So, I’m writing down what I know. This post (and the ones to follow) aren’t meant as a step-by-step guide to writing your family history but instead a journey how my brain is approaching this project. I’m certainly not calling it a best practices guide either! Lot’s of learning going on here…

Oh yea. And the hubs just shorted my timetable by a week as we’re driving out earlier than I expected. doh!

Know why you’re writing

The purpose of the document you are putting together and the audience will greatly influence how you write (your “voice” in writing lingo) and even what you include. A case study or paper to be submitted to a journal will be much more formal and may have specific formatting requirements, especially for including citations of your research. A family history to be shared with the family members shouldn’t read like those (the cousins will all fall asleep, you know it’s true), but you want it to be accurate and, in my opinion, it’s still a good idea to let folks know where you got the info.

The purpose this booklet for the reunion is to reconnect cousins of my father-in-law and their families now that the older generations have passed on. So, I want it to get people talking and give some common frames of reference. And of course, to share the information I’ve discovered in my research. I’m sure there will be errors in the younger generations and I know there are holes, so I don’t consider this version “library donation ready” either. It’s more of the “beta version”.

Blank pages suck

The worst thing for me is know where to start. How to start. Just starting. bah! So to get around this I output the appropriate descendant chart with all the information my genealogy program could spew out and started copying and pasting into my blank document. In the end, all families start with someone being born somewhere. If I want to go with a catchier beginning, I’ll come up with that later. For now, I want a framework.

Other folks might have started with an outline, which possibly would’ve been a more organized way. But my brain just isn’t organized that way for this project.

Use styles

From the very beginning use styles when your typing up (or copying in) your text. Trust me, this will make your life MUCH easier later and, if you are using a professional layout person, it will save you money if they don’t have to restyle your document. If you are using a layout person, you can even ask them if they have a template for you to work in or style names to use. They’ll love you. If they don’t know what you are talking about, find someone else.

Any word processing program is going to have built-in styles you can use or you can make your own. Do it.

Find the holes

This is where I am now. I have the framework done and have questions noted in the margin. Now to fill in the holes.

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Genealogy Research

Progress on past goals:

Got my DNA test back from 23andMe. No shockers. European ancestry. Not sure where I’ll take it.

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For July:

Dig up more dirt on the Hansford side of the family. And by dirt, I mean information.

Write & Publish

Progress on past goals:

We have the Hansford Reunion coming up in early Aug. I’ve got data and the first draft of a framework. Is it on track? No, but getting there.

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For July:

Finish stuff for Hansford Reunion. Currently includes massive chart people can comment on/update and a written piece.

Education

Progress on past goals:

Research free online courses. Didn’t happen.

Make a plan for completing some. See goal above. Since I didn’t research, wasn’t anything to take.

Did attend seminars presented by the Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogy Society seminar featuring Laura G. Prescott and the Seattle Genealogical Society Seminar featuring Colleen Fitzpatrick. Good stuff! Also managed to get a GeneaBlogger’s Radio in a couple weeks ago.

For July:

None. I really just need to get the Hansford family stuff done.

Run the Business/Business Development

Progress on past goals:

Get my professional profile written-dang nabbit- and submit for posting on local chapter of APG website: done!

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Develop a report template for myself.

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For August:

Develop a report template for myself. Because, realistically, it isn’t going to happen in July.

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What I noticed tonight is that my largest group, by far, is made up of my genealogy peeps! Considering that there are those who question why genealogists would bother with social media (a question I gave my perspective on here over a year ago), I find it interesting and reassuring.

People are using social media to connect to further their genealogy ends. Whether it’s for research, finding new cousins, learning new skills, or seeking collaboration, they are out there.

Genealogists are the new early adopters!

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Disclosure: I don’t get anything from Hootsuite. In fact I pay them monthly cuz I monitor too many accounts to use the free version. But I like it enough to pay them, so there you go.

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I pride myself on being able to quickly learn new programs and I admit for having fondness for Excel that has been described by some as “scary”. I’m the family’s go-to person when their computer won’t start, the file is lost (you did back-up your files, right?), or anything seems to go wrong. But, though I love the challenge of a good problem, most of the time I really just want the stuff to WORK.

So, what brought this on? I had to upgrade my email software for day-job client work and upon doing that I solved random problems that were happening at with client system. Yea! Happiness!

However, New and Exciting Problems started when I moved over to the rest-of-my-life stuff (yes, caps are intentional). I have separate logins for day-job client and rest-of-life/work due to client’s domain peculiarities (geek, remember? hang in there, we’re getting to the point). Unhappiness ensued when I tried opening emails in recently upgraded email software that won’t be named and boom! The whole thing crashed. Well, the email crashed anyway.

There was some new, fun!, problem and some of my emails just would NOT open. Unacceptable! I’m trying to run a business here of which day-job client is only one part. Now I’m unable to read emails, potentially from other clients or more importantly, potentially long-lost-far-flung cousins!

Well, short-story-long, there were two (very standard I might add) fonts that I had to install new versions of in order to make the unhappiness go away and so far it’s working (knocking on wood). But what’s the morale of the story? Technology is awesome! It has enabled great things. Especially in genealogy. You can see copies of records, do more research, publish, and connect in ways unimaginable when I started researching.

But, even folks that embrace change don’t always like it. Sites that change all of their navigation at once and keep none of the same terminology as a hint as to where to go and give you no “old-site” option (and I’m not talking about a genealogy site here): boo!

And when it changes but then doesn’t work as well as it used to? Or at all? Well, then I just want to punch it in the face.

