One Day I’ll Be Gone. But They’ll Still Know Who I Was
Published by Family Health Magazine | Last update: June 15
They say you die twice. The first time you die is when your heart stops. The second is when your name is spoken for the last time. That line haunted me the first time I heard it. Not in a spooky way more like a quiet, unsettling truth that lingered in the background.
I’m 64. I’ve raised three kids. I’ve buried two parents. And I’ve started forgetting things I swore I never would. Like the way my mom’s voice softened when she said my name. Or how my husband used to fold my laundry before early morning shifts without ever mentioning it.
These details… they matter.
I realized these precious memories could disappear like old letters left unchecked in the attic – faded, fragile, and forgotten. They’re tucked away in my heart, waiting to be shared.
And if I didn’t write my memories down, no one else ever would.
I Wasn’t Ready to Be Forgotten
I don’t need a statue or some grand obituary. But I want my granddaughter to know more about me than “Grandma made great meatballs.” I want her to know about the time I eloped at 19 (yes, really), how I almost became a flight attendant in 1981, and what her grandfather whispered to me when he proposed.
Stories that aren’t on Facebook.
Photos no one else has.
So I decided to do something about it.
A Friend Shared an Internet Link With Me
It was an advertisement for something called UponLife – it’s a memory preservation service in the form of a memoir. She told me it helps you turn your memories into a book without needing to be a writer.
On the ad, it said “We are looking for 15 women over 60 to preserve their history.” Now, I’ve tried journaling. I’ve started and stopped “my memoir” more times than I can count. And don’t get me started on trying to format a Word document into something printable.
But UponLife was different. You sign up. You answer one thoughtful question each week. And by the end of the year, you’ve got a hardcover book with your life in it.
Clean. Simple. No pressure. And they had a simple promise:
“No writing, no stress – just your story. Answer a few personalized questions, and we’ll turn it into your memoir.”
I needed to try it out.
I Read Their Stories and Realized Mine Mattered Too
I kept scrolling. Seeing everyday people’s memories preserved through UponLife surprised me. They weren’t about celebrities or huge life-changing moments. They were simple, real stories, just like mine.
The First Question Touched My Heart – I Almost Cried
It asked: What did Sunday mornings feel like in your childhood home? And suddenly, I was back in my parents’ kitchen. Wool slippers. Gospel radio. Bacon I wasn’t allowed to touch yet. My father sipping coffee like it was a sacred ritual. I hadn’t thought about that room in decades. But now, this story, it’s written down in my own voice.
You Don’t Need to Be a “Writer”
That’s the thing. I’m not trying to win a Pulitzer. I just wanted to be remembered the way I really was. Messy. Brave. Heartbroken. Loving. Real. UponLife has a ghostwriting assistant you can use when you’re stuck. You can write in bullet points or talk out loud, and it helps shape it into a story.
No judgment. No pressure.
Just your words, made a little smoother.
My Kids Had No Idea I Was Doing This
I didn’t tell them. I just kept writing. Week by week. Story by story. The time I skipped college to backpack across Portugal. The years I hated my job but stayed for health insurance. The joy of raising them and the fear I never let show.
And when the book finally arrived…
They were speechless…
“Mom… I Didn’t Know Half of This”. That’s what my oldest said. And she cried on the phone for 20 minutes. Because we think we’ll have time to share these things. But then life moves fast. Kids get busy. The little stuff slips through the cracks.
This book, my UponLife book, gave me back a voice they didn’t even know they were missing.
In Just 3 Months, My Life Became a Book
The process was simple. I didn’t really encounter any type of writer’s block or had to wait until another idea came to my mind – UponLife really helped the story get moving.
UponLife took care of:
✅ Grammar and syntax
✅ Sentence structure, style, and cohesion
✅ Layout of text and photos
✅ Book design
✅ Printing and shipping
UponLife sends you story prompts so personal, it’s like they’ve known you for years. Just talk—your memories appear on the page as you speak, like magic. Stuck on words? The Virtual Ghostwriter gently fills in the blanks, without losing your voice.
Pick a beautiful cover, add your favorite photo, and name your book whatever you like. When you’re done, your life story arrives at your door – ready to be held, read, and remembered. For the first time, my life wasn’t just memories floating in my mind – it was something real, something permanent.
It felt like me.
It’s Also Just… Really Pretty
Not gonna lie: I was expecting something cheesy. Like a high school yearbook or one of those “family memory” journals with butterflies on the cover. But UponLife’s design is elegant. Minimal.
Photos look beautiful on the page. The layout feels clean and easy to read.
It looks like something you’d find in a real bookstore.
It feels like something worth keeping.
The Price? Surprisingly Affordable
Right now, UponLife starts at just $70 and there’s a special discount available for a limited time. The rest is all included. The writing platform. The weekly prompts. The editing help. Everything. Just a simple, meaningful way to preserve your life story. But this offer won’t last long. They’re limiting how many people can join at the current price.
If You’ve Ever Wanted to Be Remembered for Who You Really Are…
Not just the job title. Not just “Mom” or “Grandma.” But the full picture your dreams, your mistakes, your love stories, your strength. Start your UponLife book.
It’s not just a gift for your family.
It’s a gift for you.
Because you only die twice.
Let’s make sure your second time never comes.
