Unit1Summervacationsservemanypurposes,offeringtimeforeverythingfromsimplerelaxationtosightseeing,adventure,andeducation.Forsomevacationers,there'sanotherrichpossibility:achancetotracefamilyrootsbyvisiting–orrevisiting–ancestralhomes.Wanderingthroughroomsthatshelteredearliergenerationsofrelatives,descendantscanfeelnewconnectionsandaheightenedsenseofappreciationforthosewhohavegonebeforeInourfamily,thiskindofsentimentaljourneyinvolvesheadingtoPineRiver,Wis.,atinydotonthemap45minutesnorthwestofOshkosh.There,onahilloverlookingthemainstreet,standsanimposingwhiteColonialwheremymaternalgreat-grandparents,earlysettlershere,raisedfourchildrenandcarvedoutfulfillinglives.OnabrilliantsummerSaturday,asthecurrentownersgraciouslyleadusthroughtheseven-bedroomhouse,wetryhardtomemorizedetails.ThisisthediningroomwheretheextendedfamilygatheredforThanksgivingandChristmas.Thisisthelibrarywheremygreat-grandfather,anenthusiasticreader,kepthisbooks.Thisisthebackroomwherethehiredmensleptafterlongdaysofplantingorthreshingonthefamilyfarm.Andthisareaoffthekitcheniswheremygreat-grandfatherwroteinhisdiaryandissuedsternreminderstohisgrandchildren–"Don'tslamthedoor!"–astheyraninandout.Thedécorhaschanged,ofcourse,butthesespacesstillconveyasenseofthepast."Youcanalmostfeelthepeopleandtheirpresence,"saysmycousinaswethankourhostsandleave.Uptheroad,pasttheCongregationalchurchwhereourrelativesworshiped,asmallcemeterytellsotherstories.Pausingtoreadgravestonesdatingbacktothe1800s,theirnamesandinscriptionsdulledbytheelements,visitorscanfeelawedbythissilentcommunityofformerresidentswhoplayedvaryingrolesinshapingthistown.Sometimessuchpilgrimagesarebittersweet.OnewomaninNewYorkdescribeshersadnessindiscoveringthatafavoritecherrytreeinhergrandparents'formeryardisgone,andthathergrandfather'scarpentryshopinthebasementhasbeenturnedintoastudioapartment.AmaninNewJerseylamentsthelossofhisgrandfather'sgarden,nowpavedinconcrete.Neglectcanalsotakeitstoll.MyfatherandIoncevisitedthebeautifullymaintainedhousewherehewasborn.Butourelationoveritspristineconditionturnedtosadnessatournextstop,thedairyfarmthatoncebelongedtohisgrandparents.Thehouseandbarnslookedderelict,badlyinneedofpaintandrepairs.Neveragain,wevowed,wouldwegoback.Somebelovedmemoriesarebestleftunchanged.Tracingfamilyrootsonpaper,throughdocuments,letters,anddiaries,bringsmanyrewards.Butactuallywalkinginthefootstepsofearliergenerationsaddsapowerfulnewdimension–asenseofplace."Thepastisaforeigncountry:Theydothingsdifferentlythere,"observedtheBritishnovelistL.P.Hartley.Thosedifferencesmakeacaseforvisitingthepast.SeveralyearsagoChristineLouiseHohlbaum,anAmericanlivinginPaunzhausen,Germany,wentwithherfathertoLongIsland,N.Y.,toseeahouseonceownedbyhergreat-aunt.Astheywalkedthegrounds,shesays,shefeltan"overwhelming"senseofhistory."ItwasasifIwereconveningwiththeessenceofourfamily.Thiswasarealliveplacewhereimportanteventshappened."Asothervacationersmakepilgrimagestotheirownlong-ago"realliveplaces"thissummer,somemightagreewithThomasWolfethatyoucan'tgohomeagain,atleastnotpermanently.Butyoucangobackforanhour,oreven15minutes.Andchancesaregoodthatyou'llfeelthericherforit.Unit2Ithadbeenalonglongyear--thelastyearofmysonAdrian’sbrieflife.ThejourneyupbytraintoLondon’sWaterlooStationhadbecomealmostroutine.Thenthe25-minutewalkacrossWaterlooBridgeandontoTheHospitalforSickChildren,Great...
