hmmm, a day in history - this topic ought to be an easy one for me since I love doing genealogy and walking with my ancestors.
Since I began my journey of genealogy, I have learned a great deal of history pertaining to my family lines. Both on my maternal lines and my paternal lines.
My journey began in the '90s trying to learn of my birth father and his family. I always knew that I was adopted by the man my mother was married to but didn't know anything else.
In 2001 my daughter needed a baby photo of me for a school project - it was that very day that changed the course of my future where my paternal lines were concerned. On the back of the photograph (which is posted here), there was an inscription, "here's the baby" with a lady's name and an address up in CT. I couldn't believe this information had been in my baby book all this time and I didn't even know about it.
My
first thought, is 'here's the baby"? Why would this person need to know
about me, this baby? Who is this person and is she even still living? I got the
nerve up to write a letter and include a copy of that photograph (front and
back) as well as my contact information. I mailed it, then time stood still...I
couldn't go back and 'not' send this letter with all my inquiries, so I
waited...
A few days later, while at work (I was in
Management at a local International Ministry) - my cell phone rang. On the
other end of the phone was this small, feeble voice asking if this was Nancy
Smith. I replied, 'yes' - may I ask who this is? The small voice replied,
"my name is Theresa - you wrote me a letter and sent me a photograph. I've
always wondered what happened to the baby". At that moment, I about passed
out - my hands were wringing in sweat, my heart was beating out of my chest and
here I am at work in a middle of a major project and all I could think about
was I wanted to ask this question, that question and I couldn't even stutter a
word I was shaking so hard. After closing the office door, I pulled up my
chair, sat down and talked with this lady for over two hours.
She told me that she had met my mother back in
the late '50s when she was there with... (wait, what? my mother was in CT???)
talk about more and more questions arising for me. My mind was racing in all
sorts of directions. She went on to say - you have half-siblings - two brothers
and a sister. The sister had recently passed away from breast cancer and one
brother passed away a few years back. There is one still living, he is a
doctor. Okay, but what about my birth father...is he still alive? My
heart pounding harder and harder and harder. "No", she replied. He
passed away in 1985. At that moment, I don't know if I was relieved that he had
passed or if I was relieved that she had contacted me as a result of me writing
the letter. I must say, during the phone call - I wanted to drop everything I
was doing - get in my car and drive to CT. I needed/wanted to meet this lady,
who took the time to call me and give me information that I didn't even know
existed for me. Had it not been for that school project of my daughter's back
in 2001, I may not have ever known this information was on the back of that
photograph. (c'mon - who takes pictures out of albums and looks on the back of
them, I don't!?) but now doing genealogy, research, and stuff as this - I turn
every stone over to find information. Whether it be about a specific person, a
family line, or a neighbor who might know something about the particulars -- I
make those contacts. History is THAT important to me!!!
I'll save the rest of this story for another day
but rest assured - 'walking with the ancestors' as I do nearly every single
day, I have had the opportunity of uncovering many truths about my family's
past. Whether it be close to me or as far off as a 10th Great Grandparent and
then some. I've experienced things that make me shake my head, which has made
me want to dig even deeper to try and connect dots that otherwise don't make
sense. I have shared a few tears when learning some things or seeing a Find A
Grave of someone whose life was snuffed out for whatever reason, or because I
read something that moved my inner being. I have gotten mad because of things
I've learned (such as family secrets that exist in every generation known to
mankind that continue to get perpetuated still in the 21st Century) ...life is
a cycle. We live, we breathe, and we have our being, then we die.
Today, DNA is opening a world of HOPE for so
many individuals like myself who have had millions of questions with no
answers. I've seen the heartache firsthand of doors being slammed in a person's
face for fear of their world about to come crumbling down around them if the
truth was to come out. I've seen firsthand, the victories of individuals
finally learning their identity in order to put closure to the pain/voids they
feel in their hearts. I've experienced the obsession that comes with hours and
hours of research, digging for answers, reading this document and that document
just trying to find 'that' needle in the haystack - and not even knowing where
to begin. I've experienced firsthand, that fear of oh my gosh - I just turned
over a bad rock...and now, I'm afraid to even go outside or answer my
phone.
For me, Genealogy isn't about finding all the
ugly truths out or the family secrets of my family or others. (yes, I help
others with their family trees). It's about breaking through a brick wall and a
dead-end - when nothing else can be found. It's about building relationships
with human beings who live and breathe still today. It's about learning the
history of my 4th and 5th Great Grandfathers who served as Generals in the
Civil/Confederate wars. It's about finding papers that were left on the curb
for the trash - only to read them and realize it's about my husband's 2nd Great
Grandparents. It's about learning of the stories of my 2nd Great Grandmother
who was a full-blood Native American Indian who walked the Trail of Tears. It's
learning that my granny lived in a small home and had very little. It's about
learning I have new 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th cousins who live right here in
my area. It's about learning that my family came to the US on a ship from Italy
and became naturalized citizens through Ellis Island. It's about seeing the
family photographs of my Great Grandfather as recent as 3 months ago - that no
one in my family had ever seen. It's about seeing a photograph of my
grandparents on my birth father's side for the first time New Year’s Day, 2019.
It's about learning the stories that surrounded my Great Grandfather and the
store he owned. It's about having the opportunity of attending the 61st Annual
Family Reunion of my 2nd Great Grandfather's family and meeting a 3rd cousin
who was 103 years old and as sharp as a tack with her memories of yesterday.
It's about making THOSE kinds of connections for me!
History - storytelling, memories of yesterday
will forever be captured by so many individuals who want to keep those memories
alive and bury them for those who don't. After all, they are our families (the
good, the bad and the ugly) that's where we came from! How will your memory be captured? What will they say about
you, their son/daughter, their sister/brother, their grandparent - their great
grandparents, their aunts, uncles, etc.?
Have a GREAT day!
~Heart to Heart Soul Creations
#h2hsc2020, #BlogBoost
What a thought provoking post and I can't wait to learn about your journey and who you meet through your studies and travels.
ReplyDeleteHow exciting for you, I can't wait for the next chapter! And to find out about your great grandmother walking the Trail of Tears! My hubby's grandparents came over to Ellis Island from Italy!
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