One of the toughest life stages a person faces is when a family member is ailing. Yet those times also can provide memorable interactions and stories that beg to be remembered.
Back in 2012, we teamed up Blank on Blank to show you how a precious moment with a loved one can be captured through the process of video scribing. In this case, Bono, the world-renowned musician from the band U2, reflected upon his father’s final days. Blank on Blank partnered with TruScribe to add the visual element to Bono’s story so listeners can literally see what is being said.
Remembering a Father
In late 2001, Anthony Bozza, journalist for Rolling Stone magazine, was writing a story looking back at the year’s memorable moments. As part of his research, he recorded a conversation with Bono of U2. They talked about performing in America just days after September 11. And when asked what his most memorable personal encounter of the year was, Bono said it was sitting by his father’s bedside the days and hours before he died.
Bono describes the conversations he had with his father, and how he went into the hospital room armed with a pint of Guinness and a chaser because he didn’t want his father to be alone at night. He describes a personal epiphany he had while sitting with his dying father. He describes that all he wanted for his father was to keep his dignity. Yet he wasn’t able to do that because cancer is not a dignified disease.
Bono states that as he sat holding his father’s hand, he realized the two most important events of one’s life – birth and death – are actually very messy. The insight was that perhaps dignity is, in fact, a human construct. And that it is humility that is the eye of the needle that all people must pass through.
Beyond Listening
TruScribe knows just how important listening is. But just like how experiencing the loss of a loved one is not an easy task, listening isn’t enough when it comes to retaining information. That’s why we combine audio and video messaging. And by doing so, the retention rate is increased by 65%, more than six times more effective than audio alone.
By using drawings that illustrate those last few days and conversations between Bono and his father, the viewer can actually see what precious moments were had in these days and hours. And during a time where photographs are rarely taken, coupling a personal narrative with video scribing is a way to memorialize a loved one for years to come.