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Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I think I'm doing this wrong

I spent my lunch break at work - it was raining - drafting a post about ancestors of mine marrying and baptizing in the 1860s and 1870s. (It will post soon.) I had a long day at work, and left on a bit of a high, in a good mood from having found a solution to an issue that had been problematic all week. I hadn't been on Twitter in months, but I signed in today because I wanted to spread the word as widely as possible that people should vote for the Lower East Side Tenement Museum to win a major grant from Partners in Preservation. Then I got home and signed in again - because social media has addictive qualities. I scrolled down the page, obviously reading tweets in reverse chronological order.

One of my teenaged cousins had tweeted "Of course all these sad songs about missin people come on in a row when my whole iPod is on shuffle. #missyou" I wondered idly who she was talking about. Maybe her (ex?) boyfriend? I thought that was all over. Well, I guess she could miss him  - really, all the more reason to miss him, if they're not together anymore.

I kept scrolling.

15 minutes earlier, she had tweeted "Love and miss you Pop. RIP <3"

Wait, really? She was missing Pop? Wait, what's today's date? May 9. Wait. What day did Pop die? It was around this time of year . . . I have no idea what the date was.

I actually had to go into my genealogy software to remember when my own grandfather died just four years ago. Yes, it was May 9. May 9, 2008.

What kind of family historian am I? What kind of granddaughter am I?

I'm happy to spend my days analyzing 19th century death records, but my grandfather's fairly recent death slips my mind, until I read about it on Twitter. I call myself a family historian, and I think I've got historian down . . . am I missing something about the family part?

I miss you too, Pop.


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2 comments:

  1. jmg11563July 1, 2012 at 1:35 AM

    Katie,

    You're doing a GREATT job of discovering family information, and it is vary sad that you lost your "Grandfather" four years ago, he'd be so proud of all the information you've discovered about your own "Family," both your Mom's & Dads ... but your Grandfather would have really appreciated this information, because he always found talking about distant Family so cobfusing ... You've clarified so much! And Nan would have "LOVED" knowing so much of the Madigan/ Toner / Mulvaney facts you've "unearthed" ... she loved to discuss her family. So I know they'd both be very, very proud of you and I'm sure their looking down smiling. The date of death isn't as important as remembering what Great people your Grandparent's were. And I'm sure your Momn's parent's are also so proud. I just can't get over you reconnecting your Grandmother Gatto with her former friend. That's a great accomplishment. Keep up your great work.
    All My Love,
    JohnG, II [Betty's husband} our son is John III. LoveYou!

    ReplyDelete
  2. jmg11563July 1, 2012 at 1:40 AM

    Katie,

    You're doing a GREAT job of discovering family information, and it is vary sad that you lost your "Grandfather" four years ago, he'd be so proud of all the information you've discovered about your own "Family," both your Mom's & Dad's ... but your Grandfather would have really appreciated this information, because he always found talking about distant Family so cobfusing ... She was always the "Clear" voice! You've clarified so much! And Nan would have "LOVED" knowing so much of the Madigan/ Toner / Mulvaney facts you've "unearthed" ... she loved to discuss her family. So I know they'd both be very, very proud of you and I'm sure their looking down smiling on you! The date of death isn't as important as remembering what Great people your Grandparent's were. And I'm sure your Momn's parent's are also so proud. I just can't get over you reconnecting your Grandmother Gatto with her former friend. That's a great accomplishment. Keep up your great work.
    All My Love,
    JohnG, II [Betty's husband} our son is John III. LoveYou!

    ReplyDelete

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