Top Scariest Things in Genealogy
There are plenty of things that scare me in life: the economy, politicians, the press...earwigs. This is the time of year we see all the horror shows coming on TV, people decorating their homes with various Halloween decor...none of which is that scarey.
I guess for a person who spends a lot of their time looking for dead people and hanging out in cemeteries, the thought of ghosts does not scare me much. If one showed up, I would pull out a pad and pen and ask them for some help with their lineage.
Zombies are again, just more dead people, vampires are technically undead, but again having been "alive" for so long, I still think they might be a good source of genealogical information... excuse me Edward - but do you recall the name of the woman you bit and what county she came from?
No, my idea of what is seriously scarey is slightly different and the terror is present year round. Here is what makes me scream:
1. Evidence unExplained! Going through my genealogy information from my early years I find notes and information written down with no source citation. ACK! Where on earth and all-that-is-terrifying did I get that information from? Going back and looking for a source citations decades after it was written down is truly, horribly terrifying! Cite your sources on even that scrap piece of paper you grab to record a conversation with Aunt Erma. You will not remember to do it later!
2. "For of all sad words of tongue or pen the saddest are these;
it might have been." John Greenleaf Whittier Not only is it sad, it is scary to not take the opportunity to talk with those who are living and have the keys to the past. How frightening to not cherish those we love today. We can remember the departed, but not at the expense of those who are living today.
3. I have begun organizing, purging, digitize and filing over 20 years of genealogy research - mainly because I am tired of the terror of not finding what I want, when I want it! Being organized can calm many a troubled heart.
4. One of the worst fears is having the internet or computer down for any period of time. What would I do with out my Pinterest (follow me at www.pinterest.com/valerieelkins), my social network, my online resources? shudder...the horror is to great to contemplate!
I think I will stop at four, I am too freaked out to consider any more frightening things. Maybe I will go will watch a horror movie to calm my nerves.
Repost: First posted on Oct 14, 2011
© copyright Valerie Elkins 2012
I guess for a person who spends a lot of their time looking for dead people and hanging out in cemeteries, the thought of ghosts does not scare me much. If one showed up, I would pull out a pad and pen and ask them for some help with their lineage.
Zombies are again, just more dead people, vampires are technically undead, but again having been "alive" for so long, I still think they might be a good source of genealogical information... excuse me Edward - but do you recall the name of the woman you bit and what county she came from?
No, my idea of what is seriously scarey is slightly different and the terror is present year round. Here is what makes me scream:
1. Evidence unExplained! Going through my genealogy information from my early years I find notes and information written down with no source citation. ACK! Where on earth and all-that-is-terrifying did I get that information from? Going back and looking for a source citations decades after it was written down is truly, horribly terrifying! Cite your sources on even that scrap piece of paper you grab to record a conversation with Aunt Erma. You will not remember to do it later!
2. "For of all sad words of tongue or pen the saddest are these;
it might have been." John Greenleaf Whittier Not only is it sad, it is scary to not take the opportunity to talk with those who are living and have the keys to the past. How frightening to not cherish those we love today. We can remember the departed, but not at the expense of those who are living today.
3. I have begun organizing, purging, digitize and filing over 20 years of genealogy research - mainly because I am tired of the terror of not finding what I want, when I want it! Being organized can calm many a troubled heart.
4. One of the worst fears is having the internet or computer down for any period of time. What would I do with out my Pinterest (follow me at www.pinterest.com/valerieelkins), my social network, my online resources? shudder...the horror is to great to contemplate!
I think I will stop at four, I am too freaked out to consider any more frightening things. Maybe I will go will watch a horror movie to calm my nerves.
Repost: First posted on Oct 14, 2011
© copyright Valerie Elkins 2012
This is a great list of scary things! I especially like number 2.
ReplyDeleteLOL -- This is thoughtful and also funny! I see that we are scared of the same things -- especially 1. And 2. I'm trying now to find living relatives, mainly. And you are so right -- it is scary when I forget to record a source, telling myself, "No problem, I'll remember that!" Famous last words. Thanks for this post, Valerie!
ReplyDeleteI agree that finding you are missing source citations from the "early years" is frightening and so frustrating. Oh well, when we know better we do better, right? Thanks for the comments! :)
ReplyDelete