I'm a genealogist. I grew up in one of those families that gathered around Grandma's table every Sunday after church, playing games and telling stories about those who had come before us, so I felt like I knew at least one side of my family pretty well, and we were pretty boring. My husband, in contrast, was an Army brat. He didn't grow up with the same sense of closeness, but had been told stories at one point or another that seemed unlikely, at best.
Turns out we were both wrong. There are fascinating stories on both my side of the family and my husband's side of the family that can be corroborated through research, and are certainly worth passing down to future generations.
All those little stories told around the table is an attempt to capture the verifiable stories of our ancestors, so we can share them with those still with us and those still to come.
