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Correspondent LONGMEADOW Jean Deresienska believes there is no greater gift we can leave our loved ones than the stories of our lives. Since starting her business, My Life's Legacies, she has heard some of the most fascinating stories of area residents and enjoys every minute of it. "Oral traditions have been around a long time," Deresienska said during an interview in her home with Reminder Publications. "Stories were passed from generation to generation, quite informally." Deresienska, a member of the Association of Personal Historians, notes that history shows us that unless these stories are documented and recorded they will be lost within two generations. For the family of Kazimier Barut, 84, of Chicopee, they purchased an oral history package from Deresienska so they would have his wonderful stories to share with future generations. Barut is a strapping man with a firm handshake, a wonderful twinkle in his eye and a welcoming smile. He freely shares the joys and struggles he has faced for most of his 84 years. Now retired as a master electrician, he makes it a point to say he still "works like a horse" every day which keeps him fit and energetic. Deresienska has been meeting with Barut, discussing his early days in a primitive area of Poland called Batoruwa, his time enslaved by the Soviets in Siberia, and what it took to survive on the land after being liberated. "By saving our stories in whatever way we choose, we leave to future generations a portrait of ourselves and the times in which we lived," Deresienska said. For more than an hour, Barut told endless stories of hard labor with only bread and water as sustenance, his impressions of Russia as an "evil empire," and why he sought freedom in America. "My family encouraged me to do this because my story should be told," he said, noting that he also speaks to high school students so he can bring perspective to their World War II studies. "Future generations will discover their ancestors' personalities, experiences and wisdom through personal histories," Deresienska added. "Genealogy gives us ancestors' dates and names on a family tree, but who are these people, what were they like and what have we inherited from them? What can we learn about ourselves from those who have come before us?" For the Barut family, they will have a wealth of stories to cherish since Kazimier is a gregarious man who also believes in setting the record straight on the ways Polish people suffered at the hands of their captors. Deresienska notes that personal histories are as diverse as the individuals involved. She offers oral histories that feature the recordings of stories via audio recording, which is then transferred to computer software, edited, and then burned onto a CD. The recording can also be transcribed and edited and made into a printed work with photographs. "It's so personal to listen to your family talk about their lives," she said. Deresienska is available for speaking engagements and discusses the field of personal history, its various options from video and DVD to hardbound books to audio recordings. She also conducts a mock interview with a volunteer from the audience to demonstrate how enjoyable and rewarding a personal history can be. For Deresienska, an opera singer who has also taught piano privately for many years, as well as worked in the private sector in fund-raising, this new adventure opens up new worlds for her too. She added that once she discovered the Association of Personal Historians, she knew this is what she wanted to do. "It is an absolute passion of mine," she said, adding, "I have the ability to draw people out and tell their stories." Deresienska is the perfect "people person" who loves meeting and getting to know people. Her new endeavor suits her well. "If stories are not recorded they are lost in less than two generations," she said. "Wouldn't it be wonderful to preserve your history, wisdom and lessons learned for your children and grandchildren to cherish?" For more information on "My Life's Legacies," contact Deresienska at 567-4685 or via email at mylifelegacies@comcast.net. | ||||||
