Where Were You When…?

I have an extensive list of standard interview questions that I pose when I meet with clients. Of course, I ask about their parents, their childhood, their dating experiences. We talk about jobs and family. We touch on regrets, fears, and lessons learned.

But the section that seems to garner the most attention among readers after the autobiography is written, is the section I call, “Where were you when…?”

In these chapters, my clients discuss major historical events and their experiences living during them. These stories, in particular, are utterly fascinating to loved ones. It’s one thing, after all, to learn about the Vietnam War in history class, but to hear a personal account of a relative who fought there? Mesmerizing. We all know that the civil rights movement tore this country apart, but when we read that our grandparent marched in Washington, we connect on a different level.

Last month, the Supreme Court reversed Roe v. Wade, the law originally enacted in 1973 that gave women the right to choose whether to have an abortion. Regardless of what you think of this turnabout, our nation has just shifted policies in a big way.

It is only when we write down our stories that we are able to preserve them. Whether we are discussing abortion, civil rights, or gay marriage, history books have a way of sanitizing the truth, of presenting deeply emotional stories through impassive journalism. But as witnesses to major political events, we have the power to offer future generations an intimate look at what it was really like to be alive during these life-changing times.

When you tell your story, if this issue resonates with you, be sure to share your experiences of your world before Roe v. Wade. And what you thought, in June 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned it. Take your time to share all your recollections of “where you were when” the world changed. Give your children and grandchildren and all who follow a different view, one their history teacher will not share.

Please let me know if you’d like my help.