Founder's Story/ My First Recording:
I was twelve when I first met Teeny. She was an old country woman, a quiet church attendee sitting alone in a rounded pew, but her long feathered hat caught my eye.
I introduced myself and found her personality to be as striking as her hat!
Teeny had no children and only came to town for necessities and church, but over the next five years, we visited, arm in arm, as I walked her to her sister's house after church. She took a special interest in telling me the stories of her life and I'd sometimes go to her home in the county to hear more.
At age 89, Teeny and I recorded her life story. Holding my new field recorder over her lap she began, “When I grew up, it was like heaven...”
I was transfixed in a moment. The next two hours passed quickly. At that young age, I didn't have a plan. Teeny just talked, and I asked the questions any teenager would ask, "What did you do for fun?"
The ESSENCE of my dear friend was captured that evening: her laugh, her tenderness and her wisdom. It would be another six years before she passed, but when I listen to our recording now, I’m transported back to the years I spent with Teeny!
I will never regret taking the time to record our conversation. It's like heaven to hear her voice again!