"How Will You Be Remembered? Creating a Legacy," By Bobbi McKenna. There is an old saying that "history is written by the winners."  But I believe that old saying misses the mark.  In fact, I think it is more accurate to say that history is not written solely, or even particularly, by the so-called winners.  History is written by whomever takes the time to write it down.  Think about it.  If you don't write your story who will, and what will they say? In my father's family, family stories are repeated over and over.  But I knew that oral history can get lost, and so I made a major effort to interview the elders and write down their recollections.

After they were gone, I found that there were many holes in the story, and many questions I'd forgotten to ask.  I knew that my grandfather's whole family had landed in Quebec after their long voyage from Norway.  Then then had taken a train to the United States.  I knew all of this (and more) because my grandfather's older sister, who had only limited education in Norway, had written their family story.

On my grandmother's side, there was no written record.  I knew my grandmother, at age 16, had come with one brother.  But which brother had she come with, and where had their ship landed?    I searched the Ellis Island Records but couldn't find her name in any of its possible permutations.  Nor could I find the name of any of her brothers. I called one of my aunts, who is in her eighties, and put the question to her.  "I don't know," she replied, and then added, "Why didn't we ask?" Her voice was filled with regret. But I pointed out, even if she had asked, the answer would probably have been lost unless someone had written it down, and let's face it, most people don't like to write.  Even if they do like to write, they procrastinate, waiting for enough free time to write it down perfectly.  That's when I decided to create a work book that anyone could use as a guide.  The book "Telling Your Story ~ Why It's Important and How To Do It The Easy Way!" has been featured on ABC-TV, NBC-TV, and CBS-TV, as well as the BBC.

It is a work book with examples that guides you through your own story.  It makes creating a family legacy as easy as flilling in the blanks.  It gives you a systematic set of questions. Last year, I had the honor or interviewing Ruth and Judea Pearl, the parents of journalist Daniel Pearl, who was killed by terrorists in Pakistan.  I had brought a copy of my book, Telling Your Story, to give to the Pearls.    Ruth looked at the cover of the book, and said, "My daughters will be so happy that you gave this to me.  They have been after me to write my story.  Now I will." If you've been begging your parents to write their story, this book is a perfect gift.  Buy it for and give it to them so they can finally write their story, or use it as a guide for conversation with them.   Help create your family legacy!  You can buy a copy of Telling Your Story Here on this website using Pay Pal. I'll autograph the book and send it to you, along with a bonus: a FREE copy of "The Million Dollar Woman" Book.  (USA Addresses ONLY.) Outside the United States, "Telling Your Story" is Available at Atlas Books. More about Telling Your Story: If you've ever wished you could write your family story, or asked your mom or dad to record their memories, but the writing never gets done, "Telling Your Story" is the solution you've been waiting for.   In Telling Your Story®, you will get a system that will help you tell your own story in a way that not only forms a personal history, a legacy, and an identity, but also increases your understanding of the power of stories in your life and the lives of people you love. It's as easy as filling in the blanks. If you don’t write down your own story, it will very likely be lost. And if you are lucky enough to have someone else write your story, he or she may not write it in a way that you will like.   A lot of people have told me that their story isn’t important enough to write — as though there were some kind of “Special Commission” that must rate the merits of your story before you can write it.    Let me say once and for all: You don’t need anyone else’s permission to write a book, or to tell your story.  It’s your story, and it’s your right to tell it. It is, after all, the most important story you could ever write!    Buy it here and get a free copy of The Million Dollar Woman Book.  Also, Available at Atlas Books.  Or you can buy an autographed copy Here using Paypal.  It makes a perfect gift! Buy it for yourself, your parents, or grandparents.  And here's a bonus: If you buy "Telling Your Story®", you will receive a FREE copy of "The Million Dollar Woman" Book for every copy of "Telling Your Story®" you buy. (United States addresses ONLY.)      "Telling Your Story" Table of Contents  Chapter One: If You Don’t Tell Your Story, Who Will?    Chapter Two: Where You Came From – “Everything’s More Fun When You’re Wearing Pink Plastic Rhinestone Studded Sunglasses!”   Chapter Three: My Father “Fishing, Banjos, and Cowboy Boots”   Chapter Four: My Mother “French Twists, Caviar, and Hawaiian Sunsets on the Lanai”   Chapter Five: Childhood “Skinned Knees, Puppy Dogs, and Long Days at the Beach”   Chapter Six: High School “Proms, Plays, First Love, and Rock and Roll”   Chapter Seven: College “The Rolling Stones, Porches, and Hunks”   Chapter Eight: Real Love “The Village Voice, a Hotplate, and Star Trek Rerruns” Chapter Nine: The Honeymoon and Married Life “Loose Change, Swiss Chocolate, Austrian Beer”   Chapter Ten: Pregnancy and Motherhood: (Moo Moo) “Can’t We Wait Until Tomorrow Morning To Go The Hospital?”   Chapter Eleven: New Baby Makes Four (“Benny Bunson or Bunny Benson”) Korea, Kimchi, And Taking A Chopper to the Hospital”   Chapter Twelve: Starting My Career and Getting Fired! “Foggy Bottom, Capitol Hill, and Sleepy Hollow”   Chapter Thirteen: Adoption (“Hilly”) “At The Airport, This Is Your Baby, We Love Her!”   Chapter Fourteen: Bonus Baby (“Super Duke”) “Professional Wrestlers, Super Heros, and Gold’s Gym”   Chapter Fifteen: There Is Life After Children! Or “Mommy’s Doing What?”   Additional Workbook Section: Divorce, Remarriage, Blended Families, Life Threatening Illness, Loss of A Spouse, Loss Of A Child, Loss of A Brother or Sister.