In times gone by it was expected that the sons of the family would follow “in the footsteps” of their fathers. Really, it made great sense in a time when education was scarce and so a child could learn skills from their Pa at an early age. So, if your Great Great Grandfather chose to be a shoemaker you had better learn to love the smell of feet.
It turns out that one of history’s most famous writers balked the trend and broke out on his own path. William Shakespeare’s Father was not a wordsmith, rather Papa John Shakespeare was a “Borough Ale Tester”. His job was to travel from alehouse to alehouse testing the quality of the Ale. (Nice gig if you can get it.) Apparently young Will was not imposed upon to continue that occupation, and yet, I would guess that he may have partook in a pint or two while pushing through a bout of writer’s block.
In fact, I have a vision of Will, sitting in the the Alehouse, with a bunch of disgruntled old geezers, who after a good dose of England’s best, are able to convince him that Romeo too, must die, “Damn’d Good Fer Nothin’ Yung ‘Uns Anyway… Shoulda been earning ’emselves an honest livin’ makin’ shoes, not traipsin’ around courtin’ trouble.” Pretty compelling argument really.
Many years later, you too can go to the pub and sit amongst a new generation of “ale tasters”. While there you can discuss important matters of the heart, or if you prefer, watch some sports on the telly, and shoot the breeze.
Either way, it’s your tradition to uphold.