The silvery strands of the web that make up her family tree spread far and wide, spanning continents and crossing oceans. If she tries, she can trace it with her finger all the way across the globe. From Germany to England to Scotland, all the way up to Scandinavia, then back down across to Australia. It is impressively intricate. A living, breathing piece of history in progress. Portions have been wiped away by the oceans of time, while others are forged anew with the addition of a name.  798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlT7tM4DzyR

It makes her feel connected to something larger than herself. No matter what happens, it still exists. Present throughout the ages in undulating waves of culture, language, and love. Some sections are blackened and marred by atrocity. Others shine with light and laughter. Either way, it is all her history, printed upon a piece of paper using nothing but metal and ink. It is almost like magic. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcW8o6dWvXA

Every single name in the web was once a person. Many related to her in some way, all carrying histories that died with them. Futures and pasts, dreams that were never realised, goals that were never achieved. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndD3ONpvsu

Her mother's smile, her father's exuberance, and her brother's facts of the day. One day they will be nothing but names on a screen, their stories and lessons and lives lost in the ether. It brings a strange sense of comfort. All things must end, after all, and what better way for it than to come full circle. Her, reading about her ancestors, and her descendants reading about her. 798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk8INRN3Iqq

When it is her time to move on, she wonders what will they will write, what anecdotes a thoughtful relative might add. Will they talk about her life? Her career? Her love for her children, should she have any? Will they choose to be humorous? Or maybe it will be a small, heartfelt message about how much she was loved, how much she is missed.798Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyljvjUxWrm