I'm sure you've heard that old saying about America being a "melting pot". This country contains people from all over the world, from every nation. I find it amazing when people claim that they're all English, or Dutch or whatever. How do they KNOW for sure? Let me tell you, I sure don't know exactly what I am!
My Mom's father was from Belarus, and her mother from Poland. That I do know for sure. When it comes to my Dad's side of the family, however, there's a lot of unknowns in there.
His last name is either English or Irish. But it is also known in the family that Dad's father was a draft dodger, way back in WW1 days, and he had changed his name to avoid being called up. So that's mystery number one.
Next is Dad's maternal grandmother. It's been said that she was Native American. Of course there's no proof of this either. I've searched and searched until my fingers are raw and, short of going back to Arkansas, where she was born, I'm not going to find that information on the internet. Maybe not even then. Oh, and I need to mention, too, that she was supposedly a cousin of the Dalton boys of the infamous Dalton Gang! Once again, you guessed it, no proof.
Dad's maternal grandfather was "supposedly" the son of a Civil War soldier who was murdered right before he was born; in fact his death was what put his mother into labor. Where's the documentation? No where that I've been able to find. Dad said he was Dutch. Maybe!
I haven't even mentioned Dad's father's side of the family. About that I know next to nothing--naturally!
Anyway, the end result of all this is that this stuff has only increased my interest in my own genealogy. Maybe someday I'll find some answers. I have found a few, but for now there are still too many questions and a lot of frustration. Such is life!
Are you one of the lucky ones who knows all there is to know about your family? Or are you, like me, among the great melting pot who has no idea what ingredients lurk in the stew?
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
It's Getting Closer...
Each year over Labor Day weekend, our family has a campout. NOT a "family reunion"...that phrase is verboten in this family!
This gathering is held on my sister-in-law's property--5 acres of land, all green, cozy, and country. We all pitch tents or drag the trailer or RV along; there is plenty of room for all. We've had upwards of 90 people; the usual count is somewhere in the 60's.
We started almost 24 years ago. It began as a consequence of a bad camping experience only about 10 miles west of SIL's property, where some of the family met to camp. However, the place that year was swarming with yellow jackets. The little ones were getting stung, so SIL suggested everyone retire to her place--after all, it was close by. So the party transferred to her property and, viola, a family tradition was born.
Those little ones are now grown, married or in college. More little ones arrived as time went on (mine included) and now they too are nearly grown. The youngest ones are now in their early teens and naturally with time we have lost our parents, aunts and uncles except for a handful of them.
Hodgepodge meals have evolved into a schedule where whoever wants to may sign up as a family to provide a meal during the long weekend. We've had Mexican fiestas, tropical delights, and even cajun fare! And everyone provides sweets that cover a large table. If you go away hungry from here, it's your own fault!
And then of course there are volleyball games. Those of my generation used to be the prime protagonists here; now we've given way to the younger generation. One year (not too long ago) my husband blew out his knee diving for the ball. No more volleyball for him, needless to say.
There is also a pond which the younger ones throughout the years have used as their own private swimming hole. The water's cold but after 90 degree + temps, it feels mighty good.
Seems like each year something memorable happens...there was the year that one of the tents got caught up in a gust of wind and sailed several yards away into the neighbor's property. What a relief to find that the occupant's baby wasn't inside at the time as we had all feared! And, the year that it was so cold that most of us broke the rule of staying outside as much as possible. I was coming down with a cold and couldn't get warm so I drifted into the family room, only to find nearly all of the kids watching "Grease", with an Auntie reminding the kids that smoking is bad, and we won't smoke like they do in the movie, now, will we?
I'll be sure and report on this year's shindig when the time comes.
This gathering is held on my sister-in-law's property--5 acres of land, all green, cozy, and country. We all pitch tents or drag the trailer or RV along; there is plenty of room for all. We've had upwards of 90 people; the usual count is somewhere in the 60's.
We started almost 24 years ago. It began as a consequence of a bad camping experience only about 10 miles west of SIL's property, where some of the family met to camp. However, the place that year was swarming with yellow jackets. The little ones were getting stung, so SIL suggested everyone retire to her place--after all, it was close by. So the party transferred to her property and, viola, a family tradition was born.
Those little ones are now grown, married or in college. More little ones arrived as time went on (mine included) and now they too are nearly grown. The youngest ones are now in their early teens and naturally with time we have lost our parents, aunts and uncles except for a handful of them.
Hodgepodge meals have evolved into a schedule where whoever wants to may sign up as a family to provide a meal during the long weekend. We've had Mexican fiestas, tropical delights, and even cajun fare! And everyone provides sweets that cover a large table. If you go away hungry from here, it's your own fault!
And then of course there are volleyball games. Those of my generation used to be the prime protagonists here; now we've given way to the younger generation. One year (not too long ago) my husband blew out his knee diving for the ball. No more volleyball for him, needless to say.
