In Closing
Uncomfortable Truths of Genealogy and Family History
Sometimes in our family research, we come across facts that are different than what we expected. Sometimes these facts dispute family traditions and are hard to accept.
Sometimes the facts we find confront us with uncomfortable truths, the sad and grim realities of life that our ancestors had to face.
What are most amazing are the opportunities we occasionally have to put together the pieces of a puzzle, or to help others fit their puzzle together. That is what Barbara and her family did for my family with her incredible acts of thoughtfulness and kindness.
The Dash
As a family historian, I am reminded that frequently only a few documents provide information about a life: records of birth, marriage, and death.
But what is most interesting, if you are fortunate to discover it, is the dash between the birth and the death dates.
that dash provides you insights on the person and about their life: their lifestyle, their personality, their interesting stories, and something about the history that surrounds them.
Often it also provides insights about yourself . . .