Family Heirlooms — Unexpected and Traditional — And What They Mean to Us

KQED's Forum

KQED

News Commentary, News, Politics

4.2 • 727 Ratings

🗓️ 28 July 2022

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

For New Yorker staff writer Hua Hsu, they’re cardboard cutouts that decorated his parents’ wedding, “each the size of a 45-r.p.m. single: an orange Snoopy and two Woodstocks, one white and one light blue.” For artist Ari Bird, it’s a tree pompom that her grandfather painted gold and gave to her as a child. Whether it's a portrait, a wedding dress, an album or a Snoopy cutout, the objects we inherit speak to who our families are, who we were, and what we value. We want to hear from you: what’s a family heirloom passed down to you — or that you hope to pass down to future generations? What makes it valuable? Guests: Hua Hsu, staff writer, New Yorker magazine; professor of Literature, Bard College; author, forthcoming memoir "Stay True" Ari Bird, visual artist based in Oakland and San Diego Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for Forum comes from Rancho La Puerta, boated the number one wellness resort and spa by readers of travel and leisure magazine in 2024.
0:09.7	In August, three or four people sharing a cassita enjoy special vacation packages that include hiking, mindfulness, and fitness classes, in a garden setting on 4,000 verdant acres of nature preserve.
0:22.4	Check in to summer at Rancho LaPorta, Rancho LaPorta.com.
0:26.6	Support for Forum comes from Broadway S.F. presenting Parade, the musical revival based on a true story.
0:34.4	From three-time Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown comes the story of Leo and Lucille Frank,
0:40.6	a newlywed Jewish couple struggling to make a life in Georgia. When Leo is accused of an
0:46.3	unspeakable crime, it propels them into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and
0:53.2	devotion.
1:02.1	The riveting and gloriously hopeful parade plays the Orphium Theater for three weeks only, May 20th through June 8th.
1:06.4	Tickets on sale now at Broadway, sF.com.
1:09.0	From KQED.
1:27.4	From KQED in San Francisco, this is Forum.
1:27.7	I'm Mina Kim.
1:29.3	For writer Washu, it's a Snoopy cutout that decorated his parents' wedding.
1:34.1	For artist Ari Bird, it's a tree pom-pom that her grandfather painted gold and gave to
1:38.6	her as a child.
1:40.5	Whatever it may be, the objects we gather or inherit, often speak to who our families are,
1:46.1	who we are, and what we value.
1:48.2	They connect past and present.
1:50.5	What's an object like that for you, a family heirloom or something you treasure?
1:54.8	Tell us next on Forum. I'm Mina Kim.
2:12.1	Welcome to Forum.
	...

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