There is also a pond which the younger ones throughout the years have used as their own private swimming hole. The water's cold but after 90 degree + temps, it feels mighty good.
Seems like each year something memorable happens...there was the year that one of the tents got caught up in a gust of wind and sailed several yards away into the neighbor's property. What a relief to find that the occupant's baby wasn't inside at the time as we had all feared! And, the year that it was so cold that most of us broke the rule of staying outside as much as possible. I was coming down with a cold and couldn't get warm so I drifted into the family room, only to find nearly all of the kids watching "Grease", with an Auntie reminding the kids that smoking is bad, and we won't smoke like they do in the movie, now, will we?
I'll be sure and report on this year's shindig when the time comes.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Whole Lotta Redmond Love
http://www.ktvz.com/news/redmond-museum-needs-help-and-more-room/-/413192/20815242/-/9ur6qsz/-/index.html
Our Museum was featured on KTVZ last night.
Joe Burns, reporter extraordinaire and self-proclaimed Redmond booster, came in to the Museum last Thursday while I was docenting. We are Facebook "buddies" ever since he did a phone interview with me last year. So I invited him to come in and check out the Museum. He said he would try to get up there; I thought well, that's a nice way to say he probably won't come.
But he did come.
He loved the Museum so much that he said he would try to get his bosses to let him do a feature story on us. We got the word on Monday that he would be there on Tuesday morning to do his story.
Along with Kathy, the President of the Greater Redmond Historical Society and my good friend, Joe spent a good chunk of the day talking with us and filming virtually everything he could. I even took him down into the "Vault", where we store our archives. That wasn't the best part of the whole day, however.
Turns out that Joe is from Eastern Oregon and has family in the Condon area. Kathy lived and worked in Condon for many years and in fact was friends with Joe's grandparents! She was also acquainted with several other of Joe's family too. How fun it was to listen to Kathy tell Joe stories about his own family that he never knew. What a small world, we told each other several times that day.
A perfect day, in my opinion.
Our Museum was featured on KTVZ last night.
Joe Burns, reporter extraordinaire and self-proclaimed Redmond booster, came in to the Museum last Thursday while I was docenting. We are Facebook "buddies" ever since he did a phone interview with me last year. So I invited him to come in and check out the Museum. He said he would try to get up there; I thought well, that's a nice way to say he probably won't come.
But he did come.
He loved the Museum so much that he said he would try to get his bosses to let him do a feature story on us. We got the word on Monday that he would be there on Tuesday morning to do his story.
Along with Kathy, the President of the Greater Redmond Historical Society and my good friend, Joe spent a good chunk of the day talking with us and filming virtually everything he could. I even took him down into the "Vault", where we store our archives. That wasn't the best part of the whole day, however.
Turns out that Joe is from Eastern Oregon and has family in the Condon area. Kathy lived and worked in Condon for many years and in fact was friends with Joe's grandparents! She was also acquainted with several other of Joe's family too. How fun it was to listen to Kathy tell Joe stories about his own family that he never knew. What a small world, we told each other several times that day.
A perfect day, in my opinion.
Friday, June 28, 2013
Hot & A Lot
Those of us who have lived in Central Oregon know that the summer season is very short. While much of the rest of the country has already been well-baked and dried out, up until 2 days ago we were still getting drenching rains. That in itself is rare; the west side of the Cascades is usually the "wet" side.
What isn't unusual is for the weather to finally heat up in late June/early July, and very suddenly too. On Tuesday (son's birthday, if you will recall!) it was cool, rainy, and in the 60's. Every day since then the temperatures have risen an average of 10 degrees per day. Currently, as I type this, the temp sits at 91. And the day's not over yet! In fact, son just got back from purchasing an air conditioner for his room...he doesn't deal with the heat well. Daughter is up at the lake with a friend...smart girl.
I hear people all the time say "Isn't this weather weird?". Well, not if you've been around here any length of time at all. It isn't outside the realm of possibility for there to be a sudden drop in degrees and snow in the forecast. Even in summer!
I am not a believer in so-called "global warming", "climate change" or whatever the current PC term for it is. If you look back in history (I did manage to fit history in here today, didn't I? hehe) you'll see that weather extremes have happened always. Warm winters, cool summers, glaciers melting, the sky falling, the boy who cried wolf one too many times. It's not new. Those who buy into this global warming stuff remind me of the goose (or was it a duck?) whose mind was a clean slate each new day, not remembering anything that he had learned in the past. Or maybe he hadn't bothered to learn anything in the first place.
Stay cool this weekend and remember your pets! Already today I saw a dog in a truck at the grocery store. Granted, it was morning and the truck windows were down all the way, but still....
