If you're reading this, you obviously aren't playing catch up with your taxes. Or, are you? I'm not, but I am playing catch up with last week's questionnaire. So, today you'll find ten questions, instead of the standard five. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why, and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #84
84a. Where do you enjoy going to mingle with others?
84b. Who did you buy/receive the last corsage for/from? What was the occasion?
84c. Have you ever had to prove your worth to anyone? Explain.
84d. Has anyone ever filed a complaint against you or vice versa? Explain.
84e. Who was the last person you carried for a reason other than age or recreation? Explain.
84f. Who was the last person who carried you? Explain.
84g. Describe your average shopping experiences. Are they enjoyable, or do you feel they are something to be avoided as long as possible?
84h. What is the oldest book in your house? How did you come by it? Why do you keep it?
84i. Has anyone ever tried to shame you over your physical appearance or your lifestyle? Explain.
84j. Which teams, sports or otherwise, do you support?
4/03/2016
I had something to say, then I realized it was the worst idea I've had in a while. Aren't you glad I spared you my stupidity? Speaking of...I was an ignoramus when it came to military history. I did okay in school, but I never retained the knowledge for long. It didn't interest me, at least, not until I started doing genealogy. Now, I'm a different person and I'm soaking up new information on military history every day. There's always more to learn.
I've already asked if you've served. Now I'm asking what y'all know about others' service. As always, remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why, and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #83
83a. Does your knowledge of military surpass what they taught you in school? If so, why? What are your areas of expertise?
83b. Which of your family members served? Which unit(s)? Which war(s)/conflict(s)?
83c. Were any of them injured during service? Explain.
83d. Did they ever talk about the other people who served alongside them? If so, please give as much detail as you can remember about these people.
83e. Were you born on, or raised on, a military base? Which one? How do you think that experience made a difference in your life?
3/27/2016
What is your impossible dream? Don't answer that, just yet. It's one of today's questions. It's rare that I'll answer a question beforehand, but I'd like to this time. My impossible dream is to document the history--the truth--behind the lives of every ancestor, and to encourage the living to document their own truth. Doesn't seem so hard, does it? You try it. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why, and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #82
82a. What fascinates you the most about the human race? Explain.
82b. What discoveries/inventions should be funded with taxpayer money? Explain.
82c. Have you heard of discoveries/inventions that you felt shouldn't have been funded with taxpayer money? Explain.
82d. Are you a fan of space exploration? Why or why not?
82e. If you could achieve one "impossible" dream, what would it be?
03/19/2016
I was going to ask you how your St. Patrick's Day went...
But I can see for myself from all the Facebook and Twitter updates. So, I'll skip that question, this time, and take this opportunity to learn more about you. If the person you're interviewing doesn't keep up on social media, you may wish to ask them about their celebrations and save this questionnaire for next week. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why, and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #81
81a. What were your interactions with your teachers like? Were they people you felt safe with? Explain.
81b. What reasons, if any, did you have to skip school? How did you do it? Did you ever get away with it? What happened when you were caught? Explain.
81c. Where did you like to go with each of the following: friends, best friend, sibling(s), parent(s), grandparent(s), other family, and neighbors? Where do you wish you could have gone with each? Is it feasible to go now? Would you still go? What's stopping you?
81d. What advice have you, or would you, give your children regarding difficult topics such as sexual harassment, bullying, premarital sex, etc.? Have you heard of an ethical will? If you haven't already written one, would you consider doing so?
81e. Have you ever eaten something you regretted instantly, and it still haunts you to this day? Please explain. Under what circumstances would you do it again, if ever?
3/13/16
Nothing irks me like hearing someone say that they are boring or have nothing to write about. I am the most boring person I know, and I have plenty to write about. Answer the questions you can, and let your descendants decide what they find boring, or not. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why, and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #80
80a. If you were raised in a religious family, but chose not to raise your children the same way, please explain for your descendants.
80b. How do you feel about holidays, in general? Are they special occasions, merely time off work, or days you'd rather be working? Explain.
80c. On road trips, who did the bulk of the driving? Where was your favorite destination? Who traveled with you, and in what type of vehicle?
80d. What kind of preparations did your family make for emergencies? Did you ever need to rely on those preparations? Explain.
80e. Do you remember any urban legends from your youth? Were any of them based, however minutely, in truth? Explain.
03/05/2016
I'm always running late, even if I get up hours early to make sure we're on time. I like to think of it as a blessing. Surely, something would have happened to us if we had arrived on time.
♪♫ "That's my story and I'm sticking to it." ♫♪
Unfortunately, my peers will probably write about how I have lack of discipline, no sense of timing. It's up to me and my loved ones to set the story straight for my descendants. I work hard to be late. There's nothing lazy about it. I have full sense of every tick of the clock and my impending doom and it's stressful.
