Larynx

Recording memories of people dear to you.

Point is that with modern cameras and cell phones, taking pictures or moving images of people should be no problem. We have used both tools, but the results are not very satisfying. Lots of still photos, we have. In addition, we must have some Hi-8 video casettes somewhere, but we no longer have a camera to run it from (isn't Hi-8 totally outdated now?). I have some clips in my i-Phone but those are short and sometimes too awful to even watch (hospital scenes).

Now I discover, to my chagrin, that I do not even have a decent voice recording of Lara's. It is a little late to make one now, for her voice has hardly been the same again ever since she was intubated end January 2011 and wasn't able to speak for three whole months! The quality of her voice has since then changed markedly, acquiring a hoarsy whisper that was never there before and lacking a crystal tinkle that was.

All I am left with as an authentic recording of Lara's old voice, the voice she had when we met, is an eight second welcoming message on her cell phone. That is all. When she was comatose, I would call her cell phone at every traffic light and have her voice ring out over the car stereo system. I am not even sure there is a way technically to preserve that recording once her cell phone will no longer be operative. I would hate to lose the little I have.

How nice it would have been to have a voice recording (or better: a video recording) of Lara engaged in conversation, say, with the grandchildren, her siblings or her cousins - about anything, but for a good portion of time.

So this is a lesson we have learned too late. We took for granted that life would be eternal and that there was no particular hurry for recording parts of it in an integral manner, rather than through cell phone snapshots. Take it from us: it is more than worth your while going the extra mile!

If there be anyone out there who can help me fill the vacuum, don't hold back. I will be truly grateful.