Author Archives: Donnie: An Admiring Grandson

Thanks to Grandma I Became

Thanks to Grandma I became… a lifelong student curious about calling upon the spirit of resilience. Thanks to Grandma I became… sensitive to the emotions of the “underdog” and downtrodden. Thanks to Grandma I became… a gardener who loves nature by cultivating the earth. Thanks to Grandma I became… a teacher taking time to loveContinue reading “Thanks to Grandma I Became”

Psychology and Investing Time in Organizing Family History Projects: Boundless? Limitless?

What is the spark that ignites and keeps igniting our desire to work on exploring and sharing our family history? Is there “psychology” involved? What are ways to be motivated and productive and come to a point of satisfaction with our endgame plan to deal with family history? Some are intimidated with diving in, andContinue reading “Psychology and Investing Time in Organizing Family History Projects: Boundless? Limitless?”

Genealogy- “Savory Root Stew”

Genealogy is likened to creating a savory stew we cook up that is so good it will outlast us. We seek to develop a relationship with eternity inventing our own family history recipe. In our older years we enter a stretch of life that we may come to realize leads all the way to theContinue reading “Genealogy- “Savory Root Stew””

Ancestry Is Not Fair and Rarely Ever Complete

Those who might hope to portray a complete, fair, and accurate written portrayal of family history might best reconcile that women are typically shortchanged and woefully neglected in the process. This insight motivates and inspires me to keep writing about by grandmother and pay tribute to her largely forgotten accomplishments. One might find it strangeContinue reading “Ancestry Is Not Fair and Rarely Ever Complete”

Ancestry Requires No Passport

You are invited. Travel with me to a heritage travel experience to Southern Sweden with my friend Rich Wemstrom. No passport is required. Examine in this cyber travelogue how he uniquely, personally, and artistically brings genealogy to life. Rich claims the trip, “ touched me to the extent I felt RESPONSIBLE to pass on theContinue reading “Ancestry Requires No Passport”

Genealogy and Bearers of the Family Torch

What is it that drives a personal passion to willingly take on the role of “ancestry keeper of the light”? Not every person bears an interest to engage in researching family history. Not everyone feels a sense of responsibility to carry forward one’s known ancestry for personal motives or dedicated to toiling for the benefitContinue reading “Genealogy and Bearers of the Family Torch”

Genealogy Tourism Sentimental Journey and More

“The searching of one’s family history does not have a clear end-goal, but rather is an ongoing process of building a larger narrative about one’s self and the past” Ancestral tourism, the travel to see and explore where the roots are planted for one’s family tree is definitely on the rise. Planning my third pilgrimageContinue reading “Genealogy Tourism Sentimental Journey and More”

Genealogy: Identity Treasure Hunting—Search for Self?

Is it true for you? It appears that many want to know where they come from, what we are, what made us who we are. Is this ancestry questing urge a universal need? What is behind this wanting to know about our roots? What is the mystery of it all? Thousands today seem to clamorContinue reading “Genealogy: Identity Treasure Hunting—Search for Self?”

Winter In Sweden (Viking Style)

Winter in Sweden was a fantasyland for storytelling by my dear mother and grandmother. My mother only spent a year as a 8 year old in Sollefteå after her father died in Chicago. She never outgrew her love of the Swedish “spark” kick sled. In her seventies she purchased a spark in America. Beautiful memories.Continue reading “Winter In Sweden (Viking Style)”