“You have the best job in the world!”
After two years on the road with StoryCorps, 20 cities visited, and more than 800 interviews recorded, I’ve heard that statement many times. I’ve heard it from all kinds of people in all kinds of places, and no matter how tired or cranky or overwhelmed by the events of the day, I always agreed with whoever made that declaration.
Being a Mobile Facilitator for StoryCorps means many things: lots of travel, lots of explaining, and LOTS of listening. I had an inkling of what I was in for when I started with StoryCorps in the summer 2008. However, I decided early on to be open to what would be a very surprising journey.
I was surprised by how many dinner invitations my co-workers and I received in every city. I ate more homemade pie in the six weeks I was in Buffalo, N.Y., then I had eaten in my previous 33 years on the planet. I also found that my life is way more interesting when I listen to people who are much older and much younger than me. I listened to a second grader talk about the meaning of life, and learned how to do the Electric Slide from a 90-year-old retired educator.
I was surprised at how nervous many people were about talking when they first came into the MobileBooth. Then, once the conversation started, I was surprised at how generous my participants were with the intimate details of their lives, their hopes and fears, their greatest losses and their greatest loves.
I was surprised by how many of my participants’ conversations are archived in my memory as well as the Library of Congress. Recording one story of a husband and wife in Salt Lake City, UT, reminded me of an equally hilarious couple I met in Roanoke, VA. Hearing one participant’s childhood recollection of being called home for dinner at dusk brought back another man’s vivid description of seeing a starry night for the first time after seven years of imprisonment.
With all due respect to all those people who told me time and again how great my job is, the truth is, despite all the very hard work of listening, the past two years never once felt like a job.
And for that, I have them to thank.
June 27th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
good luck to you in your future project,thanks for coming Dayton Ohio
June 27th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Good Luck for the future, Jeremy. We enjoyed your professional 10-minute class on studio interviewing, And your nice audio tweaks; you made us sound better than real life. Come on back to Pensacola in a few years and give us a call. We’ll feed you gumbo and you can tell us *your* stories.
All the best,
Michael Allen, Barry Bonifay, Harriette Bonifay Allen
June 27th, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Jeremy, I believe I had the good fortune of being “facilitated” by you in New York City and I thank you for that. You have done a great service and you deserve the gratitude of many. I also think you have a book in you about this experience, and won’t it be interesting to ‘hear” you in a printed format. This is a serious suggestion. All best, and I would love to know what your future plans are. All best, Fred
June 27th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Jeremy,
Thank you very much for your kindness and help in the booth during my father and my conversation in Erie, PA. You passed me a couple of questions that helped probe a little deeper into things that I had remembered my father telling me about in years past, but your experience enabled you to see where the story could go. You were laughing pretty hard during some of my dad’s recollections of having his bug circuses in NY and charging people to see them. It was an experience that was unique and I am glad I shared it with my dad. I do think it would be a very cool job! It’s the kind of thing I would have liked to have done with my journalism degree!
Good luck in your future jobs! I am sure this is one that you will be telling stories about far into the future.
Sincerely,
Stephanie Weiss, Erie, PA (and my father Maurice Roussel-Dupre)
June 27th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
Glad to hear that Buffalo took care of you!
A proud Buffalo Native.
June 28th, 2010 at 5:49 am
jeremy…much success on your new journey!.You made Jeff and I very comfortable in sharing our story with Storycorps! An experience that will be treasured for years to come!…Regards Tony & Jeff
June 28th, 2010 at 9:44 am
Jeremy – best wishes to you as you move on to new adventures! I’m so glad that our paths crossed through StoryCorp. You will certainly be missed!
Jan Johnson
Donor Relations Manager
WHRV
Norfolk, VA
June 28th, 2010 at 11:01 am
Jeremy – StoryCorps will not be the same without you! It’s been a great pleasure working with you over these last two years.
