A Crux of a Situation

What do you do when you have nothing in common with someone you care about? How do you go about dealing with the fact that this person is basically not on the same page? You ask them, when was the last time they went to an art gallery or read a new essay on string theory and they have nothing to say. You probe further and ask if they have ever sat in on a book club with Charles Taylor's wife and well, they have nothing to say. You even go as far as asking if they have any thoughts on the pro and cons of the daisy chain and they have nothing to say. You cannot even talk about gardening. What is going on with family today if you cannot talk about plants? I simply do not understand and it does not make matters any better when they are so hell bent on putting you down hurtfully and purposely because of their insecurities. I do not understand how they can lavish such praise on trash when a broader world, that is full of art, literature, news, and stunning people, is calling. Perhaps it is my age or hopefully, it is a matter of awaking from a frightful slumber.