"Memory, all alone in the moonlight.  I can dream of the old days, life was beautiful then.  I remember the time I knew what happiness was, let the memory live again!”

(Cats, 1981, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Composer)

Living memories.  They make us smile, make us laugh, sometimes make us cry, can give us solace, and promote an intergenerational connection.

Reminiscence has no age or generation limitation.  It is something everyone can do at any age and any stage. At moviesandmusic.biz and meaningfulmemorymaker.com we want to show you that multi-media is a great way to learn about our collective history as well as share your personal history.

Welcome to the February, 2018 Edition: 1776 ~ Men of Action and Reaction

As we open the Guidebook to February, 2018, what better way to learn about our nation’s history than through multi-media? 

The characters are no longer lifeless descriptions in a book but rather living, breathing, singing, human beings -- human beings who demonstrate joy, angst, frustration and ultimately solidarity in their pursuit of the perfect union.

What great characters these men are:

John Adams, who simply because he demonstrates a fervent, often zealous love of country finds he is “obnoxious and disliked”. Disliked to the point of not being able to get anything done: “I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace, that two are called a law firm and three or more are called a Congress!” (Sound familiar? Are we sure we’re talking about congress in 1776?)

Disliked or not he will make his voice heard: “I say vote yes, vote yes, vote for Independency!”   

Thomas Jefferson: A man guided by his passion.  In this film he appears to be guided more by his passion for his wife than for his love of country.  He tells Adams:” I’m going home… I haven’t seen my wife these six months”.  (When his wife arrives he quickly dispenses with writing to indulge in more pleasurable pursuits.) However, as our story progresses, the document completed, we witness a man whose passion for country is equal to that of Adams, particularly when the topic of salary is discussed:

Jefferson (re: Slavery): “We must abolish it”

Adams: “…that little paper there deals with freedom for Americans.”

South Carolina (Mr. Rutledge): “Mr. Adams is now calling our black slaves Americans...!” 

Adams: “Yes, they are. They are people and they are here!”

South Carolina: (Mr. Rutledge): “They are not people, they are property…”

Jefferson: “No sir! They are people…being treated as property…. The  rights of human nature are deeply wounded by this infamous practice…!”

Spend  time with your students discussing slavery, the impact on our country and history as a whole, as well as  its impact on other conflicts involving oppressed people.  Great insights may come forth.

Ben Franklin: A man with a vision for the future, an eye for posterity yet keenly aware that a free future cannot be granted without compromise:

“You talk as if independence were the rule it’s never been tried before, no colony has ever broken from the parent stem in the history of the world."

"Consider what you’re doing. We are men, no more no less, trying to get a nation started against greater odds than a more generous God would allow!"

"Independence first…America -- if we don’t secure that what difference will the rest make?” 

What difference indeed?

As you study these men’s actions and reactions, consider exploring with all your clientele, (students, older generation and intergeneration family members), these thought provoking questions:

What motivates these men?

Is it only their desire to form a perfect union?

Or can it also an overwhelming desire to stop all the noise, bickering, divided party fighting, and loneliness associated with long separations? A desire  to return to their homes and families, to build the perfect society?

Loneliness and separation are universal themes in the classic movie musical (Brigadoon, Easter Parade, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers), and can also be seen in our personal histories.

Discuss your client’s own experiences. Did the women have to go to work to support their children during their husband’s absence in the military?  What is it like to be a military spouse?  Great stories of strength and courage are sure to emerge.

Stories which can be enhanced by personal memory books and photographs which can perpetuate  engagement and interaction  and “let the memory live again!”

~Lori

Please visit me and share your thoughts on the blogs or any of our new products! I love hearing from you!

www.meaningfulmemorymaker.com

www.moviesandmusic.biz

References:

Yauch, L (4 January 2018). Let the Memories Live Again {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz

Yauch, L (6 February 2013). President’s Day 2013 {Blog Post}. Retrieved from www.moviesandmusic.biz