Is is awful to record voice notes with a terminally ill relative so that I can remember our conversations and their voice?

[Anonymous]

I want to keep little voice notes on my phone of conversations with my relative.

We still have good chats, good laughs about old times and all of our memories. I want to remember her laugh, her mannerisms and to be able to listen to her anytime and in a way she will be with me always.

I don’t think she’d understand if I explained it to her.

[Smoke-n-Growls]

No, but if the family member is able it would be polite to ask their permission.

There was a story a while back of a grandma who recorded a voice message for her kids and grandkids, and one made a QR code portrait that would take you to the recording when scanned.

Others have tattooed sound waves of messages.

Everyone grieves and connects in different, unique ways. Provided you act with tact, respect, and consent, I see this as a beautiful way to remember your loved one.

I'd have a hard time seeing this as "awful" provided it's captured with consent.

[dustybiker]

Not at all.

When one of my childhood cats was sick I recorded her purring. It helped me through grief. I had no idea how to get it from a mini tape player to a CD at the time. I contacted a local high end radio station to ask for tips.

They replied saying I had them all in tears as they wished they had done the same with loved ones. They told me to send them the tape player. (Which was really hard to let go of) They shipped it all back with a burned CD. Beautiful people in this world. 😽

[RavVid]

That is beautiful. Both in what you did and what they did. People can be so generous.

[dustybiker]

@RavVid Thank you. And I agree. I’ll never forget it.💕

[RavVid]

No thank you. It was uplifting and a heart warming story that has made my day better. My tabby is healthy but I think I shall record him too. A cats purr is relaxing.

[dustybiker]

@RavVid That’s excellent. You can use it for meditation. : )

[RavVid]

That's the thought you gave me :)!

When I first got him as a rescue he liked to go to sleep with his face in my hand. Then he moved to the bottom of the bed. However I am an active sleeper and flail with my legs when rolling so he gave up on that.

[dustybiker]

@RavVid Yeah. I’ve been the receiving end of many a dirty look before they jump off.
Then again.. last night my cat fell onto the pillow I was using, as he had fallen asleep and slipped off the top of the couch. Evidently he assumed upon fluffy-impact-waking, it was my fault. He strutted off. lol They are characters.

[RavVid]

Cats huh! I don't like people saying they are a dog person or a cat person person because why wouldn't you like any social animal? Having said that cats are more challenging.

Yeah my cat was sitting on a friends lap but friend decided it was time to go home and gradually stood up as a hint. Cat decided that was inappropriate and was hanging from friends trousers at a point. Cat stalked off in a huff to the balcony. I was standing in bare feet at the balcony door and cat gave me a nip on my heel on the way out.

I was like cat you got the wrong human!

Cats huh?

[dustybiker]

@RavVid haha Love the spunk - Yes, it’s true. I agree. And with cats because they are difficult to earn their, trust once you have it, it does make you feel special.

[RavVid]

Yes, you have to work at it more with cats and is all the more rewarding when they just want to be with you. It is more of a given with a dog.

There is quite a nice picture of Winston Churchill in WW2 transhiping from a British destroyer to a US destroyer. The British ships cat is making it plain that he is going with Winston to the US too. So obviously Winston and the ships cat hit it off.

This history of ships cats is worth watching https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7HIY0GTEC8

There was also a nice story just recently. Some Ukraine troops were being rotated out of the Donbass front lines and they left instructions on how to care for a wild mouse they had befriended.

[dustybiker]

@RavVid That was a really good video history. Shows how hearty some cats can be, felt bad for the ones who had a hard time though. - Heartwarming of the Ukrainian troops with the moose too. Kindness much needed in this world.

[RavVid]

The narrator had difficulty keeping a straight voice at times. :). I also felt bad for the cats who had a bad war. But it was good to see a cat win a medal for once. Dogs usually steal the lime light.

Some of the video showed crew caring for the ships cat. There is a human need to care and probably all the more so in a war. Winston C might have portrayed himself as a gruff stoic man but the cat following him tells a different story.

[dustybiker]

@RavVid That is true about caring, the medal and also WC. Cat’s trust is a clear good sign.

I have trained various types of working dogs for decades. I always have people brighten when we enter a store to train. Animals bring a little bit of comfort of home into a workspace.

[RavVid]

A dog or a cat makes people happy and life does seem less complete without one. We've genetically changed dogs a lot and bred for being human friendly. Genetically cats seem to be much the same as they always were but they still like having humans. My rescue was panting in the carry box on the way home but when he jumped out he immediately knew he had a home and was very happy and delighted.

When I was a boy, a kitten was abandoned on the farm by someone and he made a living hunting rabbits in the hedges. Gradually he came to realize there were easier pickings at the milking shed and lots of mice to snack on in the feed shed and as much milk as he cared to drink. Eventually he realized there were even easier pickings at the homestead and home cooked meals to boot (my mother insisted the dogs and cats got hot meals).

So I think the first cats domesticated us in much the same way as that one.

[RavVid]

I don't think it is awful at all. i have know people who wished they had. I guess some people will say you have to get her permission but in the circumstances i don't.

by the way there may come a point where she ceases to be responsive but because she isn't responding doesn't mean she is not hearing & remembering. A lot of people make that mistake. My father died smiling at the memory of a good old time. Give her love in her final days, as you are.

Not an easy time but sincerely all the best.

[MikeInHawaii]

I got a friend on video telling some stories from World War II. He’s 104 and I wanted his memories preserved.

[RavVid]

That's precious.

[HelloImGoodThanks]

you don't have to go Into details but maybe ask her if you can make some memories with her.

[Anonymous]

what about this makes you think it's awful? honestly i'd suggest pictures and videos instead but do whatever you/her is comfortable with

[Anonymous]

Its totally fine in my opinion, just as long as they approve.

[Guy13]

Did you ask permission?