Musings
Dedication
This site is dedicated to all my ancestors in recognition of the changes they made to the world around them, however small, through their deeds, relationships and choices. After all, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here.
Why Genealogy? My Perspective.
Those of you that remember the introduction of the domestic microwave oven to the British consumer will recall the strange law of nature that came into effect. For those of you that don't remember this far back either for reasons of inadequate age or memory, it went something like this - Buy a microwave, eat jacket potatoes for a fortnight.
Buying a computer caused the same natural law to be invoked. No, I haven't tried baking jacket potatoes in the disc drive. It's far too thin, the best you could hope for is a crisp or two1. When it comes to accessing the world wide web, the law of nature invokes a rule that you will at least do a search on your surname. For some of us, this doesn't stop at a slightly interesting way to waste a few hours but becomes an obsession that consumes our very being.
I am one of those few! Being my father's daughter (and I can prove I am - I have the certificates) I was immediately addicted. Fortunately my mother's genes kicked in and have meant that I've stuck to this hobby/past-time/passion/obsession. If left to the genes inherited from my father I'd have given up after an initial burst of enthusiasm.
1Kids, do not try this at home. Not only will your pocket money be stopped but you"ll probably be left at the supermarket with a "free to anyone who'll take him/her - absolutely no returns" sign round your neck.
[ Back to top ]
The Story Tellers, We are the chosen...
[Author Della M Cummings Wright, edited by her grand-daughter Della JoAnn McGinnis Johnson]My feelings are in each family there is one who seems called to find the ancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tell the family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve.
To me doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathing life into all who have gone before. We are the story tellers of the tribe. All tribes have one. We have been called as it were by our genes. Those who have gone before cry out to us: Tell our story. So, we do.
In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stood before now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told the ancestors you have a wonderful family you would be proud of us? How many times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love there for me? I cannot say.
It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I do the things I do? It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever to weeds and indifference and saying I can't let this happen. The bones here are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing something about it.
It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish. How they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting their hardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resoluteness to go on and build a life for their family.
It goes to deep pride that they fought to make and keep us a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they were doing it for us. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because we are them and they are us.
So, as a scribe called I tell the story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generation to answer the call and take their place in the long line of family storytellers. That, is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young and old to step up and put flesh on the bones.
[ Back to top ]
I Owe My Mother
[Anonymous]My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
'If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.'
My mother taught me RELIGION.
'You better pray that will come out of the carpet.'
My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
'If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!'
My mother taught me LOGIC.
'Because I said so, that's why.'
My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.
'If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going to the store with me.'
My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
'Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident.'
My mother taught me IRONY.
'Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about.'
My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
'Shut your mouth and eat your supper.'
My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
'Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!'
My mother taught me about STAMINA.
'You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone.'
My mother taught me about WEATHER.
'This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.'
My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
'If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!'
My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
'I brought you into this world, and I can take you out.'
My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.
'Stop acting like your father!'
My mother taught me about ENVY.
'There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful parents like you do.'
My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
'Just wait until we get home.'
My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
'You are going to get it when you get home!'
My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
'If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.'
My mother taught me ESP.
'Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?'
My mother taught me HUMOUR.
'When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me.'
My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
'If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up.'
My mother taught me GENETICS.
'You're just like your father.'
My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
'Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?'
My mother taught me WISDOM.
'When you get to be my age, you'll understand.'
My mother taught me about JUSTICE.
'One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you.'
[ Back to top ]
ANCESTRY
[Anonymous]When speaking of our ancestry,
My mother's eyes would shine,
And proudly she would tell us all,
You're of the Tudor line.
But father with a smile would say,
While bearing that in mind,
You keep your eyes on goals ahead.
Not those that lie behind.
You have a noble ancestry,
But all are dead and gone,
'Tis you who have to prove your worth,
Not those who've journeyed on,
And back along that tudor line
'Tis sorry truth I state,
There may be some you can't approve,
And some you'd even hate.
The way to prove your ancestry,
Is what you are yourself.
Not by the charted family tree,
In book upon the shelf.
So try to be an ancestor,
Within the time allowed,
Of whom your children's children,
In the future can be proud.
[ Back to top ]