In Black Thumb, I take a close look at my father's daily life in an effort to develop sympathy for his experience. Despite being close in distance, my father has remained emotionally detached for most of my life. Through his indifference, I had the opportunity to be a fly on the wall, objectively witnessing his perplexing activities through his first year of retirement. Documenting his attempts to find purpose in his new stretch of life made me more closely consider my own processes of self-discovery.