Conversation

Why keep a diary...

One of my few prized possessions is this 70-page autobiographical book by my great-grandfather who was born in 1902 and was a farmer in France. Only a few copies were printed.

His chapter titles are truly amazing, each is about 1-2 pages:

- I saw the beginning of electrification
- I saw the first cars
- I saw the first airplanes
- I smoked my first cigarette at 7 years old
- I saw a total solar eclipse
- The telephone
- 1914: The war
- I had the Spanish flu

etc