When I was a little girl, probably 3rd grade, while staying at my great grandparents, I found an entire attic room full of treasures: a chest containing old pictures and papers, a sewing machine, victrola. and clothes. I focused on the clothes and sweet talked my mom into letting me take some to play “dress up” back home. My mom consented. Soon my girl friends and I paraded around wearing this clothing from the 1880s until they were threadbare!
To this day, my mom is not a big fan of antiques! Years later, when we sold our house and moved to Alaska, mom gave it all away!! I was shocked to see that she sold her first sewing machine, not a treadle machine, but it was at least vintage! She sold it to the neighbor lady! ”Mom,” I said, “that was your first sewing machine!””But Linda,” she answered, “It’s not an antique, it’s electric! I have a great new Singer!” I didn’t care, maybe it wasn’t an antique, but I didn’t want to let it go! I went over to Mrs. Rickerman’s and bought it back!
When I was in 8th grade I decided to learn about my family history. It might have been due to the
1977 movie, Roots. I honestly can’t remember which came first, deciding to do my family tree, or watching Roots. Either way, I started research for my science fair project.
I asked my great grandmother to write all the information she knew about our family. I think she really liked writing it! I now know how much I was asking! Whether she enjoyed it or not, Grandma Radtke wrote a very long letter to her young great granddaughter! As soon as it came, I started organizing my family tree. I tried for a long time, but it was too difficult for me to wrap my young mind around!! So I put it away, knowing that one day I’d be ready.
As a freshman in high school, I asked my great grand parents, with the attic, if I could visit them for a week during the summer. I promised I would help clean out that attic from which the old clothing had come. For me it was all about exploring the old the stuff. I think, for them it was all about having their granddaughter stay with them for a week! My grandparents had no desire to have the attic cleaned!
I had the time of my life! I found all sorts of antiques! I straightened the attic, dusted, sorted, boxed, dreamed and planned. In the end, nothing was changed, and my week was up.
When I got home, grandma called and told me the bats came down from the attic!
Grandpa had been away one evening and came home to find Grandma standing on her bed with broom in hand. A bat was flying around her room and she was trying to shoo it out the door!
For the rest of their lives I was known for stirring up the bats.
My first semester in college I attended a genealogy class. I got Grandma Ratke’s letter out and learned how to do genealogy before computers were in the picture. I have been doing family history practically non-stop since.
Today computers make genealogy and family history easy. I can now write, store and share information with my family using software created for this. There are a number of database programs available and more are created everyday.
Tell me in the comments below if you’ve worked on your family history and if you’d like more information about getting started! With only a few hours a week (I work on mine Sunday afternoon) you can discover your family tree!
June 19th, 2010 at 10:15 am
Oh my goodness! Stirring up the bats!! I’m cracking up laughing over here picturing not only your grandmother, but both of them teasing you forever about the bats!
Its because of a geneologist in the extended family, who had previously tracked me down, that when my half sister tracked him down he was able to put us in contact. I’m very thankful for that!
Kimberly
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June 19th, 2010 at 11:16 am
Funny thing, I have been thinking about having a genealogy done because I plan on visiting England in the near future.
Fuller is a very common name in England and actually refers back to those poor souls who had to stomp wool in vats of animal urine to bleach the fabric. Kind of like wine making, well not really.
However, I really want my family traced back to the owners of the Fuller Brewery company in London so I can drop by and say “Hello Uncle”
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June 19th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Linda,
Genealogy has always been a great fascination and something I’ve planned to do 20 years from now. I do know that a great uncle was the inventor of the ice cream sandwich.
Loved your bat story and rummaging through your grandparents’ attic. I can just see you snooping, dusting and rearranging up there!
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June 19th, 2010 at 8:20 pm
Darlene~
An ice cream sandwich is a great claim to fame!!
Let me help you!!
