Think it’s too late to write a memoir or to take on a new career? Actress/author/blogger/lecturer Lee Gale Gruen describes how, since she retired, she’s reinvented herself many times over (here's also an update on her)… When I retired from my 37-year career as a probation officer, and I found myself with nothing meaningful in… Continue reading The Reinvention of Lee Gale Gruen→
A lovely cousin recently gave me a copy of this photo of my grandmother, Julia Vaccaro who was an Italian-Argentine of Buenos Aires -- ringing in 1919 with family and friends! Like the United States and so many other places, Argentina is a country of immigrants. It fascinates me to see such an old photo where everyone… Continue reading Happy 2019 New Year from 1919 by da-AL→
That's what election day's all about! Willie Nelson (born April 29, 1933) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, author, poet, actor, and activist. https://youtu.be/bt-n0zu6MjM&rel=0 Willie Nelson – Vote 'Em Out lyrics [Verse 1] If you don't like who's in there, vote 'em out That's what Election Day is all about The biggest gun we've got… Continue reading Willie Nelson: Vote ’em Out VIDEO by da-AL→
Who will your search turn up? Photo thanks to Ryan McGuire of Gratisography.com
Writers and readers alike, for times we’d like to look into our histories, author Margaret Lossi offers tips for how to get started. My two novels are works-in-progresses! Lossi says that when it comes to looking up one’s family background, be prepared for surprises…
Warning: family history can lead to emotional discoveries.
It may seem counter-intuitive, but you begin at the end! That is, you begin with you.
Check your birth certificate, verify your parents. It may seem like a given, but just sometimes people find they are adopted, or their mum is really their grandma. It pays to check.
Check your parents birth certificates, to verify your grandparents. Then work your way back through the generations, verifying birth certificates.
These first steps build the strong foundation of your family tree, so worth doing well.
It is not a case of how far back you can go, but the quality of your data
You may wish to answer a family question. I knew my parents were second cousins, so wanted to find out about this link. Set yourself a goal to work towards. Whatever your motivation, make sure you verify each…
Our home is too quiet, too empty without our dear Lola. Last Wednesday, she joined her twin brother, Pierre. We were privileged to have her. Like Pierre, she was loyal in every way to the end. The two were trusting, kind, obedient, and fun loving. Second in her heart only to her human family was… Continue reading Now We Are 2 (only): Sweet Lola is Sorely Missed by da-AL→
