So...
Just...
Who Are You??
I've wondered this from time to time...
From whom was I descended...
Who were my grandparents???
Who were my great grandparents??
Where were they from?
What did they do??
How did they get here???
I've been working on my family tree...
I started out on Ancestry.Com... but I'm finding info beyond that.
There have been quite a few surprises...
Little twists...
Little turns...
I haven't discovered the link that my Aunt Winnie says existed...
that we are descended from Jean Lafitte,
the Pirate of New Orleans.
But, nothing along the surprises of this past week...
A fellow I know asked me if I had heard the
rumors going around town...
... that my oldest sister got pregnant in high school...
... and had a baby...
... and that my Mom and Dad took it to raise as their own.
I've written about being a member of
Mom and Dad's second litter...
They had three kids... took a break...
and supposedly had three more.
I've had people down through the years tell me that they had seen me out with my Mother... when I had been out with my sister. There was such an age difference between us that I figured it was an honest mistake...
Even though it happened time and time again...
So...
I have some questions to ask....
Answers to learn...
... and some more surprises to endure.
What a year this has been...
What a year this has been...
~shoes~
Remember when the Joy Luck Club came out? Well my mom's cousin wrote the Korean-American version..omg, I read it and boy did I learn a lot about my mother's side of the family... things, I wished I didn't want to know about and rather didn't think it was my business to know.. personal stuff that should of stayed personal.. You are gonna be on a roller coaster of a ride when u start digging... but u knew that, right? :-)
ReplyDeleteHey you... a belated response... this has proven to be similar to chasing a fart in a whirlwind... augh...
DeleteYes, I knew that it would be like a roller coaster... and it has...
Blah blah blah blah blah...
~shoes~
Researching ancestors can be really interesting. I did that about ten years ago. I didn't come up with anything as exciting as being descended from a pirate, but it was fascinating to learn about my family's European roots.
ReplyDeleteHi there, Sherry.. it is interesting to learn who great great grands are... where they lived... what they did... why they came here... etc etc etc...
DeleteHow are you doing?
~shoes~
Oh, my this is shocking news. I can't remember are you the fourth oldest in the family or could it be one of your other two younger siblings that might be your sister's baby. Isn't it insane what people say to us after people pass away? Wow!!!! Is all I can say?
ReplyDeleteJiminy Christmas! I'm shocked.
ReplyDeleteI need to revisit your older siblings. Is the sister you're talking about that *might* be your mother the same sister that died? Or is this another sister? Is she still alive? Is there anyone you can ask about this whose answer you'd trust? OMG... I'm reeling right now and this isn't even happening to me.
Taking a deep breath.... Let's say that your sister was your biological mother. I'm not sure it changes much. You got your mothering from your mother. And your fathering from your father. They were your Parents.
However, in terms of health history (and good old fashioned human nature aka curiosity) I'd want to know who my biological father was.
I hope you keep us posted on this. This is huge. ((Hugs))
Hey you... sorry for such a lack of response...
DeleteYes... the one who died might be my mother... augh!!!!
All of your questions I will address in a follow up post...
Otherwise, how are you, dear?
~shoes~
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow.
ReplyDeleteThat's a real bomb falling down.
It really must rock your whole universe.
You ok?
(That being said, I hardly know anything about my greatgrandparents, not even their names...
And that's how much we all mean I guess. We're all making such a fuss about ourselves and 2 generations later it's as if we've never existed.)
stephanie
Hi, Stephanie... it most certainly has.
DeleteCoupled with being told that my position was being eliminated... out interviewing for a new position at another school... health issues... trying to slow things down so that I don't do something dumb...
It has affected me...
Re: knowing about past generations... you are right... I've been able to take my genealogy bac quite a few hundred years along some of the lines of the family...
I hope all is well with you.
~shoes~
A Pirate? Why am I not surprised..smiling..
ReplyDeleteinteresting events and I am sure you would have some questions. I can't help wondering who your biological father was/is and I too wonder which sister? Gee, news like this can be shocking as you try to sort out your life. (huggles)
Captain Red Shoe! Remember?
DeleteRemember? How could I ever forget????
DeletePirates... Abolitionists... Slave Owners... Indian Fighters... they are all there in the past. Most of my family originated in Germany/The Netherlands and in England.
DeleteIf you live in the United States, one had to come from somewhere... it's even believed that the Native Americans came from other lands.
Captain Red Shoes... ARGGGHHHH!!!!!
~shoes~
The Pirate of New Orleans? Are you telling me that a HARRRRRRRRRR is in order? I knew it!
ReplyDeletethat would be har har har
DeleteYes... HAR and a few ARGS!!!!
Delete~shoes~
You have had and will continue to have an interesting journey, Shoes. My mom and her sister had a sixteen year gap. My brother and I eleven although I'm adopted. That means my "real" family tree would just be a branch. *smiles* Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteSounds like fun! I'm from the Redgraves, dontcha know. it's why I'm dramatic.
ReplyDeleteWherever you're from, Shoes it's proper good soup. :)
Jules--I love the Redgraves. Hahahaha
DeleteOkay. WOW! But times were different back in the day.
ReplyDeleteYou are YOU! and that's the best thing to be.
Hi there, nitebyrd... I AM me... you are right...
DeleteI hope all is well with you...
~shoes~
BTW, I love The Who. They are my favorite band right after The Doors.
ReplyDeleteFamily is great, ain't it?
ReplyDeletexo
Hi there, Kim... yeah, bless their hearts...
DeleteH!
~shoes~
Holy crap Jim. That's quite a shocker and can't imagine what you think of it all.
ReplyDeleteGood morning, Barbara... it is a big change in the way I have viewed my family... obviously, it won't be the same, but then this family has been nothing but a great disappointment.
DeleteHow are you doing?
~shoes~
The question is not 'Who are you?' but... 'Where are you?' :(
ReplyDeleteHi there, Grumpster... I'm still here... just a great deal happening at the time...
DeleteFrom an employment standpoint,I had a job interview yesterday... It would be a most wonderful place to work... the salary isn't there... they made an offer... I asked for more... he has to clear it through the provost... who knows.
As for the topic of this post, it will probably need to be another post...
How are you, my friend? OK... How are things in The Netherlands??
~shoes~
Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
DeleteI'm dead tired, Shoes. Dead tired. Grading papers and then I'm gonna switch off my phone for a month. At least.
Who are you becomes who am I? To put up a family tree will not be easy because in the past no one cared about family tree. Now we want to know our roots. It is very difficult to go beyond parents and at the best grand parents.
ReplyDeleteI have tried to build a family tree and found out most of the family is dead. So I cannot go beyond my father and mother, brothers and sisters.
Very interesting post.
Best wishes
Shoesies, I send you huggles during this time.
ReplyDelete