Writer teaches how to preserve memories

Toni Diol of Arlington Heights is a published poet and short story writer, but lately she is drawing lots of interest in a unique concept she has devised for preserving memories.

She calls it "scrapbooking words."

Diol will describe the innovative concept at 1:30 p.m. today during a free presentation at the Arlington Heights Senior Center, located at 1801 W. Central Road in Arlington Heights. It is sponsored by the Arlington Heights Memorial Library.

"It's a way to preserve your memories, and save them for your grandchildren and future generations," Diol explains, adding that it is non-threatening, since it doesn't call for proper sentence structure or perfect grammar.

All it takes is jotting down memories, most easily on Post-it notes, and then preserving them in a scrapbook later.

The concept combines journaling and memoir writing with some of the same elements of traditional scrapbooking, including using decorative paper and embellishments.

During the presentation, Diol will read from her "story poems" -- deliberately called that for people who traditionally don't read poetry -- published last year in her book, "Lollipops and Roses" (www.rosesandlollipops.com).

Her vivid memories seem to strike a chord with people, from learning to do the polka with her mother in the kitchen, to stirring the coloring agent into the block of oleo delivered to her home.

"I teach them how to snatch memories in order to preserve them for generations to come," Diol adds.

In her case, she writes in a journal for each of her nine grandchildren, including telling them personal reflections about their parents growing up and even her parents, which would be the child's great grandparents.

"I wish I could find a journal my mother or grandmother had written in," Diol said. "I would discover something personal about them, their lives and thoughts while they tackled life at their different stages."

Diol is finding a growing audience with her presentations. Next week, she will speak to groups in Barrington and Libertyville, and already next spring has appearances lined up with the Arlington Heights Women's Club and at the Mount Prospect Public Library.