I am an avid genealogist and I love doing the research. So far, I have over 22,000 names in my FTM. It is fascinating finding them way back in the 1400-1600’s and discovering how they died. Some died of the Plague when whole towns died. Some of my late husband's family were burned at the stake or beheaded in merry ole England. I love history and this is just a way to make the different periods come alive.
My husband is in a direct line to Charlemagne. The kids love that. Me, my maiden name "might" be in relation to the magi, but I cannot get any further back than two generations. Everyone I have contacted with the name has the same problem.
But, I did manage to make one good thing happen. I found a lost link in my family. My grand aunt had died and her husband would not let their daughter have contact with our family (called us -- get this -- "a bunch of gypsies. this I found out AFTER my choice of user name). The sister-in-law of this daughter's son was looking for genealogy info. and I found her post. My other grand aunt and the daughter got to talk and exchange letters before the daughter died.