The Memory Project Begins

For this week's Sunday writing prompt on StoryDam, Morgan asked us to write about memories in her post What Is Your Pomegranate?. Her timing was/is really impeccable. Now that my husband's Masters is complete and he'll be returning to work tomorrow, it is time I turn my attention to what I am calling my Memory Project.

What Is The Memory Project?

I have described it briefly in previous posts, but the Memory Project is a Christmas gift I am working on for my little brother. Our father passed away when we were both young (I was 12, he was 8). I found out years after his passing, when both my brother and I were adults, that he had little memory of our father. It broke my heart and felt terribly unfair. I have often wondered how to rectify the situation. This summer, just weeks before my brother's birthday, it came to me: I'll write him a book of memories.

I'll write my own. Interview and ask for help from friends and family and see what I come up with. Lord only knows what this whole thing will look like in the end, but I'm hoping it turns out to be something like a book gift for my brother.

The (tentative) Plan

My current approach is that I am going to write and gather stories up until the end of October. For the month of November I will bring it all together in book form, edit it with pictures, etc and then find a way to print it in December. Hopefully it will be ready to wrap by Christmas Eve! 

My First Memory

Today I took my first stab at capturing a memory of the three of us - me my brother and our father. It is inspired by the thought of zeppoles every time I see them, smell them or crave them. It is one of my favorite memories because it captures so much of who we were as a family. I wrote it up and posted it on a blog I created long ago, but have done literally nothing with called Rivera wRites Through It. I have decided that, until I am ready for publication, I am going to gather my memory project stories on that blog so I have somewhere to send my friends and family who are curious to track my progress. I'd love any feedback you can give me on this first post Memory Project - Zeppoles. 

Thank you!