Detours

There are stories in your family that nobody else can tell quite the same way. The things they survived. The choices they made. The moments that shaped them. And one day, you’ll be glad you saved those stories. I’m Angie Norris, and this is Side Hustle GPS. Today, we’re stopping in Memory Lane to explore Family Memoirs. There’s a book I’m planning to write that I feel like I’ve been crafting my entire life. It’s called *A Tale of Two Thai Moms.* Both of my mothers are Thai. Both have lived lives of survival—but in completely different ways. Their stories are fascinating. Some parts are almost unbelievable. I want to capture those stories in a book, from my point of view. And it’s been hard to finish because both of my moms are still living. Their stories are still unfolding. So I keep working on it. I keep collecting the pieces. I’ve always loved learning about family members’ memories, their upbringing, and the experiences that made them who they are. My dad did something incredible with our family history. He put together a very large book tracing both his mother’s side and his father’s side back more than 200 years. It’s packed with photographs, stories, obituaries, birth announcements, and a detailed family tree. He gave copies to everyone in our family, including one for each of my three children. Those books are powerful because we can hold them in our hands and understand more about where we came from. Someone took the time to gather all those pieces and preserve them for us. That’s a gift. And it’s also a service you could offer to other families. People have stories they want their children and grandchildren to know. But they may need help asking the questions, organizing the photos, or turning those memories into something finished. A family memoir can be a book. It can also be a recorded conversation, a private podcast, a video, or a narrated photo slideshow. The format can fit the family. AI can help you transcribe interviews, organize memories into themes, and shape a first draft. But let the person’s voice come through. Check names and dates with the family, and ask what they’re comfortable including. Sometimes, the way someone tells a story is part of what makes it worth saving. For me, I want my children to know where I came from. What I faced. How I dreamed big and went after those dreams. I want them to understand the journey that brought me here. And I don’t have to wait until every chapter of my life is complete to start preserving it. Neither do you. Your first money move? With their permission, record a short conversation with a family member. Ask about one meaningful moment: their childhood, how they met someone important, or a decision that changed their life. Turn that conversation into a short written story with a few photos, or a simple audio keepsake. Let them review it. Then use that sample—with permission—to show another family how you could help preserve a story of their own. Start with one person and one memory. So, whose story would you love to hear in their own words—and what could you ask them today? Explore Family Memoirs in Memory Lane at SideHustleGPS.com. Your story is worth preserving. And one day, someone you love may be very glad you saved it.