Five-thirty in the morning; I’ve been awake “too long.” This being my journal, I’m going to document my frustration. A story (for Mennonite Family History) is at the tip of my fingers but may meet the same fate as other projects. “Too tired, too old,” you’ve heard my lament.

A DNA “cousin” contacted me a few days ago. If I remember correctly, she had sixty-four individuals in her Ancestry “tree.” I had her, and her entire family, in my Ancestry database. I sent, and she accepted, the invitation to be a guest in my Ancestry “tree.” I anticipated a rapid reply with squeals of delight seeing her ancestry spread out in a big fan. No reply, no thanks.

With Ancestry, there is never a “stopping point” so I’m addicted to “one more name, one more source.” Frequently, I find myself working with names and question “How did I get here?” (Seriously.) Then, in a strange quirk, I’m back to familiar surnames and realize I’ve just located another branch of the tree.

Imagine my surprise, the other day, to find that I’m deceased. This “cousin,” on the other hand, has a database exceeding thirty-six thousand names and Lorraine Frantz is documented with death date and location. I failed to do a “screen print” to document the information and now “too late.” I sent a message to the individual (with a massive amount of data) saying I’m healthy, and happy, and just enjoyed my eighty-fourth birthday. No reply, no explanation, no apology.

In this “information age,”  I find individuals are so impersonal. I’m an old-fashioned lady who likes to write long, wordy email messages. I love to express myself on my blog/journal. I love to share (because I care). Did consideration disappear with the “land line” (telephone), letter writing, and neighbor asking “Can I borrow an egg?” I’m so old-fashioned, I have a “flip phone” (no “smart phone”), laptop computer(s) with Windows-seven operating system, and TV without special features.

Here’s a humorous note: Another “cousin” finds we (he and I) may not exist because our family documentation is flawed. Our information–via tradition–may be correct and public documentation may be flawed? Look at those old records: Misspelling, illegible handwriting, etc., etc. Human error?

Human error? Will the “information age”  turn us into puppets glued to “smart phones” (or computer, Lorraine)?

Warm, muggy, overcast day according to TV meteorologist. A “cold front” arrives in a couple of days so I’ll be outdoors today “doing” stuff geared toward eventual yard sale.

“If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”  If it’s raining, work on patio, and in carport.

Remember those three planters delivered a few days ago? I scrubbed them immaculately clean. I also  organized the area with “free stuff.”

Projects find me!! The neighbor did two loads of laundry so I washed approximately three dozen bottles and vases.

“Dishpan hands.”  My hands were in so much water today. Bottles, and planters, received a good scrubbing!! ~~ I’m conflicted about one of my projects. I removed my “extra special, favorite bottles” from the Bottle Tree and replaced with attractive, but less sentimental, bottles. Giving up my garden is painful and so difficult to part with favorites.

Is the world coming to an end? No pictures!! (Clip art, yes.) Two hours working in the yard. Uncovered plants. Moved items to carport for eventual yard sale.

Doing a load of laundry so I have warm water to wash dirty “bottle tree” bottles.

Quite unexpectedly, a second opportunity to wash bottles in warm soapy water. I wanted to grasp the occasion. Otherwise, only cold water available.

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When she purchased, Lorraine’s “intention” was a book to hold in her hands, and read. That would be preferable to hours staring at the computer screen. Misplaced expense because…

…the publication is printed in this size tiny print and almost impossible for “old lady eyes.”

Check this out.

So many projects await my attention. However, “the computer” and Ancestry.com have me in their “net.” The caption for that clip art picture “caught in my own trap.”  (“Their” name for that image, not mine.) How appropriate; that is my predicament.

To my credit (?), I deleted 100+ messages from my unconsciously enormous gmail database!