Good Morning, My Little Ones, Since the last discussion was about why we all do this research, let's make the next discussion about telling the truth. Fess Up Time: How many of us have family living within "spittin' distance", but we wouldn't recognize them if we passed on the street? N

This is an great issue. In my own case, I began looking up long lost relatives, that at a younger age was not apt to do, and gained a ton of information that I had never known plus, the advantage of being in contact with someone that shares the same heritage. It worked for me, only I should have done more of it at an earlier age. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancy" <lacywinston@earthlink.net> To: <MO-OREGON-HISTORY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 7:16 AM Subject: [MO-OREGON-HISTORY] New Topic..... > Good Morning, My Little Ones, > > Since the last discussion was about why we all do this research, let's > make the next discussion about telling the truth. > > > Fess Up Time: > > How many of us have family living within "spittin' distance", but we > wouldn't recognize them if we passed on the street? > > > N > > > ==== MO-OREGON-HISTORY Mailing List ==== > http://www.oregoncountyhistory.net/ >

Nancy, If you had used "had" instead of "have", it would have applied to me. From things mentioned by my mom when I was living at home, subtle hints I guess you would call them, we had quite a few in "spittin' distance" and in those days, you didn't always have anything to do with all your "supposed" kin. As to present day, no one closer than the electronic distance but I do know that if I hadn't "met up with them", I wouldn't have nearly as much info about my wide-spread family and for that, I can't thank them enough! Larry in SA. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancy" <lacywinston@earthlink.net> To: <MO-OREGON-HISTORY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 7:16 AM Subject: [MO-OREGON-HISTORY] New Topic..... > Good Morning, My Little Ones, > > Since the last discussion was about why we all do this research, let's > make the next discussion about telling the truth. > > > Fess Up Time: > > How many of us have family living within "spittin' distance", but we > wouldn't recognize them if we passed on the street? > > > N > > > ==== MO-OREGON-HISTORY Mailing List ==== > http://www.oregoncountyhistory.net/ > >

It's funny that you should mention kin living spittin distance away and not know them.. While I don't have kin in spittin distance, because of my research and doing the 5 books that I have done, plus 3 family reunions, one of the biggest comments last year at my Bennett Reunion was.... "I didn't know you were my cousin!".... this from people who had know the others all their lives, and yet had no clue that they were cousins... THAT and cousins who grew up together, and haven't seen each other in 50 years, is 2 of the main reasons why I do this!! I am also privileged to say that because of my research and reunion planning, that I have made some good friends with my not too distant cousins.... Deloris Harriell, Mark Dethrow, Rep. Mike Dethrow, Carl Burkhead, just so many that I would not have known, had it not been for family research!! I'm thrilled! Lanita

Strange but true - last week I was on the GenForum site and found a two year old message from a first cousin of mine that I had never met. I responded, thinking "Well, it's two years old, so I probably won't get a response." The very next day I did get a response - he said it was the first time he had returned to the site since his initial posting two years ago (strange - a psychic moment?) Our local funeral home has a marquee outside with names, visitation times, and funeral times of those within. Thursday I drove past and noticed my elderly aunt's name was on the marquee. She was the mother of the cousin I had talked to on GenForum! From the obituary, I learned that he lives 30 miles from me, as well as several of his brothers and sisters. So, I was faced with this very issue at the funeral - some of my aunt's grandchildren live right here in town, where I have lived ALL my life, and I didn't have a clue. With the cousins I DO know who attended the funeral, the topic of discussion was "Why do we only get together at funerals?" We ARE in "spitting" distance of each other and have no idea what is going on in each other's lives! You can bet I got lots of addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addy's, etc! Peggy Cannady -----Original Message----- From: Nancy [mailto:lacywinston@earthlink.net] Sent: Sunday, February 16, 2003 7:17 AM To: MO-OREGON-HISTORY-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [MO-OREGON-HISTORY] New Topic..... Good Morning, My Little Ones, Since the last discussion was about why we all do this research, let's make the next discussion about telling the truth. Fess Up Time: How many of us have family living within "spittin' distance", but we wouldn't recognize them if we passed on the street? N ==== MO-OREGON-HISTORY Mailing List ==== http://www.oregoncountyhistory.net/

Odd but pleasant that this subject should come up. The GATES family is my main line of research. This is my father's family and they were scattered all over southern MO and finally most moved into Randolph Co AR. Several of my great aunts were a mystery to me as I had virtually no info other than names and dates of birth and marriage. Two of them I learned several years ago, had died quite young and left small children. I searched and searched for those children with little success. Two weeks ago they found me through some of my old postings on rootsweb. Both families, within 24 hours of each other! Through my aunt Mollie I now have at least 4 wonderful new cousins and we have stayed busy on the internet catching up. They all live in AR. The following morning after receiving their message....the next one arrived. Even more improbable as this young man's gr grandmother died when his grandfather was quite young, her husband later remarried, and moved away. The young man and I shared several messages before I asked him where he lived. I thought he too was in AR or MO. Turns out he was less than 5 miles away! My family left the mid-south in 1960 and moved to AZ. I have always disliked being so far from family and we all felt deprived being so far from family....but in sharing info I learned that Scotts grandfather lived in the same very small town just outside of Phoenix that my parents and I lived in. My father and Scotts grandfather were 1st cousins and they NEVER knew that they lived with in 1 mile of each other. The family was so hungry to know mine....isn't it sad, my dad's cousin is now passed away and they never knew or guessed how close they were. Life is indeed strange. Gena Gates Lally