Do you want to set the story straight about yourself? Here's your opportunity--Sunday's questionnaire--and it's one day early. Yay! Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #79
79a. What responsibilities have you abdicated, past or present? Explain. Who will be affected by this? Do you consider it a failure on your part? If so, do you have plans for corrective measures? Explain.
79b. How do you think your pet(s) would describe you? Are you an attentive owner? How would you characterize your pets?
79c. What about your children? How would they characterize you, and you them?
79d. What is your favorite reunion memory? What is your worst? Explain.
79e. What topics do you wish that no one would bring up in conversations with you? Why? Are there any exceptions to this rule?
02/28/2016
While Sunday's questions focus primarily on other people, your answers might shine some light on your personality. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why, and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #78
78a. Which of your parents was around more often than the other? Do you know why? Do you feel you suffered for it? Explain.
78b. Which parent were you more likely to go to for help with crafts? Homework? Bullies? The opposite sex? Explain.
78c. Did your parents have the same religious beliefs? The same political opinions? Were you encouraged to be educated before making a choice on either? Explain.
78d. Do you remember your babysitter(s)? Describe your time with them. Their descendants are in your audience.
78e. Who always received the hand-me-downs in your family? Who was the recipient of the newest clothing? Explain.
02/21/2016
♪♫ "Sometimes you feel like a nut..." ♫♪
And, sometimes you feel like everyone else is. Voting season seems to put everyone on edge. Oh, yay! Look at that. I'm going to have you ask a few recurring questions that most sane people avoid in polite conversation.
Why should they answer? They don't have to, but imagine this: your descendant has public records that show which party you are registered to vote for. Do you want this to be the only indication of your voting history? If so, skip these questions. There are many more here to choose from.
You may want to inform them that they can write their answers down for their descendants, but they don't have to send them to you. You certainly don't need to know the answers, that is, unless they want to tell you.
Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why, and where," when feasible. Have fun!
Questionnaire #77
77a. What are some of the weirdest life goals you've ever set for yourself? Explain.
77b. So...Who are you voting for? Don't tell me. Tell your descendants.
77c. What do you know about the candidates? 77d. What, if anything, would you say to people who choose not to vote?
77e. Have you ever participated in a peaceful protest? What about a non-peaceful one? Explain.
If you read this far, you've realized that one of these questions is not like the other. Joey gave me number one to throw in for fun. She used to have a life goal to make sure that her bananas opened in such a way that the peel was quartered. She's over it now. Thank goodness.
02-14-16
Happy Birthday, Daddy! Happy Valentine's Day to everyone else! Today's questions are recurring. If your answers haven't changed since the last time I asked, don't worry. There are plenty of questions here to get you writing. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #76
76a. What is your favorite Valentine's Day Memory?
76b. What is your least favorite Valentine's Day Memory?
76c. Was Valentine's Day everything you hoped it would be? Explain.
76d. Do you know anyone with political aspirations? Who?
76e. What do you think the chances are of 77d. becoming a politician? Would you vote for them? Why or why not?
01-30-2016
Welcome back, to me and to you. The past months have been a long journey for me. I have been struggling to balance the fun parts of writing with the super tedious elements, namely cover letters and/or queries. Can anyone tell me if it gets easier with time?
I thought I'd get a head start on Sunday's questions, for no other reason than I had an idea and didn't want to wait until tomorrow. Once my routine levels out again, expect them by late Saturday evenings or Sunday mornings.
Answers to today's questionnaire will be in the form of questions.
Questionnaire #75
75a. What questions do you have about your family history?
75b. Are there any burning questions you wish you could ask of your friends, co-workers, etc., but feel you can't? Explain.
75c. What questions do you harbor regarding historical mysteries?
75d. What five questions do you wish you could ask your descendants?
75e. If God would answer one question for you, what would you ask?
3-22-15
How Irish are you really? Do you celebrate your heritage once a year as you would celebrate your age--as something to think about for a limited period of time? Is it fun and exciting--an excuse for partying in March? Or, do you carry your Irish around with you daily? If you don't, it's never too late to start.
I broke the rules today and asked more than 5 questions. I'll do as my aunt always tells me and blame it on my Irish. Enjoy your interviews. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #74
74a. Who are your Irish ancestors? List as many as you can. If you know where they were born and where they lived, list those as well.
74b. Which of your characteristics, good or bad, do you think of as being Irish? How so? Who did you inherit these characteristics from?
74c. What Irish sayings and traditions were passed down to you? If you and your family only recently learned they were Irish, have you adopted any traditions?
74d. Have you studied the history of the place(s) your ancestors were born or lived in? Do you know why your ancestors emigrated?
