Connections to the Past
This past weekend Casey and I went to Omaha, Nebraska for an event put on by his company for its employees. It was a lot of fun and we met a lot of really great people. We visited the Strategic Air and Space Museum, and if you ever have a chance to do so, I would definitely do it. http://www.sasmuseum.com/ It was really incredible. On our way home I asked Casey if we could stop by Casey, Iowa so I could use the bathroom.
“That’s a long ways away, are you sure you want to wait until Casey to go to the bathroom?” he asked, “We can pull off at the next exit.” (We were about 30 or 40 miles away)
“Yeah, I’m sure. I just usually stop in Casey to go to the bathroom on road trips,” I replied.
“Why?” he asked. Looking back, I realize that must have seemed random.
“Because my grandma grew up there, and my great grandparents had a farm not too far away,” I said. Fortunately by now he knows my sentiment for family history and heritage. I’m not sure if it is because my mom has been doing genealogy for over thirty years, and talked about our ancestors' lives as she uncovered their stories, but I feel like I know these people, even though I have never been able to meet them. The funny thing about genealogy and history that my mom taught me is that you can’t judge people – especially when you only know pieces of their situation. People are just people, and always have been.
Family heirlooms that have been passed down for two, sometimes three generations are some of my most treasured items. Not only are they a window to the past, they provide a connection to my relatives, and the people who helped to make me, me. It is special to be able to carry on some of their traditions with the things they loved. I have a quilt that my great, great grandmother made. Sometimes, when I am sick or in need of comfort, I wrap myself up in it, and it makes me feel better. After writing this and re-reading it, I know that I have my mom to thank for the comfort I feel, knowing my family and ancestors in the way that I do. If she hadn’t done the extensive research she has done (and I do mean extensive, involving lots of travel, hours and hours of research, going through all sorts of records at many courthouses throughout the country, and visiting countless cemeteries) I wouldn’t know the history of my family in the way that I do. Some people have asked me before why knowing about my ancestors matters so much. Well, it has changed my life. Throughout my life, no matter what has been going on, good or bad, I have never felt alone. I know that my ancestors struggled, too. Through their stories they have taught me that the impossible is always possible, never to judge a person or a situation unless you are directly in it, and no matter what is going on to keep your head up, your eyes looking toward the horizon, and above all, keep a sense of humor. You have to be able to laugh at yourself. After all, it’s only life. You can always find something to smile about.
So, long story short, Casey and I decided to stop by the farm that my great grandpa owned, and where my grandma grew up. It is pictured below:
“That’s a long ways away, are you sure you want to wait until Casey to go to the bathroom?” he asked, “We can pull off at the next exit.” (We were about 30 or 40 miles away)
“Yeah, I’m sure. I just usually stop in Casey to go to the bathroom on road trips,” I replied.
“Why?” he asked. Looking back, I realize that must have seemed random.
“Because my grandma grew up there, and my great grandparents had a farm not too far away,” I said. Fortunately by now he knows my sentiment for family history and heritage. I’m not sure if it is because my mom has been doing genealogy for over thirty years, and talked about our ancestors' lives as she uncovered their stories, but I feel like I know these people, even though I have never been able to meet them. The funny thing about genealogy and history that my mom taught me is that you can’t judge people – especially when you only know pieces of their situation. People are just people, and always have been.
Family heirlooms that have been passed down for two, sometimes three generations are some of my most treasured items. Not only are they a window to the past, they provide a connection to my relatives, and the people who helped to make me, me. It is special to be able to carry on some of their traditions with the things they loved. I have a quilt that my great, great grandmother made. Sometimes, when I am sick or in need of comfort, I wrap myself up in it, and it makes me feel better. After writing this and re-reading it, I know that I have my mom to thank for the comfort I feel, knowing my family and ancestors in the way that I do. If she hadn’t done the extensive research she has done (and I do mean extensive, involving lots of travel, hours and hours of research, going through all sorts of records at many courthouses throughout the country, and visiting countless cemeteries) I wouldn’t know the history of my family in the way that I do. Some people have asked me before why knowing about my ancestors matters so much. Well, it has changed my life. Throughout my life, no matter what has been going on, good or bad, I have never felt alone. I know that my ancestors struggled, too. Through their stories they have taught me that the impossible is always possible, never to judge a person or a situation unless you are directly in it, and no matter what is going on to keep your head up, your eyes looking toward the horizon, and above all, keep a sense of humor. You have to be able to laugh at yourself. After all, it’s only life. You can always find something to smile about.
So, long story short, Casey and I decided to stop by the farm that my great grandpa owned, and where my grandma grew up. It is pictured below:
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