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postscript

lol! – no lack of available images suitable for including in this post, guess I’m not alone…

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I didn’t manage to say hi to Laura, but I did get to briefly meet Cyndi Howells of Cyndi’s List (yes, that Cyndi’s list). She was one of the first people I ever heard of who was spending all of her time doing something related to genealogy. I was envious. I’m still trying to figure out my business model, but it was wonderful to meet her and wait until you see the upgrade that’s coming to ‘the list’.

During lunch and much of the afternoon I staffed the table for the Puget Sound Chapter of the APG. While we did have some folks come by and visit, we were no match for the draw of the vendors selling books and charts. I did get to meet and get to know some of my colleagues in PS-APG better and it was wonderful to chat with them. I enjoyed discussing how other people go about finding clients, managing their business, and doing “real-world” research for someone else.

I’m not doing any travelling to conferences out-of-state this year and I didn’t really know how much I would get out of today. But don’t underestimate the power of connecting with folks who “get” that you have the genealogy research bug. Often seminars or workshops such as the one I attended today are held as fundraising opportunities for the sponsoring organization, so look around and see what’s in your area.

You’ll be supporting a local group and don’t underestimate the power of just meeting new people.

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In the past, my Grandmother’s were the focal point of information. Everyone talked to them and gave them the latest news: babies being born, engagements, divorces, illness, new jobs – you name it. Now that they’ve both passed on, the family has lost that touch-point and I’ve lost a wonderful conduit of information. Some of the family I keep up with via Facebook, but it’s not a complete view for sure.

What about you? Are you the Record Keeper for your family? If so, how do you get your information? Do people offer it or do you have to seek it out? What about sharing news? Do you have a family print or email newsletter or website? Or do you utilize a web-based application like Geni.com to do both?

Hum…I feel a survey coming on.

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There. I said it. It’s hard to keep up sometimes. And it’s not just hobbies. I’m the same way with businesses. I have one on the front burner, one on the back burner, and another recipe card sitting on the counter. And my geneaology one is the one on the back burner, so now you can guess why I go so quiet sometimes.

Of course, my personal research suffers from “Something Shiny” syndrome too. I’ll start working on one thing and before I know it–but really 6 hours later–I wonder how the heck I ended up where I am. Leading to some thoughts on great blog topics…

But, what’s going on now? I don’t have goals per se, but here some updates:

• My DNA test from 23andMe is being processed as I type. After a friendly nudge from them to send in a sample for the test I bought last year during their DNA Day sale, I finally did it.
• My youngest son is playing baseball and it got me to wondering what sports my ancestors enjoyed. I know my paternal Grandfather was on the high school track team (family stories) and my Dad did wrestling I think (I have a picture somewhere). So, to do’s from this thought: write down what I do know about people I can’t question, question those I can, record my own family’s history (see pics!)

Son #1 during a T-Ball game far too long ago - he'll be 15 this year.

Son #2 and Hubs fielding at Son #1 practice. One of my fav pics of them.

• My Husband’s family is having a wedding in June and a family reunion in August. I mentioned putting something together for the reunion and the response has been very positive. Note to self: don’t send emails while being inspired by Ken Burns documentaries. So, from this: straighten out research I have for Hub’s family and bring it to life in a compelling way. Egad.
• We don’t have regular TV any more – cut the cable trying to find more time in the day. We do have Netflix streaming though so it hasn’t worked real well. Consequence is that I haven’t seen any of the new season of Who Do You Think You Are? Good thing they’re available online. Now I just need to carve out time to watch them; I’ve heard good things so I’m looking forward to it.
• In May I’ll be attending some local genealogy seminars coming up. The Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogy Society seminar featuring Laura G. Prescott is May 7 and the Seattle Genealogical Society Seminar featuring Colleen Fitzpatrick is May 21. Not doing the big conferences this year, so it’ll be nice to get out and mix it up with genealogy peeps.

So, it did turn into a list of goals after all. Funny how that happens. Now where was I? Oh yea, need to tuck the kids into bed.

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It’s certainly been an interesting year both personally and professionally. Thanks to everyone who reads, comments, and even just lurks. And especially thank you to everyone who keeps coming back, even when the blog appears abandoned (ahem). You know who you are – you’re here now.

So, from me to you, a virtual slice of cake and let’s reminisce with the posts that have been read the most this past year:

Why care about all this ‘social networking’ nonsense? (posted 19 May 2010)

Finding what I wasn’t looking for (posted 10 July 2010)

Reflections on Grandma (posted 05 May 2010)

My Mom went to NGS ’10 & all I got was a 15-Generation Pedigree Chart (posted 02 May 2010)

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But how do some folks create a Lifetime of Love? This is definitely one of those times when I wish I had a time machine so that I could go back and ask my ancestor’s how they did it. Unless illness or accident intervened, they all were married for an amazing amount of time and by all accounts were very happy.

Grandpa home on leave and caught smootchin' with Grandma. Married 66 years.

My parents are at 47 years and counting. My grandparents were married 66 and 67 years. My Great-Grandparents included marriages of 56 years and 64 years. My Great Great-Grandparents, Hugh Baker and Lucy McMullen: 63 years (married 13 Dec 1869).

Sure, as in any family, we have our stories of heartbreak and heartache too, but what words of advice could these folks give me? Maybe in the end it’s just to focus on enjoying a lifetime together, one day at a time.

(Smoothes to my hubby by the way. 18 years and counting…)

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*Sigh*

I know I need to be more consistent. I know I should have some Grand Master Plan. But I don’t and somehow life just seems to get in the way sometimes. Or a lot.

I mean, I knew better then to set any genealogy goals for December. Meant to mention that in my November goals recap. Uh, pending on that…

So, life got really in the way. But I’m back. And the internets can just take its wagging little finger and go play somewhere else now thankyouverymuch.

(PS – Hi Nancy! Just in case you’re checking up on me to see if I’m getting my act together)

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