74e. How did you celebrate St. Patrick's Day this year? How do you usually celebrate? If you haven't been able to celebrate the way you wish to, how would you celebrate if money wasn't an issue?
74f. Do you have what my family calls an Irish Guilt Complex? Explain.
74g. Do you have any Irish family recipes? Please consider sending them to me for our family recipe exchange.
03/08/2015
Is T.R.O.U.B.L.E. your middle name? Don't make the mistake of trying to redact your imperfections from your life story. Since I can answer most of today's questions in the affirmative, I have no room to judge and neither will your descendants. In fact, I find it refreshing to know about my ancestors' faults. They weren't saints, no matter how good they looked on paper. All of those too good to be true people probably were just that. Don't forget--after you answer these questions, try to interview at least one family member. Remind them that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #73
73a. Have you ever been chided for calling someone too early or too late? Explain.
73b. Have you ever been punished by someone other than your parents or teachers? Explain.
73c. Have you ever fallen victim to your own pranks? How so?
73d. Have you ever retaliated against someone you thought was mistreating you? How so? What was the end result?
73e. What kind of trouble, if any, did you get into with, or because of, your first boyfriend/girlfriend? Explain.
03-01-2015
These questions may seem silly, but the answers you give will reveal a little about your tastes and how you feel about certain people. If you have a hard time choosing one person for each of the questions, and you have time to do so, list ALL of the people you would consider and explain why.
Questionnaire #72
72a. Who would you invite to go with you if you won tickets to a sporting event? Why? Which event(s) would you want to win tickets for?
72b. Who would you invite if you won a $500 shopping spree for yourself and one FRIEND? Why? If you won something like this, which store would you most want to shop at?
72c. Who would you invite if you won tickets to the ballet? Explain your choices.
72d. If you won tickets for a concert of your choice, which band/artist would you choose and who would you take with you? Explain.
72e. Where would you rather go during your next vacation: a spa, ranch, theme park, cabin in the woods, or other? Explain. Who would you want to go with you? Why?
02-22-2015
♫♪Me, me, me, me...I wanna talk about me!♫♪
There is the chance that your answers to today's questionnaires may be all about you, but I'm guessing that quite a few people will have someone else to write about. Remember who your audience is. Provide as much information about these people as possible so their descendants know exactly who you're talking about. Have fun!
Questionnaire #71
71a. Whose birthday, other than your own, do you anticipate the most each year and why? If you could choose the day you celebrate your birthday, which day would you choose and why?
71b. When you need general house repair or heavy lifting done, who do (or would) you call and why?
71c. When you need car repair, who do (or would) you call and why?
71d. When you need a garment repaired, who do (or would) you call and why? Is it the same person who you would call to create a garment from scratch? Explain.
71e. When you need something done on the roof, who goes up and why?
2-15-2015
So, was Valentine's Day everything you hoped it would be? Wait--don't answer that yet. That's the first question for today. Enjoy your interviews with your family members. Remind them that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #70
70a. Was Valentine's Day everything you hoped it would be? Explain.
70b. If you were president, what one change would you try to make to government policies? Explain.
70c. Which two presidents do you admire the most and why?
70d. Do you know anyone with political aspirations? Who?
70e. What do you think the chances of 70d. becoming a politician are? Would you vote for them? Why or why not?
02-08-15
"Why would anyone care about that?" It's a question I hear often. I won't lie to you; it's slightly possible that no one will care. Maybe they already have an image of who you are in their minds. Perhaps they won't care to have that image tarnished by your version of events.
If they remember something differently than you do, and they write it down, who cares if your descendants choose to believe what was said about you?
Right?
The only person who needs to care is you. If you don't care for a given question, and don't care if someone else answers it for you, then don't answer it.
That said, I should warn you that today's questions truly might not hold much interest for anyone currently living, except for your Valentine(s), and even only if he/she is still searching for that perfect gift.
Questionnaire #69
69a. Describe your favorite picture frame and its contents. It doesn't have to be one in your home.
69b. How many picture frames do you have on your wall?
69c. How many pictures do you have on other surfaces? Are any of them displayed in something other than a frame? Explain.
69d. What or who is featured in a majority of the pictures on display in your home?
69e. What is your favorite picture? If you want to share, send us the picture and the story behind it.
2/2/2015
I know. It's not Sunday. Long story short--I did look at my to do list yesterday, but I was looking at the wrong day. Good news is that I got things done early that were due for today.
'Tis the season for romance, and all that, so today's questions are all about Valentine's Day. If you can't or won't answer any questions about the holiday, write about why you don't want to answer. :) Who said you have nothing to write about?
Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #68
68a. What would your perfect Valentine's Day be like?
