Exciting news! I have moved blogs. I am in the process of slowly moving all the posts over. Please join me at MomOffTrack.com.
My mom turns 81 today. I would like to say that I gave her a wonderful gift. But I didn’t. She actually gave me one. Isn’t it always that way with moms?
I gave my mom a plane ticket to come visit for the week. But she gave me the hope and encouragement that at 81 she can still take off work, hop on a plane, and get here on her on volition.
I gave my mom a membership to ancestry.com. But she gave me 1,000′s of pictures and stories that only she as the last member of her generation would know. She gave me hours of her time identifying people in pictures and telling me the silly little things like, yes, your Nana went by Theresa but she was legally named Sarah and why. Apparently my grandparents did not agree on the name and since in those days the fathers typically went to register the birth in the next town over, he wrote down what he wanted and never told my great grandmother until my nana was getting married.
Last night I gave my
mom a bottle of wine. She gave me a night of fun and laughs while we looked through old photos. We found photos of a tombstone from an ancestor who fought in the Revolutionary War. We found copies of books showing our family was one of the first settlers at Plymouth Rock. We found Coat of Arms, Knights Templar medals, and wills and castles of our family dating back to the 1400′s! I always thought that I was mostly from an Irish Immigrant background and that is part of our history but there is so much more history in England.
So, here is to you mom. I can never give you what you have given me! Can’t wait for you to move here and spend the next 40 years of your life!
If you have yet to start ancestry.com I seriously hope you do soon before you lose touch with older generations of your family. I am so sorry I didn’t start this when my dad was alive (and for some reason I feel compelled to tell you that I have in no assoc. with them I just really, really, really love it).
to my little corner of the blogosphere. I am Barb, an ex-public school teacher turned blogger and forum owner. Read all about our family antics as we muddle through the chaos that occurs daily when you mix a work-at-home-mom with an unschooled, wheeling, tween and a teen in Catholic school. Not to mention my very traditional high school sweetheart turned husband of 17 years. Hey, at least I am giving my kids something to talk about in therapy when they get older...
great post… that is SO the way with moms
happy birthday to your mama!
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What a beautifully written tribute to your mom and your relationship with her! I hope she has a wonderful birthday. What a gift to have you near her on her special day. When I turn 81 someday, nothing would make me happier than being with my daughter:)
Also, thanks for the heads up on ancestry.com – will check it out!
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Moms are great like that, aren't they? I just hope that I can fill my kids lives with stories some day too.
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Ancestry.com is awesome…your mom will love it and more importantly you'll both be able to add, search, find, and save all the way back for as far as you want to go. I started my genealogy in 2004 ish and I'm in the 1840's, but I haven't worked on it for seveal years now AND more importantly, I have very very few that I can go to to ask questions and fill in so many of the blanks. You are so fortuante to have your mom there with you to do that. Enjoy and if you have questions with the site, I can help.
And a very happy birthday to your mom!
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What a wonderful way to celebrate your Mom's birthday! I love researching family history. Sounds like your mom has made great use of your gift.
Awww… it must have been fun to connect with your mother like that! Happy B-day Terry!
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Happy Birthday to your mom! It always amazes me how much moms give to their children without even trying.
THANK YOU FOR BEING MY DAUGHTER MY GIFT FROM GOD!!!!!!!!
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