“Humor me”?!

• Genealogists are always in a family way!
• Genealogists are family tree huggers!
• Genealogists are forebear hunters!
• Genealogy is not done until the “past lady” sings!
• Genealogy is simply TREEific!
• Genealogy disease: Gensomnia.
• How a genealogist greets a stranger: “Are you sure we aren’t related?”
• How a genealogist greets another genealogist. “Would you like to join my famclub?”
• How a genealogist introduces his children: “I’d like you to meet my descendants!”
• How a genealogist introduces his parents: “Have you met my ancestors?”
• I’m ancestrally challenged!
• If you want to have some fun, say “Who’s your daddy?” to a room full of genealogists and watch the heads turn.
• It’s hard to be humble with ancestors like mine!
• Money doesn’t grow on trees—but ancestors do!
• Murphy’s law of genealogy: After solving a dead end ancestor mystery that consumed your entire adult life, your sister reports, “I could have told you that!”
• Murphy’s law of genealogy: Paying for a vital record and then finding it right under your nose!
• Old genealogists never die. They just haunt archives.
• Organization to help with genealogy addiction: AA (Ancestors Anonymous).
• Popular sign in a cemetery: “Dead End.”
• The best ancestors want to be found!
• The “mother lode” of genealogy is discovering a great grandmother’s maiden name.
• Time and genealogy wait for no man!
• To a genealogist, the expression “Mother Nature” takes on a whole new meaning!
• Transcribers of headstones generally work the graveyard shift!
• True genealogists wonder why the Academy Awards don’t have a category for best microfilm!
• Ultimate success to a genealogist: Proving that Elvis isn’t dead!
• What a genealogist should not say on a blind date: “Isn’t it great? I did your tree and we’re related!”
• You know you’re a genealogist if you find the certainty of ancestral death and tax records exciting. (Paraphrased from Ben Franklin’s “Certainty? In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes.”)
• If you think Castle Garden is something out of a fairy tale, you’re probably not a genealogist!
• More  Here is an old epitaph bromide: On an old tombstone was the following quote,
  “Pause stranger, when you pass me by, As you are now so once was I. As I am now, so you will be. So prepare for death and follow me.”  Below that epitaph, someone scratched the following, “To follow you I’m not content, Until I know which way you went.”2) Headstone epitaph: “This is the damndest thing I’ve ever done.”3) “You know you’re a genealogist when you watch a movie that has a scene in a graveyard, and you’re distracted from the plot by trying to transcribe the tombstones.”

Above copied from a website and (shame on me) I failed to record the address.

.

As stated earlier (several months ago), I am “paying it forward.”  I’m intentionally expanding documentation (on Ancestry) for “cousins” who shared information decades ago. Those “cousins” are frolicking around Heaven with their ancestors while I lovingly labor here on Earth.

Rosemary has a special place in my heart. About 1987, she provided the connection to my immigrant ancestor Michael Frantz. I had my information back to a great-great-grandfather but it didn’t match documentation of descendants of Michael Frantz. Within days of initial correspondence, a reply saying my documentation was “subsequent marriage.” ~~ Rosemary is an “eighth cousin” because (like a pyramid) we go “way back” to immigrant ancestors who were brothers. In August 2000, Rosemary gave me every scrap of paper, every piece of research, trusting that I would merge it with my data. In 2017, I scanned all her paperwork and published it to the Internet. It can be found on Digitized Library of Family History.

Here’s a blog message from 2017: Inquiring minds want to know.

Below is the comment I found while examinating Rosemary’s material for dates, and individuals, in her extended family.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Compiler comment: In January of 1987, Rosemary provided the
“missing link.” She immediately recognized that the difficulty
I experienced was a “subsequent marriage.” (Specifically the
two marriages of David Frantz [1817-1905], son of Michael
[1791-18601.) This dear lady has provided manilla envelopes
full of information. Every Frantz-family researcher that 1
contact has had correspondence with Rosemary. A BIG BOUQUET to
my ‘seventh cousin one time removed”!!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

.

The recent genealogy marathon, and sleep deprivation, has me moving at a snail’s pace. Yesterday, I did everything “right.” This morning I’ve done everything “wrong.” My left hand was mildly burned while (in a fog) making coffee. At 9:00 AM, I visualize spending the day in my recliner. No “climbing trees” and limited TV viewing.

9:15 postscript: Remember(?) I have a “window on the world.”  Sitting at my computer, I see people “coming and going.” A friend-neighbor spends the entire day, every day, driving around the RV Park in her golf cart. Around and around, and around! I’d rather be sleep deprived and pursue a productive hobby.

.

Right where I’m supposed to be? “Thank you, Lord!”

Wide awake in the middle of the night; got up at 3:30 AM. Redeem the time!! Doing laundry because much too hot later in the day to venture from my air-conditioned trailer-home to oppressively hot outdoors and laundry room!!

At ten o’clock, it was with great satisfaction when I considered my accomplishments. Two loads of laundry, clean and neatly folded–and all the plants watered. Yes, I “beat the heat”  and spent hours on the computer “wrapping up” the anniversary gift you can read about tomorrow.

.

Each morning, I think I’ll “do a few” while enjoying my morning coffee. I didn’t get out of my pajamas until 3:36 because I was glued to the computer. It’s 4:20 and I’m just now getting around to breakfast and lunch (lol).

Twenty-eight(*) children fathered by Samuel Frantz Kinzie. I was attempting to correct misinformation in my database and stumbled on this can of worms. I don’t mean to sound disrespectful (about SFK and his kids) but “the hurrier I go the behinder I get.”  Another saying: “How do you eat an elephant?”  Answer: “One bite at a time.”   ~~ BIG elephant. ~~  (*)Correction: Eighteen children. My tired old eyes mistook roman numbers xviii for xxviii.)

For several days, I worked with information regarding the extended family of an eighth cousin. That blog message will be published on August 22nd. That was a challenge and it led to this “Gotta correct those errors!”

Just to let you know I’m still alive but “going crazy”  with frustration regarding careless mistakes by folks casually preparing their family tree.

Just barely six o’clock in the morning (when I started this message). I was wide awake at 5:55 and hopped out of bed. How strange!! I usually hate to get out of bed because still so extremely tired. I’d been awake for awhile thanking God for my many blessings. This praise is especially poignant because I’m off “staycation” and “climbing the family tree.”

Yesterday, I encountered a situation that broke my heart–and now prompts my praise. I become “invested” in the families I’m documenting. The reader may get confused by this story but I’ll try to keep it simple. First: Why was the daughter with the grandparents in the 1920  and 1930 Federal Census? Her mother was alive according to 1920 Federal Census. “When in doubt, check it out.”  I looked at the original 1920 Census record and “Lizzie” (mother) was an “inmate” at State Homeopathic Hospital for the Insane. In 1930 Census quite possibly the same facility but identified as Allentown State Hospital for the Insane. Likewise, the same hospital in 1940 Federal Census. She died at that facility, age forty-eight (in 1943). There’s more to the story, I’m sure, but few of us will ever know the details. “Reuben” and “Lizzie” were always listed as “married” (in Census) but never in the same household. How admirable: Reuben never divorced Lizzie, to remarry.

This is my third genealogy experience with women living in a mental institution. Here is one brief reference. (I document… but don’t keep a record so I can revisit the individual.)

“Yours truly”  has been accused of being “crazy.” I confess to “marching to a different drummer.”  I’m grateful for the freedom to express myself with the garden, “bottle trees,” genealogy, blog messages and the occasional story for Mennonite Family History. (Just last week I sent another story to MFH but don’t know how to attach here. My mental acuity is slipping [but I don’t need an institution].)

What happened to Thursday and Friday?? Hard to imagine the “avid blogger” skipped two days. Why?? Blame it on the heat?! I won’t bore you with details.

Leaves are beginning to fall. Quite likely, the extreme heat prompts trees to start shedding their leaves. That isn’t scientific, that’s just my speculation. I watched leaves falling as I enjoyed coffee while “rocking” on my patio. I’d watered the plants and started a fire in the burn barrel. Any time I have a fire, I have the garden hose nearby, and “old lady” keeping a watchful eye. The TV meteorologist’ are commenting that slightly cooler weather is on the horizon. ~~ Blame my mood on the heat(??) but I’m weary of “independent living”!! I’ve begun an Internet search for an apartment in some far-away city. (Livingston, Texas, is definitely NOT a favorable option.) ~~ FYI: “Owner” was making too many demands so “the lot” I looked at, and wrote about, and displayed pictures, is history. What? Why? He wanted a “quickie” deal and a handshake which my lady-friend-lawyer advised against.