68b. What is the first romantic Valentine's gift you received? Who did you get it from?
68c. What is the first romantic Valentine's gift you gave? To whom? How much thought did you put into the gift? How did the recipient react to your gift?
68d. Do you still have Valentine's Day cards from childhood playmates? If so, name a few and describe your friendships. Are you still friends?
68e. As an adult, do you exchange non-romantic Valentine's day gifts with people who are NOT related to you? Explain. Do you exchange gifts with family members (besides your significant other)? What non-romantic gifts do you give or receive?
1-25-2015
Good morning! Today I've been wishing I could get answers from my ancestors. I've also been wishing I could be there to get answers from my nth great grandchildren. Since that's not going to happen any time soon, I have to satisfy myself with answering the very questions I would ask them. I suspect that there will be some very interesting answers for today's questions.
Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #67
67a. Have you ever been the first in your family to accomplish a specific goal? Explain.
67b. Have you ever gained unwanted notoriety for doing something stupid? Explain.
67c. If you know stories about other family member's firsts or their moments of stupidity, share them.
67d. Recurring question: What is your biggest goal for the next week? Month? Year?
67e. If you could be the first to discover or accomplish something, what would it be and why?
1-11-2015
Welcome back. I can't believe it's already the eleventh! I feel like New Year's Eve was just yesterday. We've been busy bees lately--so much so that I'm going to make one more change to my format, hopefully the last one. From now on, I'll be posting only the new questions weekly. For a mix of standard questions, 1 through 44, please click here. Enjoy!
Questionnaire #66
66a. Have you ever had to "rough it" without even the most basic necessities? Explain.
66b. What are your food addictions, if any?
66c. Have you ever done anything that made you feel like you should have lost your parenting badge? Explain.
66d. How do you pass the time in a waiting room?
66e. Do you have any playground stories from your youth or your children's? What was your favorite playground equipment?
12-28-14
We're mixing it up a bit today. Instead of five and five, today's questionnaires break my own rules. Think of them as two very long questions with many answers. The answers to questionnaire #65 are for the benefit of the descendants of your neighbors. Be painstakingly accurate, when possible. If you have to guess, convey that fact.
"I'm not sure, but I think..."
"I'm only guessing, but..."
I want to thank you for your efforts. I'm certain your descendants and your neighbors' will be grateful to you. You are doing a wonderful thing. Keep up the good work.
Remind your interviewees that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #65
Think about all of the places you've lived. Can you recall anything about your neighbors? Answer as many questions as you can. If you would like me to add questions to this questionnaire, please contact us. Include the questionnaire number in your message. Thank you!
What were your neighbors' names? Nicknames?
Where did they live in relation to you (N, E, S, W, upstairs, downstairs, etc.)?
What was their marital status? Did they have children? Do you remember their names?
Did they have many or few visitors? Do you recall any specific visitors?
If you were close friends with any of your neighbors, do you remember their birth dates? Anniversaries?
Were you invited to any events at their home(s)? Explain.
What did their home(s) look like--inside and out? Did their home(s) stay the same over the years or did it change? How so?
Do you have any idea what your neighbors did/do for a living?
Did your neighbors seem happy living there?
Did any of your neighbors make you feel safe just knowing they were nearby? If so, who and how so?
Do you recall the last time, approximately, that you saw your neighbors? Explain.
Questionnaire #20
List the occupations (any details you can remember) of your grandparents, parents and their siblings.
12-14-14
I'm going to keep my intro brief today--I'm cold and need to go warm up. I'm also going to switch it up a bit. I'll post Questionnaire 64 first, then 19. That's because I'm in a lazy mood and my keyboard is messing with me. Have fun! Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #64
64a. What recent accomplishments have you had?
64b. What do most people NOT know about your past and/or current job responsibilities?
64c. Do you know your pet's genealogy? Explain.
64d. Often, we have habits we picked up from someone else. We don't always recognize them. Do you recognize shared habits among certain family members? What are they? List others who exhibit the same behaviors. Do you know who learned from whom?
64e. I won't exclude men from this next question. I imagine that they might have some interesting stories to share. Do you have any funny stories about the day of your (or someone else's) menarche? FYI, I had never heard this term until I tried to figure out how to say it politely. I'm going to make you look it up, if you don't already know. I will tell you that it rhymes with malarkey. And, if you laugh, you're welcome. If I wasted your time--at least you learned something new today.
Questionnaire #19
19a. Who is the oldest family person you personally knew? Tell me about this person.
19b. Who is the family historian/genealogist in your family?
19c. Are there any special heirlooms, photos, bibles or other memorabilia that have been passed down in your family? What are they? Who has possession of them? Are there copies, either on disc or on paper? Are there stories connected with them? (Take photos if you can.)
