My computer is “alive and well.” Last night we had a severe rainstorm that plunged our homes into darkness–twice. The second time, my computer went out like 4th of July fireworks. I had my fingers crossed this morning when I pushed the “on” button on the computer.

Yesterday, “Mr. Red” and another RV Park resident spent time–and energy–establishing lighting for my carport. Folks, here, are so good to me. The prior evening, a resident brought me a home-cooked dinner.

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Our “helper young man” was trimming trees and it inspired me to start trimming the Crepe Myrtle bush. “Started” but completion for another day. ~~ After our rainstorm, I’ll spend some time (today) pulling the grass and weeds in the designed-to-be-a-flowerbed area.

“Attitude of gratitude” because three “cousins” contacted me yesterday. One is appreciative of the box of genealogy I sent. Two DNA “cousins” have access to information about their ancestry.

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I smiled from ear to ear while looking at a dozen picture jokes sent by a cousin (the recipient of the box of genealogy). This picture describes Lorraine (don’t you think?). My stories have sidetracks!

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“SIDETRACKED”  by this email message from Ancestry. Obviously, I had to explore the hints.

Exercise!

I’d “sit a bit”  between strenuous (for this old lady) work.

Yesterday, time and energy went into repair of the light inside of my carport and at the outside corner of my carport. As the second, third, and fourth pictures show, last night the light was not working. Today, a different fixture was installed.

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…of arrival in Texas. “The old lady” tried to go back to sleep but “sleep” eluded her. “Memory” is a grave concern but “the old lady” remembered she arrived in Texas in early October 2013. OMG, so much has happened—and it is all documented in blog messages. A little arithmetic: 8 years times 365 days equals 2920 and, thus far, 5,310 published blog messages. Actually, 5,310 is for Three Quarters And Counting. For a season, I published 182 messages in Casual Approach Rejected Entirely.

Identifying the date: Tuesday, October 13th, 2021. I can’t remember the surname of the family I’ve been researching and documenting for three days. Only yesterday, I commented about names indelibly inscribed in my memory. In my old age, I’ve had to live with fading eyesight. Must I live with a lack of memory? Frequently—in my blog messages—I comment about being awake half the night. Tonight: “What’s their name?”  is uppermost in my thinking. For me, this is scarier than Halloween!!

As I research, I scribble helpful information on scratch paper. Yesterday. I shredded the notes because I’d been “scribbling” on paper with printed personal information on the other side. I couldn’t sit down at the computer and glance at notes. After I published the above paragraph (at three in the morning), I looked at yesterday’s blog message for my answer. “What’s their name?”  is MINNICH. ~~ I’ll go back to bed and try to get some sleep.

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OMG: It’s Wednesday and I wrote “Tuesday.” Repeat: “For me, this is scarier than Halloween!!”

I seldom go anywhere; I almost never wear earrings!! An “impulse purchase” on my recent shopping trip. I wasn’t “going anywhere” but I was feeling “festive” so I put on the earrings just prior to weed-pulling in the yard. I found one—on the ground—but never found the other.~~  I “plan” to pull the weeds and grass after every rainstorm–and several rainstorms predicted for the next week. (Details about Monday—on Tuesday—because “Monday” was well-documented.)

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Today, a “Frantz” cousin contacted me (via email), and very obviously I had to document his family in my Ancestry.com database (for his benefit and mine). Silly as this may sound, I’m like a happy puppy wagging its tail with delight when given special attention. A “Frantz” cousin is especially nice because I’m often documenting cousins with a different surname. So this message is dedicated to David M. Frantz—with “sincere thanks.”

That’s eleven PM and I haven’t been able to walk away from the computer. While documenting… I came across a story I wrote more than two years ago and it includes “cousin’s” ancestors. Very obviously, I wanted to send him a copy of the story. As I reviewed the story I had to admit that “I sound like a broken record.”  (Of course, the younger generation has no idea what “sounds like a broken record”  means.) Here’s the link to the story in an earlier blog message.

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Above “today” was September 15th at 11:00 AM. I do not remember why it wasn’t published. I have “scheduled” three messages for Monday morning, October 11th, because (weather permitting) I’ll be busy with downsizing projects. I speculate I had “resolved” to stay off the computer but obviously “resolve flew out the window.”

While “climbing the family tree,”  I often need to “enhance” the information provided by Ancestry. Research tools for me (and other researchers?) and I think my “artwork” makes more sense than the “Hunter Biden artwork.”

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Many more “Lorraine Frantz artwork” could be added but admirers are few. (LOL)

When we watch TV programs where a crime has been committed, we hear the expression “Follow the evidence.”  Inevitably—as I “climb the family tree”—I “follow the evidence”  and I (secretly) harbor the thought that it is a crime when subscribers to Ancestry.com are careless with their documentation.

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Lorraine’s versus theirs. Document the hints; follow the evidence.

Here is the weblink to an obituary for a dear Old German Baptist Brethren cousin. As you read the words, perhaps you will get a sense of my pleasure as I spend time (vicariously) with my extended family.