Saturday, June 4, 2016

2016 Jamboree Notes

I haven't blogged for months. But that's "neither here or there" as I've been told in the past. It just is!

This Jamboree was different but just as great. We missed some people who had other commitments,  but have a lot of others who have provided us with so many great ideas for researching. Thank you, Speakers, for all of your time and effort.

I want to mention that I spoke with two ladies from the Spokane area, Mary and Nancy. They are both thinking about blogging. I gave them some basic information and encouraged them to look into Geneabloggers, of course. They are first-time Jamboree attendees and are having such a good time that they already are planning on coming back next year. I'm hoping to see them again tomorrow and see how their evening looking into blogging platforms, etc. went.

And, oh, do I have a lot of work to do. Even though this was my 8th (I think) Jamboree, I still learned some techniques that I really MUST use because I'm sure that they will help me improve my research skills and find information about some of those elusive ancestors.


Friday, January 1, 2016

PLEASE!!! Don't Drink and Drive OR Be a Distracted Driver

If you saw a news piece about a woman who was running on Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena, California, before The Rose Parade on New Year's Day, who was hit by a woman who was allegedly drunk, please realize that this woman (runner) was my sister. My sister is a part of Team-In-Training and she trains and then races to raise funds for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society.

This morning was a "fun" run. The group runs the route of the Rose Parade, backwards, beginning about 5-5:30 in the morning. They then take a shuttle back to their cars and go to breakfast together. This is an event that has occurred for 14 years. The road is closed off from vehicle traffic beginning about 10 pm on New Year's Eve. So there should never be a problem. The runners are very close and they made sure that my sister was taken care of, that her cats were cared for, and that our family was notified. This group is very special!!!

Fortunately, my sister is doing fairly well, although she is still in ICU. Our family is strong. My son and daughter-in-law made arrangements for the care of their four children and drove 3 hours to be with their aunt. My brother and sister-in-law drove 6 hours to be with their sister and sister-in-law. My mother is staying at home, for the moment, because the traveling would be difficult for her. My niece, my sister's daughter, who lives in Hawaii, can't fly immediately. She's waiting until her Mom is out of the hospital, etc. I am waiting to find out what is the best way I can help, before I drive 8+ hours.

There may be something good that occurred in this horrible experience. My sister seems to be recovering without any major injuries, as far as we know. However, if the woman had NOT swerved left and hit my sister, and then swerved right after she hit my sister, she would have run over an entire family sitting on the curb on Colorado Boulevard, early, staking out a space in order to watch THE ROSE PARADE.

We, as genealogists, see/hear so many stories about our families. Sometimes I forget to consider the consequences of the other family members. I get so involved in the stories. This brought things a little closer to home.

So, please don't drink and drive. Or use any devices that make you a "distracted driver."

P.S. Yes, I'm very emotional right now. If I had a week or two to think about the event, I might have written this differently. But with this being the new year, and many people making resolutions, I'm asking that you all consider Not drinking, or using any distracting device, while driving.

THANK YOU. The life you don't hurt may be the relative of one of us.