Wednesday, April 14, 2021

Labor of Love and Labor Intensive

You've decided to create a family tree.  Do you have any idea how much time it will take?

I started my tree way back around 2000.  I found a few documents online and added my grandfather's names to the Wall of Honor at Ellis Island.  But, I was working full-time.  I had other things to do besides sit at my computer.  My labor of love would have to wait.

And that is truly what it is - a Labor of Love.  My curiosity about how my family came to be in America.  Not all of my relatives are here.  Many still remain in Italy and present-day Poland.  Others are spread all over the world - Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Venezuela, Argentina, England, France and who knows where else.  Some Italian relatives moved to Germany in the late 1800's and I have no idea if they ever left.

But like volunteering - for which I received a local award years ago - it is the pleasure we derive from our efforts with no remuneration.  

I started this in earnest about seven years ago.  Even after retirement in 2008 I was still active with Legislative issues in our state and then I was volunteering at the local hospital in the pastry kitchen.  Then one day I was sitting home babysitting Charlie, who turned seven yesterday, I found I had plenty of time while he was napping.  And I got to do some serious work.

And I have loved every minute of it.  The wonderful folks I have met online, even those I am not related to who just have questions.  The discoveries I have made and the sleuthing I get to do to try to fit all the pieces together.  I've started keeping track of addresses and if folks are the same age living in the same house, I've starting assuming they are siblings.  And if I am wrong, who cares.  

It is a hobby.  A labor of love.  And I hope the family I leave behind appreciates the time I put into this.  Because someday they may have questions about their ancestors, and I will have provided some answers.  Way more answers than I had when I started this.



9 comments:

  1. You are right that it is a labour of love and one that takes a lot of time. I hope that, when I retire, I will find out more information on my dad’s side. Maybe I can finally lay to rest whether I am somehow related to Liberace.

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  2. Genealogy is indeed time-consuming and addictive - but it's interesting and rewarding with a lot of pleasure and satisfaction.
    After retirement, I embarked on a genealogical quest with the sole purpose of finding out about my grandfather's family(mother and siblings) who had emigrated from Europe to America leaving him behind with his wife and kids.

    Your search was mainly in Europe, mine only in America. I suppose it's a completely different experience. The americans I was looking for were less cooperative; probably they think everyone wishes to emigrate to their lovely country and be part of their highly divided nation.

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    1. LOL. Yes, they only want real Americans here. What a bunch of idiots.

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  3. Yes, definitely a labor of live, Denise. I started my research in 1998 and discovered several relatives who were able to add much to my growing cache of names, dates, and stories.
    https://gail-baugniet.blogspot.com

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    1. My aunt is in her 90's and can barely remember who she is. Wish I had asked questions a long time ago.

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  4. My daughter is about 18 months into researching our family, and I really admire the time and effort she's putting into it. It's a labour she's really loving, and the constant stream of finds she sends me is fascinating - I wouldn't have the patience to do it myself!

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    1. Yes, you have the time and patience, you just have other writings that you enjoy doing. And you are very good at that.

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  5. Hi Denise - I was lucky my uncle did ours back in 1977/8 ... so I have the basics - nothing exciting re overseas. Both my mother's and father's families have interesting histories - which are essentially recorded - I have enough to make my thoughts informative back over the centuries ... while having no children, I can let my knowledge rest or grow as I see fit.

    I can imagine it takes years ... well done - and I'm so pleased you've found something rewarding to help others with too. All the best - Hilary

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