October 6th, 2010 at 9:06 am
As I grew older, I find it interesting to know my family history. On my part, I like to discover from whom I got my talents, traits, etc. My family tree clearly explains to me why I actually chose to be freelancer than worker of other companies. Studying everything about my family also helps me in confirming that I’m on the right track.
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October 6th, 2010 at 10:01 am
Mike~
I agree! Knowing our roots helps us understand ourselves! I’m glad you left a comment!!
I’d love to see a picture posted with this comment! I’ll email you the link to show you how!!
Linda
October 8th, 2010 at 2:13 am
Yeah! At least if it’s a negative attitude from your dad genes for example, you can easy think about your dad and find yourself smiling just thinking that you’re acting like your dad. LOL
Sure, please do so. I’m a bit clueless with it. Thanks!!!
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October 8th, 2010 at 8:30 am
It’s all about learning!! Connecting an image to your comment (actually to your email address) is free, easy and very important! Check out this post and I’ll walk you through it! http://lindagraceonline.com/get-the-focus-on-you/
Leave another comment when you’re done so I can see! Let me know if you have any problems!
Linda
July 17th, 2011 at 12:15 pm
Genealogy can be totally addictive. One clue leads to another and before you know it, you’re related to all types of people and have connections you could not have dreamed up on recreational drugs.
Ok, its not all James Bond, but it can be a lot of fun and it keeps you looking for the next expansion of the family tree.
My mother has been big into this before computers and now with the aid to technology I have become more interested as well.
August 18th, 2011 at 10:57 am
Taylor,
I can’t believe I missed your comment back in July! Yes, it’s amazing how WIDE our family tree can become! Like I’ve said before, my mom and dad were raised in the same town and I swear I’m related to the entire county!
Linda
August 17th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Hi!
I always had the problem mapping my family geneaology. Everytime I get to the middle of it, I lose hope and everything that I have started. My family is big so you must understand how hard it is to bring everyone together. thank you for sharing this!
Summer Davis
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August 18th, 2011 at 11:10 am
Summer,
So have you decided on a Database to organize your family tree? Without the use of a computer database it is next to impossible! I saw you comment on my post about databases last month, have you tried any of them out?
I must confess, ever since I started blogging, I’ve let my genealogy slip by the wayside! I’m sure I’ll get focused on it again sometime!
Let me know what you’re doing with your data~
Linda
September 14th, 2011 at 2:53 am
Thank you for this funny post. I found no problem learning my genealogy now that I was staying with my grandmother on daily basis she taught me about it but actually it’s very hard to get all. But knowing your family genealogy is something important.
September 15th, 2011 at 11:38 am
Nancy,
You’re right, it’s very difficult to get it all when learning about you family history! It’s wonderful that you spent time with your grandma and gave it a try!
Linda
September 28th, 2011 at 3:21 pm
Linda, I can not believe that your family got attacked by bats. I cant even imagine that! Hope you are all ok.
September 30th, 2011 at 3:11 pm
Karen,
The bats weren’t really attacking my grandma, they just found their way into her bedroom and she was freaking out! It’s really funny when you picture it!
Linda
October 27th, 2011 at 11:21 pm
A great article, Linda! Seems you had a very wonderful times with your great grannies especially your granny’s encounter with bats, all caused by you!
I loved it too when I was a young girl and always had questions flooding wanting to know how they lived when they were young.
I used to have fun with the antiques and everything in grandma’s home seemed funny. Unfortunately, my paternal grannies passed on when I was very young and so I did not enjoy our togetherness for long, I did not either have much to question about at the moment. That means I had to make it for the holidays to travel to my maternal home to spend with my grannies. It was real fun and much learning and at least I am glad I have some hints on genealogy.
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October 29th, 2011 at 11:50 am
Lynkez,
It’s fun to hear that you are also interested in times past! And to see your commentluv looks like you’re interested in current times too! I’ll give you a visit and see what other things give us a connection!
Linda
December 5th, 2011 at 11:56 pm
Now i think i should get down and start cribbing my family history. I hope it’s mystical like Shidney Sheldon books. (:
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