12-7-14
Welcome back! Questionnaire #18 provides more traditional questions. If you've already asked all of the traditional questions, #63 will have you asking the interviewees their preferences. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible. Enjoy!
Questionnaire #18
18a. What stories have come down to you about your parents? Grandparents? More distant ancestors?
18b. Are there any stories about famous or infamous relatives in your family?
18c. How did your parents, grandparents, and other relatives meet and marry?
18d. Are there family stories of lost love, jilted brides, unusual courtships, arranged marriages, or elopements?
Questionnaire #63
63a. Do you prefer to type or to write by hand? Why?
63b. Do you prefer paper books or digital? Why?
63c. Do you prefer public or personal transportation? Why?
63d. Do you wear a seat belt? Why or why not?
63e. Do you like to go shopping? For what? Where? Online or in person?
11-23-14
Have fun this week! Happy early Thanksgiving! Thank you for your continuing quest for answers. I have been asked, many times, "Who cares?" Look at the questions and ask yourself, "Would I want to know the answer if it came from my nth great grandparents?" There you go. If you want to know what your family's answers to these questions would be, hopefully your descendants will too. If you still don't like the questions, please feel free to send me a list of those you DO want to answer.
Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #17
17a. When and how did you meet your spouse?
17b. What did you do on dates?
17c. What was it like when you proposed (or were proposed to)?
17d. Where and when did it happen? How did you feel?
17e. Where and when did you get married?
17f. What memory stands out the most from your wedding day?
17g. How would you describe your spouse?
17h. What do you admire most about them?
17i. What do you believe is the key to a successful marriage?
Questionnaire #62
62a. Which radio stations do you remember from your youth that are no longer on the air? Any favorite Deejays?
62b. What is your favorite ride, if any, at the theme parks? Which ride would you try if you could?
62c. How old were you when you learned how cool Santa really is? Explain yourself.
62d. Can you see the mountains from where you live? Could you ever? Other landmarks? What has changed since you moved in?
62e. Imagine that you said you would NEVER eat liver. You are a dinner guest at your client's house. Do you eat the liver they serve? Why or why not?
11-16-14
It's a little late in the evening, but I did squeeze in some time to get these questions to you. I hope you enjoy the memories they stir. Furthermore, I'm imagining you having fun questioning your other relatives. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where," when feasible.
Questionnaire #16
16a. How did you find out your were going to be a parent for the first time?
16b. Why did you choose your children's names?
16c. What is your proudest moment as a parent, to-date?
16d. Is there a naming tradition in your family, such as using maternal surnames as middle names?
16e. Are there any physical characteristics that run in your family?
Questionnaire #61
61a. How often do you visit cemeteries? Which ones? For whom?
61b. Have you written your genealogical will?
61c. If you used to hate genealogy what changed your mind? While composing this question, I just had to look up the word for people who hate genealogy. It is NOT anti-genealogy. I didn't find the word I was looking for, but I did find this fun blog--
61d. Have you seen any of the movies that were released on the day of your birth? Which ones?
61e. Name the people you think of when you read the word strong? Playful? Caring? Sensitive? Sly?
11-2-14
The answers to today's questions may be lengthy. Be prepared to do follow-up interviews. Questionnaire #58 contains recurring questions. If your answers haven't changed since the last time I asked, skip them. Have fun! Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #15
15a. Who were your friends when you were growing up?
15b. Do you remember any fads from your youth? Popular hairstyles? Clothes?
15c. Who were your childhood heroes?
15d. What were your favorite songs and music?
15e. How is the world today different from what it was like when you were a child?
Questionnaire #60
60a. Who is the last person you spoke to or chatted with for over an hour?
60b. What do you drink the most of: coffee, water, tea, milk, juice, other? Explain.
60c. When is the last time you spoke a different language?
60d. What is the last concert you attended? Last theater production? Last movie? Last event? Who with?
60e. What was the last handmade gift you gave? Received?
10-26-14
Sunday's questionnaires are mostly about people you know. One day, someone you write about will have descendants looking for any information they can find about them. So, remember to be as detailed as possible. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #14
14a. What kind of games did you play growing up?
14b. What was your favorite toy and why?
14c. What was your favorite thing to do for fun (movies, beach, etc.)?
14d. What did your family enjoy doing together?
Questionnaire #59
59a. Who is/are the sports fanatic(s) in your family?
59b. Who is the most avid reader in your life?
59c. Who is the smartest person that you know personally?
59d. Who constantly challenges you to be a better person? Explain.
59e. What is your favorite strategy game? Least favorite? Why?
10-20-14
Here are Sunday's questionnaires. Questionnaire #13 seems out of place during October, but I'm posting them in the order I asked them. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #13
13a. What is your favorite Valentine's Day Memory?
