Going through some boxes untouched since the move I came across a thumb drive in its box, marked "POP", which was our family name for my father. In 2006 Pop had asked me to buy him a voice recorder so that he could leave a remembrance of his life and times for anyone in our family who might be interested.
I had listened to a few of them just to make sure he was getting recorded properly, and had performed back ups when he completed the project. I hadn't otherwise listened to them, though I had sent the back ups top my nephews as part of the family archive they have been creating.
He did these recordings in 2006, at the age of 91, still sharp as a tack, and at the time was facing a heart procedure for left ventral fibrillation, one that could kill him.
The first recordings are focused on the procedure, the risks, facing death, and having made sure that my mother was well provided for, and would have whatever she needed after he was gone. It's quite an experience to listen one's own father contemplate his mortality and to come to terms with it.
The recordings continue with remembrances of his youth, growing up in Waterbury Connecticut, describing it as a "shop" town that was one of the foremost contributors to the development of American industry, enumerating a number of inventions created in Waterbury and businesses based there.
I learned that his first professional design job was to improve bullet loading machinery for Remington Arms and he became one of their designers, something I had never heard. Then, in 1941, he went to work for General Electric, developing improvements to submarine RADAR.
His session was interrupted by my mother, who was developing dementia at that time, and was in a combative mood. One thing about my mother, she took no shit off of anyone, and feared no one. We have a few family stories about stupid males who, to their misfortune, crossed her. She was on a tear and boy did that bring back some memories.
I look forward to hearing more of his recollections, both the interesting and the uncomfortable. It's a bit surreal to hear their voices after all this time.
I had listened to a few of them just to make sure he was getting recorded properly, and had performed back ups when he completed the project. I hadn't otherwise listened to them, though I had sent the back ups top my nephews as part of the family archive they have been creating.
He did these recordings in 2006, at the age of 91, still sharp as a tack, and at the time was facing a heart procedure for left ventral fibrillation, one that could kill him.
The first recordings are focused on the procedure, the risks, facing death, and having made sure that my mother was well provided for, and would have whatever she needed after he was gone. It's quite an experience to listen one's own father contemplate his mortality and to come to terms with it.
The recordings continue with remembrances of his youth, growing up in Waterbury Connecticut, describing it as a "shop" town that was one of the foremost contributors to the development of American industry, enumerating a number of inventions created in Waterbury and businesses based there.
I learned that his first professional design job was to improve bullet loading machinery for Remington Arms and he became one of their designers, something I had never heard. Then, in 1941, he went to work for General Electric, developing improvements to submarine RADAR.
His session was interrupted by my mother, who was developing dementia at that time, and was in a combative mood. One thing about my mother, she took no shit off of anyone, and feared no one. We have a few family stories about stupid males who, to their misfortune, crossed her. She was on a tear and boy did that bring back some memories.
I look forward to hearing more of his recollections, both the interesting and the uncomfortable. It's a bit surreal to hear their voices after all this time.
