As a kid growing up, I knew very few of my cousins. In fact, I can recall meeting just three of them, all on my mother’s side, before I turned eighteen years old. This was a consequence of the fact that our military family lived in places far away from where my parents grew up. I used to wonder sometimes if I could be passing by some cousin walking down the street and not even know it.
Since I began genealogical research about eight years ago, I’ve met many cousins online and in person, near and far removed (yes, that does have a double meaning). And that has only increased my belief that some relative is always nearby, whether one knows it or not.
On Monday, 27 December 2010, I learned that my cousin Candy Gines had lived for several years just a few miles from me. I had met her just once, years ago back in our ancestral homeland of Kansas City. I would have eagerly welcomed the chance to get to know her.
Althea “Candy” Gines passed away on Monday, 27 December 2010 in Sacramento, California. She was in her fifties. She leaves two adult children, Brian and Christina, and is also survived here by a nephew, Christopher.
Once upon a time, not that long ago, but in a place far far away, there twinkled a star called “Cow Hampshire.” Guided by a benevolent monarch named Janice, Cow Hampshire was a place of wit, wisdom, mirth, and joy. One day, however, the Cow star seemed to have burned out and fallen from the sky. There was much panic, fear, and trepidation at this unseemly occurrence. Many could not imagine a blogaverse without Cow Hampshire. And try as they might, {and they did try] no one seemed to be able to understand what happened to the Cow Star.
Life went on in the way that it will, but was not the same. Then late last night, unheralded, Cow Hampshire appeared again, shining as brightly in the blogaverse as it ever had! Not just once but a second time in 24 hours, did Cow Hampshire appeared. The people are wondering, is this just a one time Christmas miracle, or is the Cow star back to re-claim its place in the firmament? Or is Cow Hampshire like a comet that comes around every half- century. Whichever it is, we are grateful. Merry Christmas, Janice Brown!
A few years ago, the footnoteMaven began the tradition of “blog caroling.” It’s a key part of the geneablogosphere’s holiday season. GeneaBlogie this year presents three blog “carols.”
Light One Candle
This Peter, Paul and Mary piece is a secular bit which has become popular for Chanuka and other festivals.
Light one candle for the Maccabee children
Give thanks that their light didn’t die;
Light one candle for the pain they endured
When their right to exist was denied;
Light one candle for the terrible sacrifice
Justice and freedom demand;
light one candle for the wisdom to know
When the peacemaker’s time is at hand!
chorus:
Don’t let the light go out,
It’s lasted for so many years!
Don’t let the light go out!
Let it shine through our love and our tears!
Light one candle for the strength that we need
To never become our own foe;
Light one candle for those who are suff’ring
The pain that we learned long ago;
Light one candle for all we believe in,
That anger not tear us apart;
And light one candle to bind us together
With peace as the song in our heart!
(chorus)
What is the memory that’s valued so highly
That we keep it alive in that flame?
What’s the commitment to those who have died?
We cry out “they’ve not died in vain,”
We have come this far, always believing
That justice will somehow prevail;
This is the burden and This is the promise,
This is why we will not fail!
(chorus)
Don’t let the light go out!
Don’t let the light go out!
Don’t let the light go out!
O Holy Night
This is my favorite religious carol and Nat king Cole does it best!
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O’er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)
My favorite Christmas song of any sort. I first heard it in 1965. Darlene Love’s most enduring hit. In the following clip the 71 year old singer does it just like she did 45 years ago!
The snow’s comin’ down / Christmas
I’m watchin’ it fall / Christmas
Lots of people around / Christmas
Baby, please come home
The church bells in town / Christmas
They’re ringin’ a song / Christmas
What a happy sound / Christmas
Baby, please come home
They’re singin’ ‘Deck the Halls’
But it’s not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
Pretty lights on the tree / Christmas
I’m watchin’ ‘em shine / Christmas
You should be here with me / Christmas
Baby, please come home
Baby, please come home
Baby, please come home
They’re singin’ ‘Deck the Halls’
But it’s not like Christmas at all
I remember when you were here
And all the fun we had last year
If there was a way / Christmas
I’d hold back these tears / Christmas
But it’s Christmas day / Christmas
Baby, please come home / Christmas
Home / Christmas
Baby, please come home / Christmas
Baby, please come home / Christmas
Baby, please come home / Christmas
Home / Christmas
From our All History is Personal Dept.: I have said this before, but it cannot be said too often: All History is Personal. Thus, I am able to identify December 7, 1941, as the most important day in my life, although on the calendar it occurred thirteen years before I was born. The events of that day happened to me! They are the proximate cause of who and what I became.
