I smiled when I first saw the above comic created by Antonio Meza, making light of Artificial Intelligence or (AI). While simplifying complex tasks, critics caution there are risks with its use. These include losing the elements of control, innovation, creativity as well as the “human touch.” We all love the capacity of technology to…

Have you ever said, “This is something I need to do someday,” but never start (or finish) that task? You’re not alone. If life story writing is one of your goals this year, but you’ve always thought it was too difficult, Take heart! I’m here to help. Last year, I led guided autobiography classes to…

Can memoir help us find our true selves? Have you noticed self-help gurus and pop psychology will tell us to look forward into the “windshield” of our future and not the “rear-view mirror” of our past. However, sometimes there is a need to reconcile our past with the present. The discovery may come from examining…

It would seem like an easy enough question to answer. Or is it? What happens when family members give different answers to what seems fairly straight-forward? Leo Hilburger, unlike Michael (above) would not attain the success of his father. My siblings posed this very question about my paternal grandfather, Leo, one of seven children of German…

Saving 50+ years of memories at BonnyBrook Have you noticed that people react differently when given unlimited time at home?  We’ve all heard about those who have decided to enjoy this unprecedented period with family activities, using the time to bake, enjoy a hobby or finish necessary tasks. There are others, however, who feel isolated or…

Your story is as individual as your fingerprint, part of the historical record, and will have a wider impact than you can imagine. Recently I was contacted by a person whose mother was a patient at the Newton Memorial Hospital in Cassadaga from 1947-1948. As local residents know, the building now housing the Cassadaga Job…