Hi, Since this list isn't real busy at the moment, thought you would enjoy reading this. Carolyn >LETTER TO MY ANCESTORS (from Scotland List) > >After spending a frustrating evening pouring over illegible handwriting in >badly damaged and out of focus parish registers - and still NOT finding my >relatives, I thought it was time to send an open email (at >www.ofcoursethereisaHeaven.com) to all my "Upstairs" relatives who have >gone >to Heaven (99% of them) or the Other Place (1%). The text follows. (Feel >free to insert your own relative's names where appropriate.) > >"Dear ________: > >I am your _________ and living in the late 20th century here in >___________, >______. > >I am sitting in front of a microfilm projector (I'll explain what that is >in >a later email) in a special library run by the LDS (nice people, but later >on >them, too) trying to decipher the small and shaky handwriting of your >parish's minister/vicar/curate (choose one). He must have been either >vertically challenged or had palsy - because it's unreadable! At least I >think it's your parish! I'm not even sure of the decade. > >Thanks for leaving such a good paper trail! (Sarcasm intended.) According > >to family legend, you and your wife ___________ had _____ children, some of > >whom lived beyond infancy. Yet not a single one was recorded in the parish > >records! I can't even find your marriage certificate. You two WERE >married, >right? Didn't you know that there would be legions of people like me >fanatically spending their waking hours and small fortunes looking for any >and all traces of your lives? Were you just stubborn, couldn't afford the >fees, or not members of the Established (or any) Church? > >You're wondering, "What's all the fuss, we're dead as doornails?" We're >not >sure, but I think down here we're infected with the same disease: Rootsus >obsessionus. Of course, WE are going to leave better records for our >descendants! > >Anyway, I'm glad I was able to vent my frustrations upward. If I couldn't >do >that, I'd have probably popped the obnoxious researcher next to me who is >right now translating an old parish record in German - and out loud, for >God's sake (oops!) > >I have an idea.... When I'm "dead-on" (pardon the expression) to finding >the >correct record, give me some sort of sign. Make the projector bulb flicker > >twice. Or, if it must be done in the privacy of my home, I have a Labrador > >Retriever. Talk through her. That will get my attention for sure. > >Thanks for listening. I'll be better in the morning..... I'll be back at >the library tomorrow night for Round 14, so catch me there. > >Sincerely, > >Your ___________, > > >==== GenHumor Mailing List ==== > >!^NavFont02F082F0006NGHHOw2A78 > >