12 Comments

So much truth in this sentence, Victoria: “For me, it was an early and romantic glimpse of adulthood: adults drank lots of red wine and ate when they felt like it.” I appreciate its upfrontness.

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Thanks, Thalia.

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"Adults drank lots of red wine and ate whenever they felt like it..." That made me smile...sometimes I *still* feel like the ultimate freedom is to be able to eat (or not) whenever you feel like it!

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Very interesting piece that gave me ideas for further research… who may have crossed paths with one or another ancestor I am researching? If I have an artifact such as a letter, how great would it be to track down that person’s descendants to share it?

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Yes, it’s an interesting line of inquiry if you can track down the people. I’ve occasionally been able to forward archival records to the people themselves (like old exhibit catalogues of friends of my father’s) and that’s been gratifying!

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Oh, Victoria! Another moving piece! I especially love the picture and description of the Locarno place (and summer). The postcard find is also wonderful, of course. I love helping archivists! (Although I sometimes wonder how much they appreciate the corrections? One in Florence this summer assured me that he did. Some in the US? I have not been so sure…

On another matter—forgive me if we have already exchanged words about it—did you watch the new “Ripley” on Netflix? It’s pushing me to reread Highsmith’s novel…

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This is very geeky but I loved the fact that I got that postcard re-filed into the correct folder—

And yes, I did see Ripley, though well after everyone was talking about it. I had to push through the first few episodes, where all the characters seemed unlikeable. But then the suspense takes over. And the production was beautiful. What did you think? I enjoyed the book too. Highsmith never apologizes for or tries to explain him—

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I don’t think it’s geeky at all! Most often I have corrected a date in a letter, which an archivist has misread. But due to content of letter, I am able to get tbd letter filed correctly. Thus summer it was a letter recipient. Father and son had same name. Letter was miss attributed—again, content confirmed correction. Geekiness reigns!!

Re:Ripley, I have to write later. Still thinking about it and haven’t quite finished series.

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To think that in 1958 as an 11-year-old I may have crossed paths in Switzerland with your Dad! My Swiss family-for-a-year lived in Dornach, near Basel, but took me on adventures away from home on many weekends. I remember going to Zurich more than once.

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How interesting— I’d like to hear more about what that was like for you. Maybe a piece of your own? :)

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"Turn every page" is great advice. This must have been an interesting discovery for you, and seems to have brought back some great memories. A lovely essay.

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Thank you! I’m tempted to call it serendipity — and there’s some chance to this story— but “turn every page” is also effort, and attitude.

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