13b. What is your least favorite Valentine's Day Memory?
Questionnaire #58
58a. How many times have you served on a jury?
58b. How long was each trial?
58c. What were the outcomes?
58d. Now that time has passed, what are your feelings about your decision?
58e. Do you have any advice for your descendants regarding jury duty?
12-18-13
Still find the questions boring? Don't focus on the questions. Instead, consider what the answers to the questions can tell your descendants. What do you think people will learn about you based on your answers?
If that doesn't peak your interest, try creating more interesting questions for me to ask. Sometimes answers to your questions will bring up more questions. Use the responses you get from family members to create more questionnaires. If you're willing to share your new creations, contact us.
Enjoy Wednesday's questionnaires, but remember to remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #12
12a. When you were a child, did you have family chores? What were they?
12b. Which was your least favorite?
12c. Did you receive an allowance? How much?
12 d. Did you save your money or spend it?
Questionnaire #57
57a. What is one question you would like to have me answer?
57b. Do you remember how we met?
57c. Do you own any encyclopedias?
57d. How many bibles do you own?
57e. When were you last surprised by someone's reaction to something you did?
12-15-13
I'm often told my questions are boring--by my mother of all people. In an odd twist, she tells me that she'd be interested in getting answers to these questions from her ancestors. Thank you, mother, for making my point for me. What is interesting to you may not interest your descendants. Things that we find boring may have some unforeseen significance to them. I hope you find Sunday's questionnaires, #11 & 56, anything but boring, but if I've failed to make them interesting enough, answer them anyway. Your descendants will thank you.
Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #11
11a. What/where was your first job?
11b. When did you work there?
11c. How much were you paid?
11d. Do you have any funny stories to share about your early employment years?
11e. Did you make major decisions in your job? Did those decisions result in a good outcome?
Questionnaire #56
56a. What is one thing that you want this year that you cannot buy?
56b. When is the last time you asked for help from your friends? Explain?
56c. What do you do when you're bored with everything else you usually do to keep busy/entertained?
56d. Have you had to explain death to a child? Why? What did you say?
56e. Whose wedding did you attend last? Describe it.
12-11-13
Wednesday's questionnaires, #10 & #54, are filled with recurring questions. You may have already answered these questions, but, trust me, answering them again can prove beneficial to genealogists. Knowing that things remained the same is just as useful as knowing when things change.
Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #10
10a. Who are your parents? Grandparents? Great-Grandparents? Siblings? Spouse?
10b. How many children do you have? (list them)
10c. How many grandchildren do you have? (list them)
Questionnaire #55
55a. Who was/were your bridesmaid(s)/maid of honor/best man? Was each your first choice, or were there candidates you couldn't use for some reason? Explain.
55b. Did you have a birthing coach? Who? Were they your first choice, or did something prevent your first choice from being there? Explain.
55c. Do your children have godparents? Who? Was each your first choice? If not, explain.
55d. Is the house you live(d) in your first choice? Where was your first choice located? Why did it fall through?
55e. Is the car you own(ed) your first choice? If not, what were your other options? Why didn't you pick your first choice?
12-08-13
While I suggest that you ask and answer five questions a week, I generally ask my family questions twice a week. You may experiment if you want to, but I've determined that the more questions I ask, the less get answered. The only reason I ask them twice a week is because there are those rare people who, surprisingly, answer them the minute they receive them.
Now, for Sunday's questionnaires #9 and #54. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #9
9a. Have you ever won any contests? Explain. Go one further and describe other contests you've entered.
9b. Who was/were your favorite teacher(s) and why?
9c. What was pre-school like for you as a child? Grade school? High School?
9d. What were your best and worst subjects? Why?
9e. Where did you attend grade school? High school? College?
Questionnaire #54
54a. Who is one of your favorite authors? One of your least favorite?
54b. Have you attended a live debate? What was the topic? What were your feelings towards the topic before and after the debate?
54c. Have you ever had a life changing lesson, be it from school, church or otherwise? Explain.
54d. Do you drive? Why or why not? Do you like driving? Again, why or why not?
54e. What is one thing that you've always wanted to do, but know that, realistically, you cannot ever do?
12-04-13
Coincidentally, both of our questionnaires today have only three questions each. If you have your medical records, I strongly suggest that you start a journal and use the records as a prompt for writing down your memories of illnesses, injuries and visits to the doctor and/or the hospital. If you don't yet have your medical records, Questionnaire #8 is a good start. Both questionnaires ask annually recurring questions. Participants may not wish to share the answers to these questions with other family members, but please suggest to them that they write the answers down in a journal for their descendants.
