I’ve studied and taught it, but my absolute favorite place to learn about history is at a kitchen table and learning about someone’s life.

Most recently, I had the pleasure of sitting in Mr. Daniel Beadle’s kitchen and watching him spread an envelope of memories across the table as he spoke of his family.

There were photos, news clippings and his brother Richard’s account of twice being a prisoner of war.

Mr. Beadle’s grandfather lived in Amelia, and he had one daughter and two sons who were deaf.

In order for them to communicate, his grandfather rode a horse to Baton Rouge to learn sign language.

He used another means of transportation, a skiff, to navigate the bayous to Choctaw to buy castoff lumber from a sawmill.

He paid 85 cents for each load of lumber and said that he built his house for $75. These, and so many other stories, were told during our brief visit.

One of my regrets in life is that I never recorded my grandparents’ stories.

An African proverb states, “When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground.”

I’ve likely forgotten far more than I remember of my own family’s history.

If there’s someone in your family with a story, take a few minutes to listen, or even record it.

I believe there’s much to learn.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.