tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post1714864155369809322..comments2024-03-26T08:06:19.661-04:00Comments on The Road Less Travelled: A twig on the family treeloribethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09272814565916935113noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-79104250393694225162008-03-25T10:33:00.000-04:002008-03-25T10:33:00.000-04:00I think you're right, Ellen, & you made me think o...I think you're right, Ellen, & you made me think of an angle here that I hadn't before. My father was a banker, & we moved every 3-6 years when I was growing up. I never really feel like I "belonged" anywhere -- & as soon as I started feeling like I did, we'd have to move again anyway -- so it's no wonder that I grew up valuing my "roots" & my family. <BR/><BR/>I was born just 20 miles from my grandparents' home in Minnesota, close to where my grandfather's family settled, and although I only really "lived" there briefly as a baby/toddler, I spent a lot of time in that area growing up (summer, Christmas & spring break vacations, etc.). It is probably "home" to me more than any other place on earth -- the one constant in my lifetime of moving around. <BR/><BR/>My parents had this conversation awhile back -- "where is home??" -- & plan to be buried there, in the same cemetery as my grandparents, when the time comes.loribethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09272814565916935113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-25323823522021335012008-03-25T09:23:00.000-04:002008-03-25T09:23:00.000-04:00A timely post (though I come to it late), as I spe...A timely post (though I come to it late), as I spent part of the weekend looking through recent family history compilations. Genealogy also played a role in our decision not to adopt, combined with some details of D.'s family history. D.'s father also is passionate about genealogy. I think often strong emotions drive the search for lineage -- a desire to belong, and to prove that one belongs by creating a work of family history.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-76967991293811711642008-03-21T15:07:00.000-04:002008-03-21T15:07:00.000-04:00I'm jealous that you have enough patience to sort ...I'm jealous that you have enough patience to sort through your family tree; I wish I did.<BR/><BR/>You pose interesting questions regarding genes and adoptions, and I now feel I have a better understand of why you didn't adopt. I guess the way I look at it (from my outside perspective as neither an adoptee nor an adopter, but from the perspective of someone who always hoped she could adopt if circumstances went that way) is that every family has their issues. There are some kids who look at their family tree and wonder how on earth they could be related to their family when they feel like such aliens. There are kids who try to hide their family tree in shame. I think the lack of familial genes at all is just another issue some families have to work through.<BR/><BR/>Thanks for sharing this!Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08514262423005456861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-18331508665000567842008-03-21T14:40:00.000-04:002008-03-21T14:40:00.000-04:00It is a reason why I pause when considering Adopti...It is a reason why I pause when considering Adoption.<BR/><BR/>Heritage and family are very important. I haven't embarked in a family tree -- but think of doing it often. Unfortunately, most of my research would have to be done in other countries and I simply have no idea how to start that process.<BR/><BR/>But, your history is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it.Esperanzahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14841585672805438897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-25915223992695350422008-03-21T11:23:00.000-04:002008-03-21T11:23:00.000-04:00Hi Loribeth - I think we briefly "chatted" on iVil...Hi Loribeth - <BR/><BR/>I think we briefly "chatted" on iVillage a couple of years ago...and I stumbled across your blog a while back and have enjoyed reading. <BR/><BR/>My husband is very much into genealogy. I would describe it as one of his major interests - he is always online searching census reports, looking for the trail of his ancestors. And I have to admit that I am surprised by that. Not just because he won't have any children to pass this information down to, but because he only has five close living relatives. <BR/><BR/>So I was happy to see your post, because it helps me to see beyond my current angst, and gain a little insight into why my husband is so hooked on this quest.<BR/><BR/>AlacrityAlacrityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12875591638441877915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-18652266000374565512008-03-21T08:36:00.000-04:002008-03-21T08:36:00.000-04:00Have you ever talked with your childless relatives...Have you ever talked with your childless relatives about how/why/when they chose that path? <BR/><BR/>I ask because I've been thinking about my own relatives lately, and some things that should have been obvious, have suddenly made me start to think. For example, my grandmother had her first child at 35 and then twins at 40 -- not normal for her time. My mom miscarried twins after I was born. There are 8 years between me and my brother, and my mom has alluded that it wasn't by choice. All these little things that just don't add up quite right.sharahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01730625931461269859noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-33649373335374694552008-03-20T23:37:00.000-04:002008-03-20T23:37:00.000-04:00"too damned independent & stubborn in this family ..."too damned independent & stubborn in this family for anyone to live with" -- hey do you think we're related ;-)<BR/>I have Irish relations who settled in Canada before making their way South to the States. Who knows....?<BR/><BR/>Great project. My father's family has done a good job keeping track of folks. Fun to see the big picture.Pamela T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/11474998003921896431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-9222930514164553622008-03-20T20:49:00.000-04:002008-03-20T20:49:00.000-04:00It's interesting, I've always seen the whole inter...It's interesting, I've always seen the whole interest in genealogy as falling into two camps and they're not children/childless. It's how one falls on the two sides of memory. I think Josh likes his memory and he would hate to lose it, but he's not the type who keeps scrapbooks or yearbooks or any memory box like thing. Once he goes through something, he doesn't need to keep looking back. I am the polar opposite. And I constantly want to talk about things/people in the past. And not surprisingly, I am into genealogy and Josh isn't. <BR/><BR/>I would love that computer program.Lollipop Goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01020874415819057995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3178366214524455884.post-78928683520102073132008-03-20T19:46:00.000-04:002008-03-20T19:46:00.000-04:00Lori - it always kills me how much we have in comm...Lori - it always kills me how much we have in common sometimes! I read every Nancy Drew book I could get my hands on growing up and have a huge box of them in the basement. (I also read every Agatha Christie novel in any library I ever went to.) Your inner Nancy and my inner Nancy are also kindred spirits in that I totally groove on genealogy too. I have Personal Historian and Personal Ancestry File programs on my computers. My parents make trips each summer back to their childhood haunts and to the places of their ancestors for family history research purposes. Dh's mom has actually put together story books about her ancestors complete with illustrations and we enjoy reading those often - even puts on a puppet show on occasion. <BR/><BR/>A large part of the appeal of blogging is also because of the historical aspect of it - what I write down now becomes the "stories of long ago" of tomorrow.<BR/><BR/>I really am not surprised to find you have an interest - it does seem like something up your alley.<BR/><BR/>Very enjoyable post!JuliaShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10668995954240697998noreply@blogger.com