Wednesday, October 17, 2007

10-17-07 In the beginning....

When I was a kid, there was a game show named "What's My Line?." There was a panel that wore blind folds, asked questions, and guessed by the answers what the contestant's occupation was. My "line" is genealogy and my interest was sparked when my Dad died. We were going through his possessions and discovered the hand written journal of my great-grandmother, Lisadore Williams Taylor. Reading her journal gave me an opportunity to bond with this woman, who had died years before my birth.
I was educated as a Dental Hygienist and it has been good to me for many years, but my life is benefited by my search of my family! There is something about the search and the connection to the past that has its lure. History has become my favorite subject and I apply it on a minute level. I have to know detailed history to understand the records available and the jurisdiction where the records will be held.
In the last year I have been able to attend University classes on genealogy. I gave a presentation in September and in my biography I mentioned how my horizons had been expanded by taking these classes. I heard a woman say she wanted me to elaborate on this. I didn't have the time then, but I want to share my feelings.
One of the ways I have grown, is an introduction to genealogy journals and magazines. I love to learn more about records, research methods, and other people's discoveries. I am excited to see what else I can learn; I love it. This is part of the joy I have from the classes, I have been able to take. I have never felt this way about Dental Hygiene or the journals pertaining to it. I know I should have started on a professional level years ago! I have always loved math and science; it is interesting to me that now my interest is a social science, history.

2 comments:

Craig Manson said...

Welcome, Mary Beth. I know just what you mean . . . I've been blessed to do many things in my life, but nothing has been as compelling as genealogy!

Bill West said...

Hi Mary Beth.
I smiled as I read your post.
It's how I feel was well about
genealogy.

Looking forward to reading more of your blog!