My Aunt called me from Ohio today. She called me while I was at work and it was delightful to take some time to chat with her. We laughed and we struggled to remember family stuff together. I have some things and she has some things and maybe someday we will be able to make a whole from them.

Time may be running out on us, though. She is in her 70’s and, while I know that is not old – especially to those of us nearing 60 (ouch!) – we still have to think of such things. Hubby moose said tonight “it’s too bad you didn’t start asking questions when there were more of them alive.” Ah, yes – throw THAT up to me. 🙁 I mean, really who thinks of this stuff when you are young and marrying and making babies? Yup, not too many.

And, besides, I was always “too busy” to listen when my grandmother would start one of her histories. Sure wish I hadn’t been so dratted impatient.

Anyway, my aunt mentioned some information that she wanted and it turns out I have it so will be making some copies for her and sending them on. It got me to digging – through piles of stuff to find the notebook I knew it was in. And, though I dug through piles of piles – it was right out in plain sight the whole time. Go figure.

Then, I got to thinking about all the other info my uncle had sent me before he passed away. I am so grateful to have my great, great grandfather’s Bible. It is musty and dank and mildewed. It is falling apart at the seams – who knew that Proverbs came before Joshua? And Galatians was in the Old Testament mix, too. Something tells me that somebody has restrung/hand stitched the segments of this particular Bible – and whoever it was didn’t know the books very well – or they couldn’t read those tell-tale NUMBERS at the bottom of the pages. 😉

At any rate – I knew there were some handwritten geneology type pages in it, so opened it up and typed what I could read so that I can send it also to my aunt. The Bible is mine – my uncle entrusted it to me so I am keeping it – unless, of course, she requests it. IT’s an 1871 version, btw. I feel blessed to have it.

Not sure who will receive it when I am gone. Guess the girls can think about it and let me know who it will mean more to – of course, it may also go to one of the grands depending on their temperment and wishes as well.

I’m also sending a copy of the 1910 census records I found online – showing my grandmother’s name to be something entirely different than what we had always known. In addition a copy of my mother’s birth certificate which lists an entirely OTHER name for my grandmother.

Well, she WAS born in Kentucky, after all. Maybe that has something to do with it.

Which reminds me – growing up in Ohio, we were always telling West Virginia jokes. It just goes with the territory – hillbilly jokes and W VA jokes. My grandmother told us to NEVER call her a hillbilly. She would put her nose up into the air, sniff and say –

I’m a Hill WILLIAM, thank you!

Gosh I miss her – she was some sort of character that one.

What family memories do YOU have?