A Senegalese proverb has an expression for a wise deceased person who led a full life: his or her library has burned to the ground. I heard this phrase recently at a memorial service for a 97-year-old friend.
As a writer, author, poet, and storyteller, this proverb rang loud. Its meaning is profound. There are many untold stories in each of us. Some may be light-hearted memories to valuable treasures of wisdom that cannot be replaced or repeated. My interpretation of this proverb is to:
Share what you know.
Share where you have been.
Share how you arrived where you are today.
Share what you have learned.
Before it is lost.
You may wonder, who will care and why will they.
Those were my doubts before writing my memoir, In Search of Pink Flamingos, in 2020. I have no biological children and I was recently divorced. However, something compelled me to tell my 60-year journey through life. When I committed myself to the process, my memoir, in many regards, wrote itself. The words flowed easily in many areas, while extremely difficult in others.
I imagined my book would only interest my family and friends, but I was pleasantly shocked at its broad reception. Since publication, much in the midst of COVID, I have been the guest author (in person and virtually) at nearly 30 book clubs with readers intriqued by my experiences and eager to learn more about the farm, Africa, and my travels. Even though many had different life expereinces, we all learned and grew from our conversations. At a genealogy club lecture, I guided the audience in documenting their ancestral research. Plans are in the making to speak to African women in the US and Kenya about the FGM culture.
I encourage you to tell your story or help others to tell theirs. We all have a treasure trove of library material that should not be lost and others who can benefit from it.
When my time on this earth ends, my body will no longer be. However, I can now rest assured that my library will live on.
Writing Tip:
While wondering where to start my memoir, a writing instructor stated:
“Start from the beginning.”
My memories recalled that exact starting point. Hopefully, you will find yours too.
Susan E. Greisen 
Hello again, Susan:
Well, again you’re onto something! For our kids (daughter and son) I’ve left many of my personal career papers, training summaries, awards and clippings so they and our grandsons know what I did in my forestry career of 40+ years. I think they have a reasonable idea, but I’m more concerned that the grandsons may have no real interest in what their grandfather did. We’re pretty close to one grandson while the other we rarely see due to greater distance of separation.
I have tried twice now without success to share some hard learned life and professional tips to senior natural resource students at my alma mater. Reflecting back, I never learned these principals in college and going forward into the work world, they would have been very helpful to a young, naive forester. College was merely a foundation; the real education started in the Peace Corps and beyond.
To stay proficient, one needs to become a student for life. Last year, at 74, I enrolled in a Master Naturalist course sponsored by the University of Wisconsin Extension, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was always a student of wildland fire because my life and safety as well as those I led depended on my skill and knowledge. After 37 years of flyfishing, I’m still a student of the sport and I keep buying books on it. At least I’m paying it forward by sharing my knowledge and skills as a streamside mentor for women at a fly fishing school in western Wisconsin.
As the saying goes, only those you love and those that really know you understand just what that dash means between your birth date and the passing date on your headstone. For me, at the end of my life, the real measure of a worthwhile life is do I think I made a difference during my time here on earth. Being a Peace Corps Volunteer certainly contributes to the sum of it, along with being a Kiwanian, helping to improve the world, one child and one community at a time.
Carry on, Susan we need your continued stimulating thoughts shared with us!
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Hello Randy,
Your thoughtful, indepth comments are always so welcomed. I understand your frustration with people with whom you thought would appreciate your wisdom and knowledge, and often do not. I believe we can be surprised by individuals who are willing to hear our message, and it may not be our family or colleagues. I found that writing it down had more impact than me actually telling it in person. That’s when I found that my memoir and my Peace Corps experience really reached more individuals than I could have imagined. Of course, not everyone wants to write a memoir. However, I encourage you to write some short stories like we did in our anthology, Never the Same Again. When you can get the lesson or moral down to 1000 to 1500 words, the impact can be so powerful. You could even get your writings published in one of your local newsletters or papers. Something to think about. I’d be happy to help you with an example. All the best and we need to keep improving the world, as you stated, one person, one community at a time. Don’t give up.
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Susan,
I love this proverb. We all have experiences that will be of interest to others. Thanks for sharing.
Kathy
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Hello Kathy for your comment. You may not know that the memorial service I attended in this blog was Vikki’s Aunt Lois, the sister to Vikki’s mother, Ruth. For my readers, Ruth was my surrogate mother in my adult life. Lois passed away, but her family has preserved her stories and legacy: her library lives on.
All the best, Susan
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