Do you know what? I just came face to face with the marvelous capabilities of the Internet and email! No, it has nothing to do with surfing the net, it has to do with actually communicating with my family! You see, almost a year ago when my brother's son, John Housman, Jr., was visiting here from Houston, Texas, we exchanged email addresses and since then we have corresponded rather infrequently via email. And at one point I suggested that he and DeeAnn subscribe to the PD list just in case they might enjoy the sort of research that is going on regarding the family's history. And, frankly, I had forgotten that they had actually subscribed to the list. Well, this evening I received an email from nephew John in reply to my "Uncle Will" posting, he gave me an update as to their young family's goings-on, and it was obvious that they have been enjoying my stories, including what I wrote about Uncle Will. Now, here's the thing of it. Without the Internet and email, there is little doubt but what that the only contact I would have with my nephew's family is an occasional Christmas card and that they and I wouldn't have the foggiest notion about each others' lives. And now I know a bit more about them and they CERTAINLY know a bit more about Aunt Vee! Heavens to Betsy, I had forgotten that the "children" were lurking on the PD list! (giggle, giggle!) No, I won't watch what I say in the future ("Little Pichers have Big Ears" sort of thing!), I'll just be content to think that I have more than cousins on the list. And that my nephew and niece are actually getting to know me and getting to know what being Pennsylvania Dutch is all about. And, in the meantime, they're hearing things about our Eshelman, Kendig, Stauffer, Shenk, Bender, Hollinger, Baer, etc., etc., families and a bit of their Mennonite family origins. Ain't that what we're all about?? vee ==== PENNA-DUTCH Mailing List ==== Haven't found a post of interest? Why not generate one of your own?