One of the things that’s surprised me about getting older is my growing fascination with historical documentaries. I’ve always liked documentaries, but I don’t remember ever being as absorbed as I get now. I used to laugh at the older generation’s fascination with that stuff, but now I get it. The older I get, the more I appreciate history and how it has shaped the world of today. I find it rewarding to learn about what people were like and how we’ve changed (if we have at all).
The Ken Burns Civil War documentary also holds a special place in my heart. First off, it’s fantastic and if you’ve never seen it, I highly recommend you check it out. On a more personal note though, I remember watching this with my maternal grandfather when I was a kid. I used to tease him for taking naps every day and for watching stuff like this. Turns out I was wrong and he was a genius. We used to watch this together, so when I put it on now, I get to feel like part of me is still with him and we’re watching it together. It’s a good feeling. It’s meaningful.