Questionnaire #8 - Annual Questions
8a. Have you ever broken any bones? Tell us about it.
8b. Have you ever been in any accidents? If you can, tell us your story.
8c. Have you ever had to stay in the hospital for longer than a day? If so, why?
Questionnaire #53 - Annual Questions
53a. What is your physical description (not the one on your identification, but today's description)? Height, weight, eye color, hair color, shoe size. If you dye your hair or wear contacts, include that information. Send your favorite picture of yourself (the one you want shared with other family members).
53b. What are the physical descriptions of your spouse and children? If they want to share with the family, send their picture as well.
53c. Name your pets, give their breeds, lineage if possible, and their physical descriptions. You guessed it, we would love to see pictures.
12-01-13
I hope you've had a great holiday weekend. You should take the time to write down your memories of the past week while you can. Here are Sunday's questionnaires to ask and answer when you're done with that task.
Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #7
7a. Were you ever in a war or serve in the military?
7b. What do you remember most?
7c. Where did you enlist?
7d. Why did you enlist?
7e. Where did you serve?
7f. What were your responsibilities?
7g. What was your rank?
7h. Were you awarded any medals?
Questionnaire #52
52a. What do you remember of your own history? Make a timeline. Try to finish without help from memory aides. Your time limit is 15 minutes. Be brief with your descriptions. The goal of this activity is not to be detailed, just as accurate as possible in 15 minutes or less.
52b. How did you do? Is your timeline missing significant dates that you couldn't remember? Use the next 15 minutes to write down questions you want to find the answers for regarding your own history.
52c. How much do you remember of your spouse's history? You guessed it... Repeat 52a using your spouse's history instead of yours.
52d. Repeat 52b using your spouse's history to ask questions.
52e. Not a question, but a challenge. Take a few minutes each day to fill out these timelines. You lived this life. If you don't take the time to write it down, your descendants will try to fill the timeline in for you. Unfortunately, that makes for a very dry history. What I know about some ancestors is limited to what I gleaned from census records--residence and occupation.
11-26-13
Here are Wednesday's questionnaires. You might want to try asking them in person this holiday week. Make sure to have an audio recorder handy. Introduce the interviewer and interviewees to the audience. Take notes--sometimes the audio can be difficult to understand. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #6
6a. What was your most memorable school field trip?
6b. What was your most memorable family vacation?
6c. How many states have you been in? Which states?
6d. How many countries? Which countries?
6e. What kind of souvenirs, if any, did you collect on your trips?
Questionnaire #51
51a. Think of all the people that are important to you. Who are they? When is the last time you talked to them? Visited them?
51b. Do you have pictures of them? If not, work on getting some.
51c. Do you send out greeting cards? On which occasions? Who are your main recipients?
51d. Who is your favorite co-worker? Do they have a spouse? Children? List them.
51e. Do you spend time outside of work with your co-worker(s)? What do you do?
11-24-13
How are your interviews going? For the past few years, I've had a blast reading the responses from, and sharing my own with, the participants in my family. If you're not getting responses, try sharing your own to give reluctant family members an idea of what it is you're looking for.
Here are Sunday's questionnaires. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #5
5a. Was English the first language for everyone in you family?
5b. Did anyone in the family speak with accents?
5c. How many languages were known/spoken?
5d. Did anyone in the family play musical instruments? Which instruments?
5e. What is one song you remember being played the most?
Questionnaire #50
50a. Who is hosting Thanksgiving this year for your family?
50b. What are you thankful for (try and keep the list to this year)?
50c. What are your plans for the Thanksgiving holiday?
50d. Describe last year's Thanksgiving holiday. What did you do? Who was there? Where were you?
50e. If you don't prepare a traditional feast, what do you eat?
11-17-13
Are we having fun, yet? Here are Sunday's questionnaires. If you've already asked & answered the standard interview questions, check out these recurring questions. The answers will vary based on what time of year they're asked. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #4
4a. Did your family celebrate Halloween? If so, what is your favorite costume that you wore?
4b. What is your favorite costume that someone else wore (don't forget to tell us who wore it)?
4c. Can you remember a time when you were really scared by someone pulling a prank on you? Tell us about it.
4d. What's your favorite Halloween candy?
4e. What is the oddest thing you've received on Halloween?
4f. What is your best memory of Halloweens past?
Questionnaire #48
48a. What do you drink the most of: coffee, water, tea, milk, juice, other? Explain.
48b. Who is the last person you spoke to or chatted with for over an hour?
48c. When is the last time you spoke a different language?
48d. When was the last time you rode public transportation?
48e. What was the last handmade gift you gave? Received?
11-20-13
Here are this Wednesday's questionnaires. Thank you for participating. Don't forget to ask 5 questions & answer 5!