In “macro-history,” on December 7, 1941, an ancient imperial power attacked a late-adolescent of a nation, sending the world spinning out of control. In “meta-history,” everything that might otherwise have occurred did not occur, and a chain of events destined to occur, did.
Obviously, I was not killed or wounded or traumatized by World War II. I was not held in a concentration camp by a demented dictator, nor was I interned by the frightened prejudices of my own democratically elected government. Yet I am a product of the historical forces unleashed that Sunday in December 1941. I am a “baby boomer” who grew up during the Jet Age, the Atomic Age, and the Space Age, watching television, and attending racially integrated schools. I lived on or near military bases in a country that theretofore had eschewed a large standing military establishment. Later, I myself served in the Strategic Air Command, the single most lethal combat force in human history. I could be a Cold Warrior only because of December 7, 1941.
On this Pearl Harbor Day, do these things, especially if you are a “Baby Boomer” (born between 1946 and 1964): (1) remember and honor the members of the Greatest Generation who fought the war, and who are just about all gone; (2) think about how that day, December 7, 1941, changed your life, even though it occurred before you were born; (3) think about whether we as a generation about to be ushered out of the spotlight of history have used our December 7, 1941 birthright in the best way we could. That is, what sort of historical legacy do we leave, given where we started? Because, make no mistake about it, the bells are beginning to toll for us.
Our motto here at GeneaBlogie is Learn, Share, Enjoy, Appreciate! And we also say give credit where credit is due. So at the head of this year’s honors list for achievement in the field of genealogical writing, we recognize Michael Hait.
Michael writes for Examiner.com as the national African-American Genealogical Examiner. His highly readable posts are rich in information. There are no wasted sentences in a Hait-written piece. He is a genealogist in Prince George’s County, Maryland. This year, he published five books of records in addition to his frequent Examiner pieces.
Hait’s writing is thoughtful and thought-provoking. And his recent publications fill niches that will aid researchers in Civil War and African-American subject matters. In addition to his writing and his research for clients, Michael is serving as Vice President of the National Capital Chapter of the Association of Professional Genealogists. He created the African-American Research course for the National Institute for Genealogical Studies.
He says he started his family history research at age 9. Apparently, he never looked back.
Michael Hait’s website is at http://haitfamilyresearch.com/. He’s a not-to-be-missed writer who has appeared in Family Chronicle, Internet Genealogy, and Discovering Family History magazines.
Our column Kudos will appear occasionally from now until the end of January 2011 to recognize special achievement in various genealogical endeavours during 2010. There’s no voting; it’s in my absolute discretion, although suggestions are welcomed. Contact us at craig@geneablogie.com.
It’s now posted in four parts at Creative Gene. Congratulations to Jasia, Queen of the Carnival, and the entire community for making the 100th edition of the Carnival the biggest yet with 107 posts! Go read some 0f it right now! And, yes, GeneaBlogie will make more Carnival appearances in 2011!
It was that moment in the family reunion when all the food is packed away, the tables are clean, and things have grown quiet. And Cousin Jonathan said “Uncle Craig, tell us a story of the old days in the geneablogosphere!”
Though it was August, the old man drew his shawl closer and said, “Well, you don’t want to hear those old stories again, do you?” He smiled. Jonathan wanted to hear them for the umpteenth time. He collected GeneaBloggers trading cards. Danny, though, wasn’t sure that he wanted to hear the stories again, but he knew that Uncle Craig would like to tell the stories again.
“Okay, now,” said Uncle Craig, “one quick one about the Carnival.” He cleared his throat as if he were about to give a great oration.
