Getting started

The beginning was our family's desire to know about our parents, our parents' parents, and ever backward.
The next step was *genealogy software* - such a useful tool for organizing the information that we *might* know (and hopefully find).
Another step was finding out that there was a BOX of stuff from our past that belonged to those parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, and ever backward.
A fun step was going through to box of STUFF with my mother, jogging her memory, letting her relish in past memories, commiserating with her puzzlement when handed-down lore did not jibe with discovered information, joining in her jubilation when handed-down lore DID jibe with discovered information.
It has also been wonderful to learn more and trot down new paths after speculation, discovery, affirmation and synchronization.
There are HAND-WRITTEN letters dating back to 1895 between our family ancestors! What a treasure. I will be doing my best to type up *transcriptions* of this correspondence to share with our far-flung family (but for our family folks who haven't quite brought themselves to enter this astounding cyber-space phase of life in 2008 (and beyond), never fear - my plans are to share this information with you in traditional written/mail form.

Next time - letters from John & Alice Annie!