We're all in a spiderweb that we can barely see even with all the social media that we're in now.
I remember when Facebook opened up to our campus as one of the first universities while in graduate school. Remember when you could actually see the connections you made and drag the 3D map around to see it?
I could tell you stories about random encounters that I've had with our dance team members in the real world after college that were completely unplanned, but happened because of a million small moments and actions that came together to make them happen.
Anyway, beautiful story, man. Just goes to remind us that we're not alone, that we're not the only ones who care about the threads we weave or that our families did. There's a sort of karmic balance in what you're doing and how it's playing out. Thanks for sharing your journey!
Oh, Henry, that was an almost impossible story you put together in a few paragraphs that traced the history of your great grandfather. Is it coincidence? Is it fate? Is it karma? Is it the universe that brings all these things together for you and your family.
As God cares about the lowly sparrow, so too does He care deeply for each of us and weaves these circumstances together. What a blessing.
There's something so profound about walking the same streets (and alleys) as those like your great grandfathers. To almost feel the history in each step. But to have some completely unrelated capturing a story to mark a piece of your story that would otherwise be unknown.
This is really moving, Henry. 💛 I love how your family’s story has been kept alive and carried forward in such special ways. It feels so important to keep stories like this alive. Thank you so much for sharing this. ✨
"And here was a stranger who believed the same thing about somebody else’s family. A man who tracked every piece of news about a person who died long before he was born."
This paragraph!! "And here was a stranger who believed the same thing about somebody else’s family. A man who tracked every piece of news about a person who died long before he was born. Who took a selfie at his gravesite in Hong Kong. Who knew that somewhere in Guangdong, chickens scratch around the dirt where my great-grandfather’s house once stood — while somewhere in Massachusetts, teenagers sleep in a building with his name above the door."
All the connections are stunning. Your piece really evokes a feeling of being interlinked
I found myself thinking about how history often feels permanent until you realize how easily it could have been lost. So many moments in this story depended on one person paying attention, preserving something, or passing it along to someone else. I thought that was one of the most moving parts of the essay. Thank you for sharing it.
This is such a fantastic post, Henry! I especially loved how you put together the pieces at the end. So many things had to happen in just the right way for you to know this amazing history. It's really wonderful that the stars aligned.
Connections, connections, connections.
We're all in a spiderweb that we can barely see even with all the social media that we're in now.
I remember when Facebook opened up to our campus as one of the first universities while in graduate school. Remember when you could actually see the connections you made and drag the 3D map around to see it?
I could tell you stories about random encounters that I've had with our dance team members in the real world after college that were completely unplanned, but happened because of a million small moments and actions that came together to make them happen.
Anyway, beautiful story, man. Just goes to remind us that we're not alone, that we're not the only ones who care about the threads we weave or that our families did. There's a sort of karmic balance in what you're doing and how it's playing out. Thanks for sharing your journey!
Oh I do remember that! How much crazier these webs have gotten. Thanks so much for reading Vince
Henry, that is the craziest story… China to Northfield and connected through random articles and basic research and luck. Amazing.
Thanks Jolie. I’m pretty sure if I tried to research myself I wouldn’t have gotten as far as the “mayor” from my great grandfather’s town
When did the dorm get named and do you know what precipitated NMH in choosing it after so long?
October 2022, so very recently! I think it was one of their trustees, Justin Wai, who championed it, but not sure what their internal processes are
Oh, Henry, that was an almost impossible story you put together in a few paragraphs that traced the history of your great grandfather. Is it coincidence? Is it fate? Is it karma? Is it the universe that brings all these things together for you and your family.
As God cares about the lowly sparrow, so too does He care deeply for each of us and weaves these circumstances together. What a blessing.
Thank you Pam. We have been so fortunate to connect some of these dots together. It’s definitely brought more meaning to our own lives!
There's something so profound about walking the same streets (and alleys) as those like your great grandfathers. To almost feel the history in each step. But to have some completely unrelated capturing a story to mark a piece of your story that would otherwise be unknown.
Love this Henry
Thanks Kelly, was pretty cool!
This is really moving, Henry. 💛 I love how your family’s story has been kept alive and carried forward in such special ways. It feels so important to keep stories like this alive. Thank you so much for sharing this. ✨
Thanks for reading Steena! Glad you enjoyed!
❤️
This is beautiful! Unexpected connections that end up meaning so much . I love this post 💚
Thanks so much!
"And here was a stranger who believed the same thing about somebody else’s family. A man who tracked every piece of news about a person who died long before he was born."
If that isn't moving then I don't know what is
Ah thank you Clara :)
This is such an amazing story. I love reading each little tale as you share the pieces with us. It makes me want to dig into my own family's history.
Thank you Tyrel! I hope you do dig! It’s been very enriching for me
Lovely.
This paragraph!! "And here was a stranger who believed the same thing about somebody else’s family. A man who tracked every piece of news about a person who died long before he was born. Who took a selfie at his gravesite in Hong Kong. Who knew that somewhere in Guangdong, chickens scratch around the dirt where my great-grandfather’s house once stood — while somewhere in Massachusetts, teenagers sleep in a building with his name above the door."
All the connections are stunning. Your piece really evokes a feeling of being interlinked
Thanks so much Reeze!
I found myself thinking about how history often feels permanent until you realize how easily it could have been lost. So many moments in this story depended on one person paying attention, preserving something, or passing it along to someone else. I thought that was one of the most moving parts of the essay. Thank you for sharing it.
Thanks Patrick for reading! And absolutely true on all fronts. The importance of storytelling
I thoroughly enjoyed this! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks Maire for reading!
You are very welcome!
This gave me goosebumps! How amazing the way world is so enormous and yet so small and interconnected. I can’t wait to read more!
This is such a fantastic post, Henry! I especially loved how you put together the pieces at the end. So many things had to happen in just the right way for you to know this amazing history. It's really wonderful that the stars aligned.
Thanks for sharing this. It's inspirational!
This is beautiful Henry—full circles in life, across generations.