kat....I know this is supposed to be about "..The great divide" but I'm learning through the threads that SOME diversions are OK. I've been trying over the years to tape some of my mother's stories and songs from her childhood but she freezes as soon as she sees the mike. I've also tried hiding the mike from her sight, but, being my mother, she knew I was "up to no good". How did you get your dad to record his stories and did you have to give him key words to initiate specific stories?