If you’ve ever watched the PBS series “Finding Your Roots”, you know how captivating it is. In each episode, host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. reveals family histories of his celebrity guests. His research team digs deep into their family trees uncovering inevitably surprising information about their ancestors that creates for them a new and emotional connection with their past.

Carole King finally understood why her grandmother was distant after she learned of her unbearable hardships for the first time. Bernie Sanders realized why his father never spoke about life before coming to America after hearing a horrific story about the uncle he never met. QuestLove first learned his ancestors were brought to the South as slaves even after slavery was abolished. And Larry David discovered that his great grandfather was a slave owner who fought in the Confederate Army -- none of which his family had ever mentioned.

Kate’s father visits regularly from out of town. Aside from giving up his weekly tennis game, he’s still healthy and active. Kate’s been meaning to record some of his stories, like the one about him enlisting in the navy against his parents’ wishes. She’d also like to know what he and his buddies have talked about for the past 30 years at weekly Tuesday breakfasts. But from the minute his plane lands, they’re swept up by birthday cake, lacrosse games and carpooling. So the questions go unanswered and the memories are unrecorded.

What’s your parent’s story? Read on for an easy way to start the conversation.