I have been a bad, bad blogger.  I started writing this blog on December 31, 2010 with the best of intentions, and then let it wither on the vine, so to speak.  

Well, it's time to re-plant and nurture this vineyard!

Remembering 9/11

It’s quiet in my house now, early morning 9/12/2011.  I finally have some time to sit down and reflect on the events of 10 years ago today.

I think it was in a church school parking lot where I had my first good cry.  It was so sad, but it was also a cry of relief – my husband is a pilot for American Airlines and he was at home.  I wondered in my thoughts how I would have handled that phone call from the company that awful day.  I am never really comfortable on the 9/11 anniversaries.  I feel a bit guilty being one of the lucky ones whose beloved family member was safe and sound.

“Where were you on 9/11?”  It was early morning on the West Coast when the planes struck the Twin Towers in New York.   I was awake, but not yet out of bed.  My son and my husband were nestled in with me.  My son was just in kindergarten then and didn’t need to be roused out of bed for school like he does now.

The phone rang.  I could tell from the caller i.d. that it was my sister.  I never liked getting phone calls early in the morning from family – it always meant trouble.  The first thing she asked was if my husband was home.  I told her that he was and she told me to turn on the television.  She said that a plane had hit a building in New York.  Just after I turned on the t.v., the second plane hit the other Trade Center building.

We got my son out of the room and started to get him ready for school.  We actually wondered if there would be school that day, but we hadn’t heard anything different, so we drove him in.  I explained to his kindergarten teacher that Ryan had a vague idea of what had happened – as much as a 5 year old could understand.  We did not really understand what was happening either.  I felt good about taking him to school.  I knew that he would be cared for and loved, and that he would be able to go up to the sanctuary in the Episcopal Church building where his school was housed.  Since it is our home church, I knew he would feel safe and comfortable there.

In the days that followed, I felt despair, sadness, relief, confusion, anger, and strangely, profound love.  I experienced, with a deepness I had never felt before, the love of family, friends, and neighbors.

   

Today, the anger has subsided.  But the love for my husband, son, friends and neighbors has only grown.  Love – one;  anger – zero. 

Tech Tuesday - GenSmarts

Dear GenSmarts,

Our relationship is becoming a problem.  You see, I am neglecting my husband and child, never mind the housework, to spend time with you.  I have neglected my blogging.

I have kicked my scanning to the curb for you.

I'm afraid I'm developing an obsession.  You complete me.  You help me fill all the empty spaces.  You are getting me to explore new ideas, and look at things in a different way. 

Never mind that I had to pay for your services - you are well worth the price.  

Fondly yours,

Cindy

P.S.  I'll be right back GenSmarts - just need to update the other blog.  I promise.

Father's Day 2011 - David Earl Savage

As I worked on a Facebook post for my husband on Father's Day, I decided to take out my new FlipPal scanner and find some pictures of my dad.  He died in August 2001, and I only wish he could have spent more time with my son.  Ryan was 5 when my dad passed, but it was clear from the few years that they did have together that my dad got a kick out of my son.  Even at that young age, Ryan had a great sense of humor.  I wish I could say that it all came from my side of the family, but I am afraid my son gets it from both sides!

David Earl Savage as a young boy

One year we were down visiting my folks in Vancouver, Washington, and we went shopping at Nordstroms.  My parents loved to buy my son nice clothes.  Ryan picked up a Peter Rabbit stuffed animal and hugged it.  That was all it took - my dad said he had to have it.  "Petey" was really the only stuffed animal that Ryan loved.  Petey had to go everywhere with us.

High School Graduation Photo

Sometimes, when I look at my son, I see my dad staring back at me.  There is something about his mouth, particularly when he is grinning, that reminds me so much of my dad.

I know that Dad would be so proud of his grandson.  I'm sure he is smiling down on him from heaven.

Dad in military garb, circa 1950's

Burial Site Sleuthing

I heard this great story on NPR this morning (Saturday) about folks working on finding the burial sites of Negro League baseball players.

From NPR's website:  "Dink Mothell played in the Negro Leagues for 15 years. He died in 1980, and his gravesite has been just a patch of grass, no nameplate, marker or anything. On Saturday, a ceremony will at last grant Mothell's gravesite a tombstone, the result of efforts by two men to locate the remains of former Negro Leaguers."

Here's a link to the story: 

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/18/137265793/negro-leagues-players-honored-with-gravestones

The Negro League website is: http://www.negroleaguebaseball.com/

As far as I know, I don't have any African American ancestry...but who knows what I might find someday.  I just really enjoyed hearing the story and thought I would share!

SCGS Librarians and Volunteers Rock!

I just wanted to say thank you to the volunteers at the Southern California Genealogical Society library.   The staff on hand during my visit to the library during Jamboree this year were wonderful.  Not only were they helpful and knowledgeable about the library, they were gracious and warm.

I know that a lot of work must have gone into planning such a large event.  This kind of pressure can turn even the kindest person into a monster - not so with those SCGS library staffers!

So, thank you, thank you, thank you.  Hopefully, I will be able to see you all again next year!

Jamboree Madness!

What a great first day at Jamboree!  I started the day with a tour of the Southern California Genealogical Society library.  JACKPOT!  The German collection is just awesome.  I made some photocopies of things to track down.  The Cornish Collection - again awesome.  But my biggest discovery?  A copy of the 1949 Yearbook for my mom's high school in Pocatello, Idaho - with a picture of her in it!!!  Mind you, the Idaho section of the collection is small (well, tiny would probably be more accurate), so to find a copy of her yearbook....I was thrilled.  

I attended Thomas MacEntee's class on looking for living relatives.  Of course, his lecture was excellent.  And funny.  He let us know that if any of our phones rang during his presentation, he would answer it and ask the caller what they were wearing.  Thomas!

Spent the rest of the afternoon, emphasis on "spent", at the exhibitor's hall.  Finally broke down and bought a FlipPal scanner.  I can't wait to get home and put it to use.  Got a great "goody" bag from GeneaBloggers and SCGS (more on that later).  It's a good thing that I can only buy things that will fit into my one carry on bag.

More fun to come later.  A GeneaBlogger radio show and Geni.com sponsored ice cream social.  Honestly, this is as good as it gets for a geneaholic :)

A little housekeeping item: I am alternating posts between this blog and the GenerationsOfGermans blog.  So check out the posts there too.