[dekeguy]

Actually, I enjoy listening to the stories my older relatives and really old acquaintances come up with. I see this as access to primary sources of mid and early 20th Century history. When I was a kid I got to listen to people who had served in WW-1, the widow of a Colonel from the Spanish American War, the daughters of Civil War veterans (both very old but clear headed and articulate). The stories they had to tell!
When I was in school I got to listen to the stories of two retired Chief Justices of state supreme courts (Louisiana and Missouri) who should have written books of anecdotes drawn from their experiences. Some of the best stories I ever heard. When I grab a coffee at Starbucks I look to see if there is an elderly person sitting by themselves. I strike up a conversation and in most cases I get to hear something really interesting and very unexpected. Last night I spoke with an old lady who it turned out knew Julia Childs when she was with the OSS during WW-2 and had met my Great Aunt in Paris many years before. Her details were too precise and it was obvious she was not just making it up. She enjoyed the chance to talk and we enjoyed listening and asking questions.
I was with two of my fellow lawyers who at first were taken back that I started talking to this old lady. By the time we left about 45 minutes later they were saying wow, what a life that lady had. She lived what we only read about.