This article reminds me of my father. After my mother died, he's living alone in my home town. He spend most of his days without talking to anyone, but I know he's keeping a diary. And I'm sure he has a lot of story to tell, but the problem is how. As a shy Japanese man who's born in 1940s' he isn't a very talkative type, especially to his son. I think I should go back seeing him occassionaly, but I might still miss the opportunity of listening. I'm just writing here to remind myself. I should do something about it. Probably.
My father & mother divorce since I was 5, and I live with my mom since. One day we have to go to funeral of our relative, and my father is there. We are complete stranger by now, but also father and son. So imagine when I have to talk to him, for the first time after 30 years later. It's awkward as hell, but I'm glad I decide to do it because that might be the last time I have a chance to speak to my father. It's small talk and nothing more, yet I can feel something heavy lift out of my chest, like, he's just an old man now, and whatever bad things he's done in his past is now long gone — it's like I'm reconcile with him in some way.
That being said, I don't have answer for you, but if you think you should do something about it, then do it!
