"Listening is an Act of Love"

Earlier this week, I completed reading a very special book called "Listening is an Act of Love." It is a compilation of stories put together by StoryCorps, which has been recording stories of every day people since 2003.

In July of 2005, I did just that for my friend Joyce. I spent nearly an hour with a facilitator from StoryCorps and remembered my friend. StoryCorps has now recorded thousands of people who talk about their lives and their loved ones. Every session is preserved at the Library of Congress.

Dave Isay founded StoryCorps a few years back, and he has put together a wonderful book of 50 stories from those people he and his staff have recorded. It includes loved ones of the 9/11 victims (whose stories will also go into the 9/11 memorial museum that will be constructed at Ground Zero in 2009), AIDS victims, Holocaust survivors, Hurricane Katrina survivors, prisoners, and just regular people recording their memories.

I was at a book signing last month where I met Mr. Isay and heard a couple of people featured in the book read their stories. They were very powerful to hear live, and they really touch the heart. It is really a wonderful thing Mr. Isay and his staff have done in recording people's stories. Over 200 loved ones of 9/11 victims have done so, and their aim is to try to get at least one for every person who perished six years ago. The book is a wonderful testament to the great work he has done, and I am proud to be a part of it and support their efforts.If you ever get the chance to pick up "Listening is An Act of Love," please do so. You would be supporting a great cause, and I'm sure you'll be as touched as I was with these beautiful stories about the lives of every day Americans.