I’ve spent a significant chunk of this week lost in the archives of my own making. It started innocently enough; I decided to dive back into a book I wrote over a quarter-century ago about my paternal grandparents.
Back in 1998, I put that volume together for our 48th Annual Boyd/Cox Reunion. I remember spending a solid two weeks just printing out the research I’d gathered over the years. I think I only managed ten copies that first time. We used to hold an auction for items folks brought in to cover the reunion expenses, and let’s just say those books didn’t stay on the table long. It became a bit of a tradition—I’d revise and reprint a dozen or so every year for about five or six years, right up until the “Internets” eventually took over the role of family scribe.
It’s bittersweet to look back on now. Our very last reunion was held in 2019. We actually voted to take a year off and revisit the idea, but I knew then what I know now: once that momentum stops, it’s nearly impossible to restart, especially with the younger generations moving in different directions. And even if we’d tried to rally, COVID would have made the decision for us.
A New Way to Tell the Story
As I was deep-cleaning the data and rewriting those old chapters, an idea for a song started rattling around in my head. Now, I’ll be the first to admit—I’m no professional songwriter. But one of the things I’ve loved most about experimenting with AI is how it bridges the gap between a “rough idea” and a finished piece of art.
I hammered out a draft of some lyrics and brought them to Gemini. We went back and forth, treating the AI like a professional co-writer to polish the meter and the message. After a few passes and some final “human” tweaks, I took the lyrics over to Suno. I gave it the vibe I was looking for, and after a few iterations, it hit a note that truly resonated.
But I couldn’t just leave it as an audio file. I spent the next two days—time that seemed to just run away from me—crafting a video to showcase the music. I’m honestly pretty proud of how it all came together.
So, friends, I’m happy to share a tribute to the legacy we carry and the memories we keep. I proudly present: “The Dash in the Stone.”
