Lifeline Stories preserves lives in a variety of forms

By Laura Brown
The Union
September 26, 2006

Pat Barrentine loves listening to stories of ordinary people. Her fascination with recording personal histories has led to the start of her new business, Lifeline Stories. She preserves lives in published book form and compiles audio and image recordings of loved ones stored on DVD.

"These stories, no matter whose stories, are so precious," said Barrentine.

Her interest in genealogy was first sparked when her daughter was born in 1953 and a cousin sent her a partially completed pedigree chart that included a great-great grandfather who served in the Civil War. But the busyness that comes with raising children put family research on hold. It was her husband's death 14 years ago that struck a nerve of urgency in her to catalogue what she knew and track down what she didn't.

Off and on for three years, she worked on her husband's life history. The result is a bound book spanning several generations, beginning with his great-great grandfather. Within it, she included 341 scans: photographs, marriage certificates, high school diplomas, newspaper clippings telling the story of his grandparents, parents and the span of his 63 years. Along with various facts about his life, the book is made colorful by the stories told by those who knew him.

"Most think they have an ordinary life. As much as possible what I want to do is bring their voice alive."

Barrentine meets for an hour and a half with clients at no charge to discuss goals for their project. She predicts it will be the family members, the sons, daughters and grandchildren who realize the importance and want to capture their older relatives' lives.

Barrentine sits with clients and tape records her interviews. She then edits and transfers the oral stories to a CD or she painstakingly transcribes the recorded material for print using an outdated transcriber machine that she controls using foot pedals. It takes three hours to transcribe an hour's worth of recording. Another option is a DVD with photos and recorded voice narration by their loved ones. Video recordings are also available using photos, documents and music.

Clients can chose from a published story such as a high quality memoir or family history book. Barrentine's daughter, a graphic designer living in Portland, will design the book jacket.

Barrentine's role in the project is more organizing than editing because she wants to remain true to each unique character by preserving speech styles and mannerisms.

"So we're using their words. It's not the same as ghost writing. You want to keep the romance of poetry in it."

Barrentine also plans to offer workshops and classes on writing personal memoirs.

She has taken numerous writing classes, including ones given by Natalie Goldberg and local writer Donna Hanelin. A small cupboard hangs on the wall above her desk. On the shelves sit copies of inspiration, The Writing Life by Annie Dillard, Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin, Escaping Into the Open: The Art of Writing True by Elizabeth Berg, among others.

"Every organization I ever belonged to I started or did the newsletter," said Barrentine. When she lived in Lake Wildwood, she was involved with Group 3 Productions and produced 12 programs on local wildflowers, wildlife, Maidu and Deer Creek history.

She was responsible for editing and publishing numerous newsletters and journals in the business world during the 1980s and early '90s. That experience gave her an eye for layout fundamentals.

"I'm not a graphic designer at all, but I'm a good mechanic."

A file cabinet kept by her desk is filled with documents and clippings from her own family's lives. She has suitcases full of photos.

"I think in families there's always someone that is sort of the recorder," said Barrentine.

She says she wants to keep her work local by preserving the stories of Nevada County residents. That devotion is evident by casting a look at the walls of her home, adorned with her collection of local artwork.

While she doesn't keep a daily journal, she has a collection of personal writings she has written over the years and is currently working on her own memoir and that of her mother. She says she regrets not asking enough questions of her own parents.

She keeps a collection of her mother's poems she typed throughout various stages in her life. They document the many upheavals of moving around the country and the birth and infancy of her children. "Her life gets told through her poetry. Most of them are short, but they say so much." Though written more than 60 years ago, the poems arrest the reader with a voice that is earnest, full of the joys, sorrows and the complexities of life.

Outside, the leaves are turning and beginning to fall. Another season is upon us, another passing year. "There are so many stories that haven't been told," said Barrentine.

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