go find that weird grumpy old man you’re related to and give him a god damn hug — nothing to talk about? Ask him about when he was a sailor! my Grandad spent about 45 mins today showing me pictures of boats and talking about them like they were people. highly recommend.
It’s a way to transcend time and to be connected to people in your family you feel you might not easily relate to because of the generational divide, especially if they’ve passed. It’s a look into their genuine interests and personality, especially if they’ve annotated in the margins. The ability to do this is valuable if you can. I think it builds or strengthens empathy, and gives you a stronger foundation for appreciating your family history. Not to mention you’ll likely get an interesting reading experience out of it. The (+) is for great-grandparents and beyond.
My weekly practice. I find it to be so profoundly healing and generative. I never feel more alive and awakened than when I’m shoving a $35 sweater into my coat pockets, dodging security guards, flanked by blonde and brown haired identical girls.
