Democrats in the Wisconsin Legislature have disagreed on more than a few issues in recent years. There comes a time, however, to put partisanship aside and to stand on common ground.
Conversations about breast health can save lives
I’m no stranger to breast cancer. My mother and aunt both lost their fights with breast cancer … within a month of each other. And, seven months later, at age 39, I myself was diagnosed with breast cancer during my yearly checkup – a routine mammogram.
Great brands grow from the inside out
What is your company’s competitive advantage? I’ll venture to say that most CEOs I know would probably answer that question with phrases that include, “customer service,” “quality products,” “our competent people” or “our strong corporate brand.”
An option for Herb Kohl
The cacophony regarding a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks is swelling. One side says the taxpayer needs to belly up again like we did with Miller Park. Just let the 0.1% stadium district sales tax ride after it expires in 2017. No one even notices this insidious little tax, the logic goes.
The 10% Solution would set our transportation priorities straight
Over three dozen mayors across Wisconsin signed a “Statement of Support for Getting Wisconsin's Transportation Priorities Straight.”
Update on UWM budget balances
In recent days, there has been a great deal of attention focused on the budgeting practices of University of Wisconsin System institutions and the reported billion dollar cash balance. Because each campus is different, I can only address the situation here at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Dear UWM Alumni & Friends,
In recent days, there has been a great deal of attention focused on the budgeting practices of University of Wisconsin System institutions and the reported billion dollar cash balance. Because each campus is different, I can only address the situation here at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
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Cudahy receives Lifetime Achievement AwardMichael Cudahy receives BizTimes Lifetime Achievement Award
Aside from city founders Solomon Juneau, Byron Kilbourn and George Walker, few people, if any, have had more impact on Milwaukee than entrepreneur, community advocate and philanthropist Michael J. Cudahy.
