Memories are important to individuals and families. They’re a vital part of a person’s identity, and a group of area residents get together each month to share their memories and ensure they won’t be forgotten. 

 

Linda Bachofer, Judi Heinen, Jerry Hoem, Shelley Larsen-Laugenbacker and Larry Nolan are members of Memory Writers, a group begun in 2014 for people interested in preserving their memories through writing. 

 

“I think of my parents and wish they were still here so I could ask them about their lives,” said Heinen. “I started writing for my own kids so they wouldn’t have to wonder.”

 

“I wanted things documented in my life,” said Larsen-Laugenbacker. “When I find any tidbits about my ancestors I’m excited about it, so I’m doing this for my family.”

 

Before starting Memory Writers, Bachofer was already writing at home. She had also written columns for newspapers over the years and self-published a book of them. That’s when she discovered her grandkids were interested in her memories.

 

Hoem writes a column for the Maple Lake Messenger newspaper called The Retiree, which he has also accumulated into books. Along with these, he’s written a memoir called Veronika: Escape from Poland, the true story of a mother and her young daughter Veronica, who fled Poland in 1945 to escape the advance of the Soviet Army. The story was written from Veronica’s memories and her mother’s diary.

 

“The stories I tell and the way they’re written, I just want to get them down for my kids,” Hoem said. “I retired in 2014, saw this group and thought it sounded like what I wanted to do.”

 

Nolan first began writing 20 years ago with letters to his daughter who lived in Arizona. 

 

“I wrote to her weekly and started including memories in each one,” he said. “Today I write about the different experiences I’ve had in my life and things we’ve done as a family.”

 

Nolan spent time in the Navy when he was younger and his mom saved all the letters he wrote to the family during that time, which helps him relive his memories. Part of his routine is to go through his photos and find ones to go with whatever he’s writing about.

 

“One thing we talk about is that looking at pictures brings back memories,” said Bachofer. “I’ve been taking photos my whole life so I was glad to have a use for them.”

 

During each meeting members of the group take turns reading aloud what they’ve written in the past month; they don’t critique each other’s work. Writings shared at the last meeting included a recent vacation, a birth story, navy memories and memories tied to Cold Spring Granite. Hoem began his memory by reading an old Christmas letter as an introduction; he said he’s discovered they’re like yearly chronicles of his life.

 

Often one member will write about a certain place or event that will trigger memories about in other members. The memories aren’t always pretty, but the group says that makes things more real.

 

“The thing with writing about your past is that once you start one thing leads to another and you begin to remember more,” said Larsen-Laugenbacker. 

 

“One of the things we usually tell new members is if you’re looking for a place to begin, try starting with the story of your birth or the first house you can remember,” said Bachofer. “Saving things also helps, like old letters and diaries.”

 

She advised writers to try to recall as many details as possible with their memories. Bringing all their senses into it and talking about what’s going on in the world at the time is also important. 

 

“Writing is cathartic,” said Bachofer. “It helps you to work things out when you’re writing about your life.”

 

Memory Writers meets at 10 a.m. at the Clearwater Library on the second Thursday of every month. Everyone interested in preserving their memories is welcome.