You see, it was back in’ 04 when I started my blog. I didn’t know, and at the time didn’t especially care if there were other people out there blogging their genes off, and if so, who they were. The whole blogosphere wasn’t that big in those days, and it was a far piece between geneablogs. Little did I know, or for that matter, did anyone know in ’04 how the geneablogosphere was about to explode.
It started gradually at first. Like travelers awakening on a long extraplanetary journey, bloggers began to discover one another. One day, while out surfing, I came across a blogger calling herself Jasia. She ran a little place called Creative Gene, located in virtual Detroit. She was a beehive of activity with genealogy and photography. She served up hot steaming platters of Catholic tales, Polish roots, tech tips, with generous side orders of scrapbooking and potato salad. [Potato salad?]. As the small community of genealogy bloggers grew in those early days, Jasia’s became a favorite neighborhood haunt. Come in almost any night of the week, and you might catch Denise Olson or Janice Brown or Chris Dunlap or Randy Seaver (before he became a surname-less phenom like Beyoncé, Madonna or Cher).
[Young Jonathan said, "Who's Cher?" Danny said, "Who's Madonna?" And Jackie said, "Who's Beyoncé?"]
[Uncle Craig pulled out some photos and spread them on the table. The three young cousins squealed with delight. Jonathan said "That's Miriam Midkiff! I've got her card!" pointing to one of the photos. And Jackie said, "is that the footnote lady dancing with Steve Danko?" The footnoteMaven, Uncle Craig corrected.]
Anyway, I was saying, on any given night, you might run into Lee Anders or Maureen Taylor or Susan Kitchens hanging out at Jasia’s.
Always with a great sense for talent and full of ideas, Jasia saw an opportunity for collaboration and promotion of great writers and great writing. So two weekends a month, she turned the place into a Roundtable-like salon for genealogy writers dubbed “The Carnival of Genealogy.”
Attendance on those early Carnival weekends was sparse. Even some of the regulars stayed away from their local. But gradually word got around and those two weekends a month picked up dramatically.
Then at some point in about ’07, the dam burst, so to speak, and the geneablogosphere was flooded with new blogs and bloggers. Among these were the MacEntees and the Sheri Fenleys: you know that crowd. The new kids took to the Carnival like ducks to water. The Carnival became enormously successful. Jasia was hailed as the Queen of the Carnival. But change can be chaotic. What had been a palor of sedate discussion threatened to turn into a raucous roadhouse of indisputable talent and enthusiasm. The apparent transition from salon to saloon did not go well with everyone. While all of the pioneers welcomed the newcomers, in private corners of the room, you could hear whispers: there’s just too damn many of them! The sheer numbers threatened to overwhelm the Carnival and bring the tent down.
And then there was the Queen herself. She was doing it all: introducing new acts, playing MC, and taking a turn at the mike herself. It was really a grueling pace. She farmed out some of the hosting responsibilities to other venues. And the show went on.
After a while, however, it became apparent that more change was needed to keep the Carnival of viable. For one thing, there were now numerous other carnivals in town, and there seemed to be more every day. So the Carnival continued to evolve in order to maintain quality writing and a diverse readership. Through it all, Jasia burnished her reputation as a social media monarch and continues to reign today.
Jonathan said, “She reigns?”
“No, she rocks,” said Danny. “I think she rules!” said Jackie.
What’s the appeal of the Carnival? Well, it is a themed writing prompt, which helps some people, including me from time to time, to get started writing. But there’s more to it than that. The Carnival is emblematic of the core values of the early days in geneablogosphere. Collaboration. Appreciation. Learning. The Carnival has introduced great writers to the blogosphere and encouraged many others to keep going or to get started. The Carnival has grown from just Jasia’s place to being one of the several town squares in our virtual community. The writers are encouraging, nurturing and supportive of each other and of their crafts. Newcomers continue to show up at the place where everyone knows your ancestors.
The Carnival marks its 100th edition this week with 100 posts~a far cry from the twelve or so that typified the tent in 2006.
This week has seen many return to the Carnival and many new arrivals. It’s just like a family reunion!
