I love genealogy, but I didn't realize just how much I talked about it until recently. Of course, my friends were the ones who let me know. But they didn't come right out and say so. They made it sound like a positive thing.
"Gee, Janice, I've really been learning a lot from listening to you. It's almost like taking a class."
"A friend of mine was talking about starting to work on her genealogy, and I remembered some of what you had told me, so I told her."
"I decided I'd ask you, because you're always talking about this stuff, so I figured you should know something."
But I could tell. They were trying to be nice. They were really just saying, "You talk a lot about genealogy."
I don't really mean to do it. It just sort of happens. Something in a conversation gets me thinking about genealogy, and off I go.
Almost anything can do it. Someone can mention a country for which I've researched records, or a city where I've visited a repository. It might be a story about a favorite relative. Or the really loaded question: What have you been doing lately?
The next thing I know I've spent an hour talking about the research I've been working on lately, or the latest class I took. I don't always notice the glazed eyes. But my friends are polite and put up with me, and sometimes even encourage me with questions.
Is there a 12-step program for genealogy addicts?
Oh, dear. I recognize myself in this. It's just that so many things make me think of genealogy.... Bet a lot of people are shocked to see how close this is to their experience!
ReplyDeleteAnd it's even worse when it's two genealogy addicts together, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteYou know you've found another genealogy addict when you do the genealogy happy dance, and the other person "gets" it.
ReplyDeleteIt's particularly nice when you get to do the genealogy happy dance together, because the information you just found is relevant to both of you!
ReplyDelete