What isn't unusual is for the weather to finally heat up in late June/early July, and very suddenly too. On Tuesday (son's birthday, if you will recall!) it was cool, rainy, and in the 60's. Every day since then the temperatures have risen an average of 10 degrees per day. Currently, as I type this, the temp sits at 91. And the day's not over yet! In fact, son just got back from purchasing an air conditioner for his room...he doesn't deal with the heat well. Daughter is up at the lake with a friend...smart girl.
I hear people all the time say "Isn't this weather weird?". Well, not if you've been around here any length of time at all. It isn't outside the realm of possibility for there to be a sudden drop in degrees and snow in the forecast. Even in summer!
I am not a believer in so-called "global warming", "climate change" or whatever the current PC term for it is. If you look back in history (I did manage to fit history in here today, didn't I? hehe) you'll see that weather extremes have happened always. Warm winters, cool summers, glaciers melting, the sky falling, the boy who cried wolf one too many times. It's not new. Those who buy into this global warming stuff remind me of the goose (or was it a duck?) whose mind was a clean slate each new day, not remembering anything that he had learned in the past. Or maybe he hadn't bothered to learn anything in the first place.
Stay cool this weekend and remember your pets! Already today I saw a dog in a truck at the grocery store. Granted, it was morning and the truck windows were down all the way, but still....
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Reminiscing
Yesterday my son turned 19.
I look at him, all 6 ft. plus in height, and naturally I have to think back on when he was born.
Back then we were living in Eugene. My husband worked at Symantec and I at the U of O Knight Library. I remember when my maternity leave began. This was about the time that O.J. Simpson's wife and friend were murdered. Spent a lot of time watching the infamous car chase, when O.J. was fleeing the law. Went on for hours, as you may recall. Trying to find comfortable positions on the couch, shifting my baby bulk to and fro, while eyes were glued to the TV. Funny, I don't remember watching the ending, but I'm sure I did. Maybe I was too distracted by other things...ya think??
Anyway, after 18 hours of labor, during which I had an epidural which only took on one side of my body (which is why I didn't have one when I had my 2nd child!), son was born at 8:26 on the morning of June 25. I didn't get to hold him first; husband did. They had to whisk son into an adjoining room to suction out his little lungs as he had aspirated some of the fluid in the amniotic sac. So once this was done, son was plopped into his papa's arms. Then he was brought in to see mama.
How surreal it is to see a baby, and know it's yours. This was something new, exciting, and terrifying all at the same time. Knowing that this little bundle is all yours, and your responsibility.
Well, that was 19 years ago and son hasn't turned out too badly. After all, he's not in jail! And he's not a drug addict. He is a high school graduate. He still lives at home but is taking college classes, so that's definitely a plus too. All in all, reasons to be thankful and grateful.
Wonder where we'll all be in another 19 years??
I look at him, all 6 ft. plus in height, and naturally I have to think back on when he was born.
Back then we were living in Eugene. My husband worked at Symantec and I at the U of O Knight Library. I remember when my maternity leave began. This was about the time that O.J. Simpson's wife and friend were murdered. Spent a lot of time watching the infamous car chase, when O.J. was fleeing the law. Went on for hours, as you may recall. Trying to find comfortable positions on the couch, shifting my baby bulk to and fro, while eyes were glued to the TV. Funny, I don't remember watching the ending, but I'm sure I did. Maybe I was too distracted by other things...ya think??
Anyway, after 18 hours of labor, during which I had an epidural which only took on one side of my body (which is why I didn't have one when I had my 2nd child!), son was born at 8:26 on the morning of June 25. I didn't get to hold him first; husband did. They had to whisk son into an adjoining room to suction out his little lungs as he had aspirated some of the fluid in the amniotic sac. So once this was done, son was plopped into his papa's arms. Then he was brought in to see mama.
How surreal it is to see a baby, and know it's yours. This was something new, exciting, and terrifying all at the same time. Knowing that this little bundle is all yours, and your responsibility.
Well, that was 19 years ago and son hasn't turned out too badly. After all, he's not in jail! And he's not a drug addict. He is a high school graduate. He still lives at home but is taking college classes, so that's definitely a plus too. All in all, reasons to be thankful and grateful.
Wonder where we'll all be in another 19 years??
Monday, June 24, 2013
Success
The Museum opening was a success. Here I am right after we opened the doors promptly at noon last Saturday!
As was expected, we probably had a grand total of 6 people come in, not counting our families. For us, I suppose that's successful but, naturally, that total could be improved on considerably.
In any case, it was fun. Some of our older volunteers sat around the big walnut table, stacked with Redmond High School yearbooks, and reminisced. We also had a large Oregon map from the 1930's, blown up large, facing out the front window. It was interesting seeing which towns listed on that map no longer exist. Towns like Opal City, Suntex, and Rolyat, to name a few. And there was no Lincoln City back then; just a collection of towns that later joined forces to become that city. I really enjoy little trivia facts like this!
Have a good Monday everyone.
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