Dalton
June 28th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
It was a pleasure to meet you and your assistant that day in front of the Steinbech center in Salinas Ca. It is an honor to have had this wonderful opportunity, with your help, for posterity. Have a good life! BIG SMILE From Joseph
June 28th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Thaks for coming to Dayton. Thanks to StoryCorp I am pondering a local project for Yellow Spring, OH to document histories of local people to highlight diversity issues in the town and to help promote the town to African Americans in nearby cities. If will be a great way to get youth connected to elders…
June 28th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
Jeremy – come back to Dayton anytime! You were a JOY to work with and you inspired us with your knowledge and commitment and your excellent listening skills.
Good luck on your next adventures. Travel with a light heart. You have friends in the heartland – so come back and visit.
June 28th, 2010 at 5:48 pm
Jeremy–What a wonderful difference you made in so many people’s lives. Do you realize the reach? Hundreds of interviews…but HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of listeners…Thank you for caring so very much in every thing you did.
We’re so glad you came to Norfolk!
All the best in the next stop on your journey…
June 29th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Jeremy:
Thanks for all you have done!!
Lori Eslick & my Grandma Margaret (who is still with us…at 95)
and my sister Wendi
We still credit that nite with your help, as one of the best of our lives, and my Grandma has many
nites to weigh that one next to. Thanks again and again.
p.s. My life almost ended, but they found the silent killer that got the actor, John Ritter in the same place in my heart,
and after a repair done surgically soon after the StoryCorps nite, I am o.k. and kickin. My Mom was not as fortunate, and Grandma’s daughter, we
spoke of her during our talk.
June 29th, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Jeremy,
We wish you much success! Thanks for listening to us in Jacksonville, FL and we owe you a dinner!!! Cousin Dena lives here now and we could all get together!
We will say we knew you when….. you’ll be great wherever your future takes you!
Robin, Hallie, Zach, Aliza and the grandmothers
June 29th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
PS Another generation will be added to the family in December!!
June 30th, 2010 at 11:18 am
I started crying as I read all of these comments from participants whom you have met and recorded these past two years. They convey beautifully what we, your colleagues have felt all along…what a unique and wonderful treasure you are, Jeremy. I am so proud to know you.
July 1st, 2010 at 8:28 pm
Jeremy,
Thank you. I immensely enjoyed the opportunity to share my fathers story of going to jail through Storycorps. I am now a reporter in Idaho, and my greatest desire is to now be a talk show host. Thank you again for Storycorps and all that it does and is doing.
Here is a link to a video…I have submitted this to Oprah.com for a chance to be a talk show host. It talks about the importance of stories and everyone sharing them. I feel you would enjoy it. And if you do, please vote, and pass the word onto anyone else with a love of peoples stories.
http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=17416&promo_id=1
Cheers!
Lauren
July 4th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
These comments made me cry too, Lily! How lucky we are to be doing the kind of work that brings people together in such wonderful ways.
Jeremy – I know it’s never felt like a job, but I also know how hard you have worked these past 2 years. Thank you so much, and best of luck in whatever comes next. Please keep in touch!
July 6th, 2010 at 5:53 pm
Jeremy,From the 3 sisters(Edith, Annette, Betty) from Chadbourn .N.C. thank you for allowing us to share one of the most memorable experiences of 2009. in Norfolk Va. Oct. 20..
May you journey well on your path of life and I hope ours will cross again someday. Godspeed..
Edith Fyvie..Annette Eissens & Betty Yarbrough
July 7th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
My husband David and I thoroughly enjoyed our StoryCorps experience in Savannah last year. Thank you for making it possible! We now have a new story to share with our friends.
July 12th, 2010 at 9:35 pm
Jeremy-
I, too feel grateful to have worked with you last year! Where are you headed now? I hope all is well!
Sara
July 16th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
After reading all those wonderful things, you must feel like a very lucky individual. You have touched so many lives. You sure brought two co-workers together through this project that means the world to both of them. I thank you for that privilege and opportunity. You have brightened the lives of many, many people.
For that you should be very proud.