Cousins All, Here's a little "Thought for the Day" which I felt was highly appropriate at this time. I remember thinking, as a teenager listening to all the "old folks" talking about family members and events long past, that they already had done all the research and lived the interesting lives and there wasn't much more for me to do... just write down some names and dates, etc. HA! And just a few months ago, my grandson (age 16) "complained" to me that by the time he got old enough to do any research on his own, we older ones in the family would have it all done! Point being: we need to keep in mind that just as we have "revised" some of the data that was handed to us, surely our descendants will find need for revision in some of the information we are so carefully compiling! OUR NOBLEST ACHIEVEMENT We must expect posterity to view with some asperity the marvels and the wonders we're passing on to it; but it should change its attitude to one of heartfelt gratitude when thinking of the blunders we didn't quite commit. -- Piet Hein And I'd like to call attention to an excellent "tutorial" for improving genealogical research. If you haven't yet explored this set of materials, I urge you to do so. ROOTSWEB'S GUIDE TO TRACING FAMILY TREES. For an index and links to the first 22 lessons that will help "jump-start" pursuit of your ancestors in 2000, see <http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/> Best wishes for a safe and Happy New Year! JS List Custodian ____________________________ James Shuman, art instructor Modesto High School jshuman@telis.org ____________________________