Who knew fetching beer for your parents could change history?
Before TikTok, Instagram, or even film reels, two of my beloved ancestors–my 2X-great-grandparents Decker–had a meet-cute straight out of a rom-com.
She walked into a store with a pail in hand, fetching beer for her parents. He worked behind the counter, and their eyes met, which sparked a conversation. And more than a century later, their love story is still part of my family lore.
I recently brought this story to life in a short AI video, imagining them as young adults in that moment. It ends with their real photograph. It’s whimsical, it’s romantic, and entirely rooted in real life.
Why do stories like this matter?
Genealogy isn’t just names and dates. Of course, it’s easy to think of family history as charts or records. But stories—funny, sad, unbelievable, tender, or dramatic—give life to those charts.
Preserving even small moments, like a pail-and-beer meet-cute, helps us see our ancestors as real people. They had quirks. They had humor. They had feelings. Love and heartbreak. Joy and sadness. Fear and courage.
They were human. And they LIVED in all the ways we do.
Stories give context. They make family history relatable. They transform names into characters and events into memories we can connect with today.
You don’t need fancy equipment. Small efforts can preserve generations of memories:
How to capture your family stories
- Interview Relatives – Ask about unusual events, first meetings, or funny mishaps. Record audio or video.
- Scan Old Photos – Pair them with captions, voiceovers, or mini-recreations.
- Use Public Domain Pictures – for context, use public domain pictures (like the postcard of Newburgh, NY to the left that I used)as a backdrop to enrich my reel.
- Write Short Stories or Reels – Even a paragraph can spark a visual story.
- Use Modern Tools – TikTok, Instagram, blogs, or AI videos can bring stories to life.
- Combine Media – Letters, diaries, newspaper clippings, and photos together create vivid, multi-sensory history.
“Aliving” the ancestors
If it’s cool to say unaliving, then aliving must be a thing, too. And who better than the ancestors to alive.
Stories bridge generations. They turn ancestors from names on a page into people we can relate to. They show us how life shaped them—and how they, in turn, shaped the lives of those who came after.
A small, everyday moment—like a woman walking into a store with a pail—can carry meaning across generations. By preserving it, we keep the memory alive. We make history personal, emotional, and unforgettable.
Start Your Own Story Today
Grab a notebook, phone, or camera. Ask questions. Record moments. Recreate scenes. Every story matters, and every story preserved makes our family trees richer, warmer, and more human.
Because history isn’t just about what happened. It’s about the people who lived it.
Recently, I wrote an article on how to choose to whom to leave one’s family heirlooms. An heirloom like this can go to all in the family. No hard choices necessary. 😍
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