Every family historian knows the pattern.

A name. Two dates. A simple dash in between.

But that small line carries everything that really matters.

In my latest post, I reflect on the poem “The Dash” by Linda Ellis and how it reframes the way we look at family history. Because once you start paying attention to that space between the dates, you begin to see something different in every record, census entry, and headstone.

You stop seeing data points.

And start seeing lives.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts — what do you think your own “dash” says?