The first weekly (and monthly) challenge prompt is — FOUNDATIONS!
The dictionary has several definitions for the word 'foundation'. One is "a body or ground upon which something is built". This got me thinking about the basis for MY genealogical research. I realized that every researcher has a different reason for pursuing genealogy. We each have different foundation upon which we build our story. Some of us put am emphasis on DNA research. We start our journey looking for genetic connections. Others of us follow the paper trail as we build our family tree.
The foundation of my family history—what inspired me to start this journey—are the stories! I grew up hearing stories of those who came before me. My great-grandfather who brought his sons to the United States because he knew there was a war coming. He decided that if they had to go to war, he wanted them fighting on 'the right side'. My great-grandmother who shared her spaghetti sauce recipe with her daughter-in-law (my Grandma). She resented Gandma because she wasn't the 'nice Italian girl that she'd picked out for her son. So when she gave her the recipe, she left out one ingredient. The grandmother who died young — when her children were all under age 10. I'd heard the stories, but I didn't know the people. Who were they? Where did they come from? I wanted to know more about them, and so my journey began...and continues.
For me, the stories are important. A good way to start this new blog and new year might be for me to tell you a story. This is the story of a New Years tradition.
My mother had three sisters, and each had children—my cousins! Two of the aunts lived within 30 miles of us. The third lived 300 miles away. Still, we managed to celebrate together every holiday season. The far-away aunt drove down to our house with her kids a few days after Christmas every December. She stayed until after the new year began. The sisters visited back and forth the entire week between Christmas and New Years. The celebration culminated on New Year's Eve with more food and games and noise. One year my aunt brought confetti poppers for the kids to celebrate with at midnight. There were probably a dozen of us out there popping our confetti and screaming "Happy New Year!" One cousin turned to me and said "Happy New Year, Kim!". I replied "Happy New Year, L!". Then he repeated it, and I repeated it back, and he repeated it, and I repeated it back, and.... well, you get the idea! It went on for quite awhile. After that they returned home.
During their summer visit that year, as they left to return home, one of us said "Happy New Year" to the other. This started us repeated the greeting over and over. From that time, every time we got together, we exchanged New Years greetings at least once. It didn't matter if is was June or if it was September! This continued through the years until we grew up and had our own families. We saw each other less and less, and the exchange died out. UNTIL...
...about ten years ago we both started using Facebook. On my birthday, all my friends sent birthday greetings—except for this cousin. He sent me a "Happy New Year, Kim!" I returned his greeting 3 months later on HIS birthday. And of course we've exchanged New Years greetings on Facebook every year since. It has become a tradition for us. It wouldn't be New Years until I have exchanged greetings with my cousin. I look for my New Years greeting from him every birthday. The tradition lives on!
"HAPPY NEW YEAR, L!"
For more information about, or to sign up for, Amy Crow Johnson's 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks (or 12 Ancestors in 12 Months) Challenge, visit her sign-up post.
The stories are so important. Gather names and dates is one thing, but knowing and/or discovering the lives of those who came before us is what's really important!
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