Grit and Grace starts with a story--tell us yours.

Over the years, Grit & Grace has presented some of the greatest moments in local history, as seen through the eyes of those who were there or whose family members lived it. The tales have covered the effects of war on Walton County families, the introduction of telephones and television, life along the Choctawhatchee Bay, colorful stories about a few shady characters who passed through the region, the life and times of Florida's most beloved midwife, and many other tales of faith and inspiration.

If you have a story about Walton County you want to share with Grit and Grace, call 850-835-2032 or email info@gritandgrace.org and we'll help you. You can write your stories down or we'll arrange to have someone come record and transcribe them. The stories we collect are stored in an archive for future use in our productions.

Story prompts

We often hear, "Oh, I don't have any stories, nothing worth telling has happened to me." It's a common thought, but in the hands of a talented script writer, even seemingly ordinary events take on new meaning as folk life history. And it's important to share our histories. History that isn't shared is lost and forgotten.  There are numerous websites devoted to the gathering of oral and written histories, as well as to journaling and autobiographies. Many of them have prompts to help trigger memories so they can be recorded for posterity. Here are some prompts to get your own stories flowing:

Are there any great stories or legends about your town/county?

What is a memorable event that has stayed with you?

Was there ever a teacher who had a great influence on you?

What memorable family events are shared at family reunions?

Have you ever met anyone famous or notorious?

Have you lived through natural disasters or epidemics?

Have you participated in community cooking events or do you remember special meals or recipes shared with others?

Are there any special memories about the town you grew up in?

Think about difficult decisions you've made and the effects they've had on your life and others.

Do you remember any interesting political races?

Have you ever joined in a protest or demonstration?

Do you remember any interesting fads or fashions?

Did you ever celebrate a your birthday in an extra special way?

Think about your own family traditions: Christmas, birthdays, graduation, 4th of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Mother's or Father's Day, weddings, funerals, hunting etc.

Were you responsible for any household chores? What were they?

Did you and your father share any interests together - what and why?

What did you do when you were a child that got you in the most trouble, and how did your parents handle it?

What is the most important lesson, message, or advice that you have learned that you might pass on to others?

Tell how, when, and where you learned to drive and any memorable experiences.

How did your father spend his time supporting his family?

What was life like for your mother or grandmother?

Any memorable vacations?

What was your teenage social life like? Tell about your friends, dances, dating, outings, church functions etc.

Did you have a childhood hide-out? Where? Describe it.

Did you have a favorite pet as a child? Did it have a name? What memories are connected to it?

What were your holidays like as a child?

Whose was the first funeral you ever went to? How old were you and how did it affect you?

What have you done that you never thought you'd do?

Were you in the military? Do you have memories of good or bad times there?

Was your hometown famous for anything? What? Did an important person live there? Is there a food that is the town's specialty?

What kinds of people lived in the town that you grew up in? Were there any interesting characters?

Did your town have any special yearly events? Was there an Independence Day celebration? A winter or harvest festival? What happened on these days?

Did your town have a main street? Describe it. Did it change over time?

Did your hometown have "good" and "bad" areas? What made them this way? Where did you live? How did you feel about that?

What was the best part about growing up where you did? What was fun to do on evenings and weekends? Were the people especially friendly?

What was the worst thing about the town that you grew up in? Was it too small or too big? Did it feel like there was nothing to do?

How long did you live in this town? Did it change while you were there? What changed? Did you like the changes or not?

What did you learn during your lifetime? Did you pass anything on to others? What was "life's greatest lesson"? When was it learned and in what ways did it change your life?

Who had the greatest influence on your life? A relative, co-worker, teacher, celebrity or perhaps an author?

What has the effect of progress been on your life? What do you miss most about the way things used to be?