We Are The ChosenWe are the chosen. In each family there is one who seems called to find theancestors. To put flesh on their bones and make them live again, to tellthe family story and to feel that somehow they know and approve. Doing genealogy is not a cold gathering of facts but, instead, breathinglife into all who have gone before. We are the storytellers of the tribe.All tribes have one. We have been called, as it were, by our genes. Thosewho have gone before cry out to us, "Tell our story!" So, we do. In finding them, we somehow find ourselves. How many graves have I stoodbefore now and cried? I have lost count. How many times have I told theancestors, "You have a wonderful family; you would be proud of us." Howmany times have I walked up to a grave and felt somehow there was love therefor me? I cannot say. It goes beyond just documenting facts. It goes to who am I and why do I dothe things I do. It goes to seeing a cemetery about to be lost forever toweeds and indifference and saying, "I can't let this happen." The boneshere are bones of my bone and flesh of my flesh. It goes to doing somethingabout it. It goes to pride in what our ancestors were able to accomplish,how they contributed to what we are today. It goes to respecting theirhardships and losses, their never giving in or giving up, their resolutenessto go on and build a life for their family. It goes to deep pride that the fathers fought and some died to make and keepus a Nation. It goes to a deep and immense understanding that they weredoing it for us. It is of equal pride and love that our mothers struggledto give us birth. Without them we could not exist, and so we love each one,as far back as we can reach. That we might be born who we are. That we might remember them. So.we do. With love and caring and scribing each fact of their existence, because weare they and they are the sum of who we are. So, as a scribe called, I tellthe story of my family. It is up to that one called in the next generationto answer the call and take my place in the long line of familystorytellers. That is why I do my family genealogy, and that is what calls those young andold to step up and restore the memory or greet those whom we had never knownbefore. -Author Unknown _________________________________________________________________ Your E-mail and More On-the-Go. Get Windows Live Hotmail Free. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222985/direct/01/