家系史探索のかたわら、いろいろなビジネス案件も持ち込まれてきて、50年来の付き合いのある入社した会社での同僚に連絡をした。久しぶりに聞くその声はややかすれていて聞き取りにくかった。
　最近の消息を交換し合っていたら、心臓病で３回ほど手術もしていたとのこと。76歳という年齢を考えれば、まぁやむを得ない趨勢と思いつつ、昔話なども交えて歓談するうちにかれはどんどん元気が出てきて、声音が一変するようになってくれた。用件を話しつつ、あれこれと話題が盛り上がった。
　家系史探究は時代的には四百年前からスタートしているけれど、それがどんどん現代に近づいてきて、どうやら自分事にまで「歴史」が差し掛かってくるのだなぁと思わされた。DNAが遭遇した環境を探究しているワケだから、当然の流れということになる。ただ、自分のことになると客観視が難しいですね（笑）。
　・・・おっと、きょうのテーマと写真はわたしの父の「筆跡写真」。
　いろいろ資料を整理整頓してくるなかで発見してしまった（笑）。なんとも気恥ずかしい。
　この独特の「くせ字」を眺めていると、オヤジの笑顔が浮かんできてどうしようもない。「おう、ようやくオレの資料までたどりついたのか（笑）」という笑顔。
　この字を見て、冒険的な仕事人生を切り開いて行った父の思いが肉親として想起されて、自分自身の冷静さのようなものが完全崩壊させられてしまったのだ。
　文字の書き方には、やはり人間性が表現されるのですね。健康面では無理がたたった人生だったひとですが、しかし悔いなく生き切った人生だったのだと子どもとしては思えます。自分の「いのち」をフルに活用した感じが強く迫ってくる、その字体。こころなしか、躍るような筆致が感じられる。
　肉親としてはそこから人間性の残響が湧き上がってきて仕方がない。そういうものなのだと頓悟。
　で、いまは父のそれであるけれど、やがて母のモノゴト・息づかいにまで探究が及んでくるかと思うと、そこでのわたし自身の完全崩壊ぶりに、やや身構えてしまわざるを得ない（笑）。
　肉親の事跡からの対話は、やはり深い心情がそこに充溢してきてしまいますね。

●お知らせ
拙書「作家と住空間」幻冬舎から電子書籍で発刊
お求めはAmazonで。
https://amzn.asia/d/eUiv9yO

English version⬇

[My father’s “quirky handwriting” makes me smile (lol)]
“Oh, are you doing well? (lol)”—the sound of his voice, that of the man who gave me life, fills my heart, and I just can’t help it. Handwriting speaks volumes about a person. …

　While I was researching my family history, I started receiving various business proposals, so I reached out to a colleague from the company I joined—someone I’ve known for 50 years. His voice, which I hadn’t heard in a long time, was slightly hoarse and hard to make out.
　As we exchanged updates on our recent lives, he mentioned that he had undergone about three surgeries for heart disease. Considering he was 76 years old, I thought it was an inevitable part of aging, but as we chatted and reminisced about the old days, he became more and more energetic, and his voice completely transformed. While discussing the matter at hand, our conversation became lively as we touched on various topics.
　My family history research started about 400 years ago, but as it gets closer and closer to the present, I’ve come to realize that “history” is now encroaching on my own personal life. Since I’m exploring the environments my DNA encountered, this is only natural. Still, it’s hard to be objective when it comes to myself (laughs).
　…Oh, right—today’s theme and photo are of my father’s “handwriting.”
　I stumbled upon it while organizing various documents (laughs). It’s incredibly embarrassing.
　When I look at this unique, “quirky” handwriting, I can’t help but picture my dad’s smile. The kind that says, “Oh, so you’ve finally made it to my stuff (laughs).”
　Seeing this handwriting, as his child, I was reminded of my father’s determination as he blazed a trail through an adventurous career—and it completely shattered any sense of composure I had left.
　It’s true that a person’s character is expressed in their handwriting. Although his health suffered due to the strain of his life, as his child, I feel he lived a life without regrets. That handwriting strongly conveys the sense that he made full use of his “life.” I can almost feel a dancing quality in the strokes.
　As a child, I can’t help but feel the echoes of his humanity welling up from those characters. I’ve come to realize that’s just how it is.
　And while this is about my father now, the thought that my exploration will eventually extend to my mother’s words and very breath makes me brace myself a little for the complete emotional breakdown I’ll likely experience then (laughs).
　Conversations born from the deeds of one’s parents are inevitably filled with deep emotion.

● Announcement
My book, *Writers and Living Spaces*, has been published as an e-book by Gentosha.
Available on Amazon.

Posted on 9月 18th, 2026 by 三木 奎吾
Filed under: 未分類