Pixorium Success Story: The Value of a Story – Creating a Gem

By Pixorium Client, Tom Glenn, May 2018

The Little Skipper

As a septuagenarian, I can attest that “things aren’t like they used to be.” Capturing some of those “things” of long ago and weaving them together in a story—personal observations, old photos, and relevant documents—not only can convey those experiences but also make an impression on those coming along behind us.

It’s one thing to tell my children and grandchildren that Sandy Springs was “rural” when I was little, but saying that we had cows and horses, and that a guy named Franklin Barfield would plow your garden with a mule means much more. Or that I rode to kindergarten on Hammond Drive when it was a dirt road, and that there was only one traffic light on Roswell Road between Sandy Springs and Buckhead. Now, we’re getting somewhere!

I drew in a deep breath when I discovered a cache of old pictures from the 50s and 60s that my mother had tucked away. (I had no idea that these pics existed!) And, I have been almost as surprised by the abundance of relevant images I’ve found on the web – pictures that demonstrate and corroborate the points I make in my story. For example, I’d heard that there was a bridge over the Tallulah River where the Town of Burton (now a lake) was once located, but I never dreamed there was an old photo of it online. Linking such treasures—yours and those you discover—to tell a good story creates a gem that is meaningful to others, increasingly so as the story is passed along from one generation to another.

Jeremiah Burton’s bridge over the Tallulah River c. 1902

Here’s a secret—another reason to create your own gem is the process is extremely enjoyable. If you decide to engage in such an undertaking, be sure to wax gracious when basking in the glow of compliments about your work. Just don’t let on how much fun it was!

Editor’s Note: I asked Tom to write this blog post after we completed his second “gem.” He is a thorough and passionate storyteller, eager to document and share memories of earlier times dear to him. His two beautiful books truly are gems. I am delighted to have a hand in their creation.