The StoryCorpsMobileBooth is back in North Texas after seven years.
The non-profit oral history project opened its shiny 26-foot Airstream trailer to visitors Thursday.
For a month, Texans will add their stories to more than 50,000 interviews already archived at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Great weather and local music set the mood for StoryCorps’ first recording --- a conversation between installation artist Christopher Blay and the Tarrant County College professor who inspired him, Richard Doherty.
“Deciding to become an artist is kind of a...ya gotta think really hard about that decision,” Blay said. “And he was the person that gave me that first push. I’m bringing him here to kind of talk about that, like the power of this individual gesture.”
Doherty says he tries to be everything he can for his students.
“I give them what I know,” he said. “And then offer them that, ya know, next step. I’m there. And he took the invitation. He did it. He rose to the challenge.”
Waiting for their turn, Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez and her dear friend Claudio Taffer.
“There’s no such thing as a normal Sheriff’s Day,” she said. “After a real stressful week, I used to go dancing. And we would just half way dance, and half way laugh, up and down the dance floor, so automatically I thought it’s going to be crying, it’s going to be laughter. Claudio should be there.”
She’s known Taffer since her first campaign.
“Ya know, everyday she lives the way she’s supposed to live,” Taffer said. “And she’s here for the community. I couldn’t believe it that she was asking me. She has tons and tons of friends, but I’m the lucky one.”
These two are close enough for her to make fun of his accent.
“As I was hearing him talk I thought, well, I hope they understand [him] for one thing. (Taffer) And if not, just press one, for English (laughs).”
StoryCorps, an archive of funny moments, of triumphs, of humility, reflecting everyday people.
To reserve a StoryCorps appointment, call 1-800-850-4406 after 10 a.m. Friday or visit StoryCorps.
