Anna, my interest in genealogy came about much like yours.  When my grandfather died my mother and aunt decided my grandmother should not be alone at night.  Since we lived only a half mile away, we grandchilden would ride our bikes or someone would deliver us to Grandma's house in the evening.  The next morning we rode to school with Grandma (a teacher), or rode our bikes home if it was summertime.  I remember asking her one night how someone, whose name is long forgotten, was kin to us.  I fell asleep snuggled in her bed, listening to her recite kinships.  She had an interest in genealogy herself and knew many of the family lines.  Oh how I wish I had written down every word I heard her say on those nights!  It wasn't until many years later, after my children were nearly grown and my grandmothers much older, that I began to understand that I needed to write down these things.  I was also blessed by inheriting an occasional scrap of paper where my grandmother wrote names and by her one known diary.  How I treasure the paper things! I am enjoying everyone's stories of how they got started. Judy The May Sexton McGlothin Foundation is now online at maymcglothin.org!  Help us keep the dream alive! Laus Deo ----- Original Message ---- From: Anna L Bertram <abertram@dtccom.net> To: TNFENTRE <tnfentre@rootsweb.com> Cc: Julia Nations <songinflight@gmail.com> Sent: Thu, February 17, 2011 2:35:36 PM Subject: [TNFENTRE] Genealogy - How I Got Hooked During my childhood I spent a lot of time with my grandparents and other relatives of their generation. I cut my teeth on stories of the good old days. When my maternal grandparents took me visiting or had company in their home they would make a "tent" for me by covering a table with sheets. They would put a blanket or two and a pillow under the covered table. That is where I was encouraged to take naps or play quietly in my special hiding place while the adults visited for hours. Instead of sleeping I tried to <snip>