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Telling
the tale of your life
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an outdated transcriber machine that she controls using foot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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