ALL I want for Christmas Dear Santa: Don't bring me new dishes; I don't need a new kind of game, Genealogists have peculiar wishes; For Christmas, I just want a surname. A new washing machine would be great, But it's not the desire of my life. I've just found an ancestor's birth date; What I need now is the name of the wife. My heart doesn't yearn for a ring That would put a real diamond to shame. What I want is a much cheaper thing: Please give me Mary's last name. To see my heart singing with joy Don't bring me a red leather suitcase. Bring me a genealogist's toy; A surname, with dates and a place! Anonymous ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm sure Santa's mailbox is overflowing, but I hope he answers your letter, and brings you the clue to get you through, over, under or around that genealogy brick wall. Best wishes to you and your families for all the joys the season can bring. May we all have peace and properity in the New Year. Jo Russell