tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5442660665515602478.post3368641297294978067..comments2024-03-23T21:25:40.002-04:00Comments on Permanent Record: Paul Lukashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01569493938573591538noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5442660665515602478.post-36021461890900835452012-10-30T19:05:09.706-04:002012-10-30T19:05:09.706-04:00I regret not asking my father about his family now...I regret not asking my father about his family now that it's too late. I've seen his grave so I know he was born in 1876 but that's all. I wish I knew his father's name so I could find his Civil War record.merlallenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01023548198899856438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5442660665515602478.post-61870001214969691342012-10-23T15:57:27.894-04:002012-10-23T15:57:27.894-04:00I am love with my family history and genealogy. (I...I am love with my family history and genealogy. (I do consider the two topics distinct although interelated.) I enjoy monkeying through the generations - tracking the tree forwards, backwards, left, and right. I can't fully explain why. I just find a satisfaction in digging through old documents to tease out stories, and I find happiness in seeing how the decisions of those generations before me have shaped my life for me today. Janellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11092893864737058248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5442660665515602478.post-73179559889627532412012-10-23T14:26:40.942-04:002012-10-23T14:26:40.942-04:00When I was younger, I felt much the same way you d...When I was younger, I felt much the same way you do, but I as I've gotten older I've become more fascinated with my family's history. One thing that has made me change, I think, is that I can see my parents are not going to be here forever, so I'd like to know as much about them and their families as possible before they're gone. Funny enough, we've always been a non-religious Jewish family, too, and my grandmother was a bootlegger. Plus, I also had a mysterious, estranged (and strange) uncle. I'd encourage you, Paul, to do a little research on your fam. Once you go down that rabbit hole, I think you'll enjoy it. I mean, come on, a bootlegger. My grandmother used to run moonshine around North Carolina. My grandfather helped smuggle guns to Israel when they were fighting for independence. I'm related to James K. Polk. All these things I never knew growing up, but kind of wish I did. Who knows what you'll turn up.Joneehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11393404761584104092noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5442660665515602478.post-53986703022520626542012-10-22T13:03:21.046-04:002012-10-22T13:03:21.046-04:00Hi again, Paul. I come from a pretty normal famil...Hi again, Paul. I come from a pretty normal family from North Carolina - conservative & Baptist (since reformed on both counts). My parents are still married, my family life was never anything other than vanilla. We went to family reunions, and I've met many of my relatives with "great," "second/third/fourth," and "removed" in their familial designation. I'm now in my mid-30s and married. I have two stepdaughters and two sons.<br /><br />I realize not everyone gets to the point where they realize a spouse and kids are what they want from life - for a time I didn't think I wanted it. The weird part is next, though. Since having my own family in the past 3 years I don't care about my "old" family at all. I do think we all get to the point where we realize our parents don't have all the answers and can't fix everything. I think me reaching that point has something to do with my change in interest, so to speak. But it isn't just the people I looked to for answers previously in my life, it's their supporting cast too.<br /><br />I've read Uni-Watch for many years, I love your little trips into other people's lives on here and Slate. The minutia and historical details fascinate me. I consider myself an amateur historian on a few topics that interest me...none of which are my family. I have a loving and supportive wife who I've shared this with, so I'm not in a situation where I'm reaching for someone else's understanding. Just thought I'd share a slightly different perspective on this for you. Cheers.<br />Mattpossumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09820942455307929512noreply@blogger.com