Strange title? I coined it for “solitary confinement” plus “golly.” My self imposed solitary confinement is stressful because I miss personal contact with friends and neighbors. I miss an occasional shopping trip. Golly, will we ever get back to “normal”?? Golly, how delightful (at 7:30 AM) to be greeted with the following comment on a recent blog message!

Hi Lorraine! I stumbled across your information while googling a family name. I am Lela Shoup’s granddaughter, Kristen Brubaker, from Troy, ohio. I saw you had uploaded my great grandmother Arthenas memoir, and started looking at your other posts about my family. Just wanted to say hello! I remember Grandma talking about you and doing geneology with you!

I firmly believe my Heavenly Father (God) knows how much I need encouragement. That brief message is an “energizer” when I had already planned a blog message about “ten hours in bed but got up exhausted.”

“Yes,” I climbed a few trees. It was in response to the email messages I received. However, the only thing I really want to do is “glide” in my easy chair—and sleep (but sleep is elusive). Four days in the same pajamas and robe. No shower, few meals…

This is my journal—my diary—and I document the events in my life. Between Thanksgiving and the New Year is the worst time of the year for me. Without fail, my body and spirits soar on January 2nd. I’m looking forward to 2021.

Obituaries were piling up; I had to store some in a separate file. Every day, “cousin” sent obituaries, and every day “Lorraine” worked to document them. ~~ TV news is so negative!!

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“Pulled the plug” briefly. The message (above) was prepared on the 12th, at the same time as “Slow lane, Lorraine”–and scheduled for this later-date publication. Circumstances changed but I am spending fewer hours on the computer–and seldom watch television. I rarely leave my home so no contact with neighbors. Limited “family history”…

Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) said it so eloquently.

Frequently this blogger feels compelled to document her approach to her Ancestry addiction. Above: Documentation of an individual—and a family—takes a lot of time. Some folks take a short-cut. ~~ Below: This “ancestry addicted” old lady wanted to add about thirty individuals to arrive at the interesting numbers. “Never a stopping point.” After those “thirty,” more than one-hundred individuals added to the family tree. (Click each image to enlarge for better viewing.)

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Decades ago, I was the single mother of three—attending classes at Antelope Valley Community College, Lancaster, California. In the college bookstore, I saw that quote for the first time. To this day, I remember the impact that quote had on me. “OMG, that’s me.” ~~ “Thank you”  Henry David Thoreau.

A woman contacted me because she detected an error in my tree. I sent a “thank you” and hastened to correct the error. In the process of documenting the proper parents, I looked at “her” tree. Note that “woman” got her information from three other Ancestry Family Trees. Her data contradicts the comment message she sent me. “People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

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This morning, I opened my email box to another obituary. This one is a dear fourth cousin. I’ve been documenting “cousin obituaries” (far too frequently) but this one is “personal.” I know (knew) the family (during my earlier years living in Ohio.) I wept as I read of his passing.  Richard is with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ–and dozens (thousands) of family members–so we can take pleasure in knowing he is with Jesus. ‘Tis Jesus that we celebrate at this time of year. ~~~~ Yes, I am “in the slow lane” but I was only thirty numbers shy of forty-four-thousand-four-hundred-forty-four.  Obviously, I was energized to document the additional family members. Obituaries are a gold mine of information. The children are listed, and the grandchildren, and extended family. That information is difficult—if not impossible—to locate on Ancestry.com.

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Resident-neighbors in this RV Park have asked if I play games on my computer. Invariably, my answer is “I’m too busy climbing the family tree.”  Today I reclined in my easy chair, still in my pajamas. Without rhyme or reason, I decided to play Mahjong. First time in 2020.