My Parents Are Obsessed With Genealogy

The following is from Cary Tennis' column on Salon.com:

Why would healthy adults who are barely in their 60s become so attached to the past?

My parents are obsessed with dead people.

No, not ghosts. Genealogy.

They are baby boomers and have been tracing their lineage for several years now. They are obsessed with their new hobby. This is strange because they are not the type to have obsessive interests. Every time I see them, they tell me about Great Great Uncle Jonas who died of smallpox or Great Great Grandma Enid who campaigned for the mayoral candidate of New York. At our last get-together, my mom talked so much I wondered if she was manic (although she has never had a mood disorder). I have never, at any point in my life, seen her this enthusiastic, even about anything that had to do with her children. This sounds like an exaggeration. Trust me, it's not.

You can read the full article at http://www.salon.com/mwt/col/tenn/2006/09/27/genealogy/

Comments

[Gloria Ishida]

Cary Tennis' complaint about her parents' obsession with genealogy is rather funny, but she doesn't think so. Going to Salon to read the whole article, I found her other postings. Wow, has she got problems with just about everything. Her physical illness is sad but other things are rants. Is she for real?

Gloria
obsessed with genealogy (almost) in older age

[Judy]

Cary Tennis is an advice columnist for Salon. *He* responds to people who write in to him. He was not complaining about his parents obsession with genealogy or about anything else.

What is really fun to read are the 50+ letters sent in in response to the column. Or even better, filter it to read just the "Editor's Choice" letters. Very entertaining reading!

Judy
who is also obsessed with genealogy!

[Ronald Walton]

Genealogy is one of the three most popular hobbies in the United States. It gives you a new appreciation of history. To understand our ancestors, we must understand the times in which they lived. One discovers fresh meaning of history and a new connection with others. People often report a deeper sense of belonging from knowing one`s place in history of family and humanity. Our ancestors are part of us. They are in our genes. Thus learning about them helps us to learn about ourselves. We can then choose to keep and honor their strengths and reject or change their weaknesses. Genealogy can be addictive. Becoming a detective of the past can be much more compelling than the best mystery novel.

[Trish]

Yeah, I caught the column, also and considered it someone who just doesn't 'get it'...yes, I am an obsessed genealogist myself, and proud of it!

[Peter Walker]

All the best hobbies and pastimes are probably 'obsessive' - it just shows you have a passion for what you do.

[John]

They are suffering from Genealogy pox for which there is no known cure!!

[Elizabeth Parmalee]

I think Cary Tennis is an advice columnist and people write to him for advice, so I don't think it is his parents who are addicted to Genealogy. I thought the column was way too long.

[Margaret]

I think we all begin with simple curiosity about the names and ethnic origin of great-grandparents and end up wanting to know what happened to them and what they were like and about the other descendents of the same ancestors. At least that is how I began when my first child got engaged. I thought that I would ask my mother and husband's aunt about the names and dates of my child's immediate ancestors. Then I would use my best printing to create a chart as a gift for my about-to-be daughter-in-law. That was 18 years ago. Now I have notebooks of information and am ready to write it up. The daughter-in-law dislikes our whole family -- good thing I didn't bother to make the chart for her that weekend so long ago!