Questionnaire #5
5a. Was English the first language for everyone in your family?
5b. Did anyone in the family speak with accents?
5c. How many languages were known/spoken?
5d. Did anyone in the family play musical instruments? Which instruments?
5e. What is one song you remember being played the most?
Questionnaire #49--recurring questions
49a. When was the last time you took a taxi? Why?
49b. Are you a coffee drinker? Where do you get your coffee these days? Where did you used to go?
49c. What is the last concert you attended? Last theater production? Last movie? Last event? Who with?
49d. What color is the exterior of your house? What color schemes are in each room?
49e. What is the make, model and color of your car? What is the color of the interior?
11-17-13
Are we having fun, yet? Here are Sunday's questionnaires. If you've already asked & answered the standard interview questions, check out these recurring questions. The answers will vary based on what time of year they're asked. Remind your family that, although the questions may be simple, they should always try to provide the "who, what, when, why and where" when feasible.
Questionnaire #4
4a. Did your family celebrate Halloween? If so, what is your favorite costume that you wore?
4b. What is your favorite costume that someone else wore (don't forget to tell us who wore it)?
4c. Can you remember a time when you were really scared by someone pulling a prank on you? Tell us about it.
4d. What's your favorite Halloween candy?
4e. What is the oddest thing you've received on Halloween?
4f. What is your best memory of Halloweens past?
Questionnaire #48
48a. What do you drink the most of: coffee, water, tea, milk, juice, other? Explain.
48b. Who is the last person you spoke to or chatted with for over an hour?
48c. When is the last time you spoke a different language?
48d. When was the last time you rode public transportation?
48e. What was the last handmade gift you gave? Received?
11-12-2013 Wednesday's Questionnaires--I suggest only sending out approximately 5 questions a week. Too many more than that and people may not find the time to answer them. Please feel free to send me questionnaire ideas. I post new questions each Tuesday and Saturday for Wednesday's and Sunday's challenges.
Questionnaire #3
3a. What school activities and sports did you participate in?
3b. Did you have any pets? If so, what kind and what were their names?
3c. Were you ever mentioned in a newspaper?
3d. Who was the oldest relative you remember as a child? What do you remember about them?
3e. What do you know about your family surname?
Questionnaire #47
47a. We've asked about nicknames, now what are the meanings behind your usernames? List them and their meanings.
47b. Do you enjoy surprise parties? Have you ever had one thrown for you? Have you ever been to one for someone else? Explain.
47c. Have you ever had a plan with good intentions backfire? Explain.
47d. Have you ever been misunderstood to a point where it causes discord with people? How so?
47e. Who was the person in your family with the most authority when you were a child? What about now?
11-09-2013
Here are Sunday's Questionnaires. I suggest only sending out approximately 5 questions a week. Too many more than that and people may not find the time to answer them.
Questionnaire #2
2a. Describe a typical family dinner. Did you all eat together as a family? Who did the cooking? What were your favorite foods?
2b. How were holidays (birthdays, Christmas, etc.) celebrated in your family?
2c. Did your family have special traditions?
2d. What world events had the most impact on you while you were growing up?
2e. Did any of them personally affect your family?
Questionnaire #46
46a. Which talent(s) do you wish you had?
46b. What percentage of your vision/hearing do you have?
46c. What was your favorite car that you owned? (If you haven't owned a car, what is your dream car?)
46d. Did you take a parenting class? Explain why and if you felt it helped you survive your child's upbringing.
46e. Have you ever met an exotic animal outside of the zoo?
11-08-2013
For the next forty-three weeks, I will post two questionnaires every Wednesday and Sunday. The first will be from the original list of 44 questionnaires. The second set will be up-to-date questions that I haven't sent out yet.
You will find Questionnaire #45 below. I forgot to post it this past Wednesday. Tomorrow, I will post #2 and #46.
Questionnaire #45
45a. What is the full name of your best friend(s)?
45b. How and when did you meet?
45c. Describe a typical outing for the two(or more) of you.
45d. What kind of "mischief" do the two of you stir up together?
45e. Do you remember the first fight between you? How did your friendship survive it?
45f. Have you ever fought on the same side of an argument together? Who with? Why? What was the outcome?
11-06-13
The challenge is to ask and answer five questions once or twice a week. Use the questions posted here or use your own. Ask one or more family members.
The first few months of interview questions are typical of genealogy questionnaires. If you want to plan ahead or to skip questions you've already asked, please view the list of the first 44 questionnaires in the text document below.
Here are the first 5 questions for this week:
Questionnaire #1
1a. What is your full name?
1b. Why did your parents select this name for you?
1c. Did you have a nickname?
1d. Do you like your name?
1e. If you could have picked your name, which name would you have chosen?
