Photo by: Marchnwe

I have neglected my posting responsibilities.

My family research has come to a screeching halt.

School is taking over my life!

And I started a new job.

I may even be starting a second one soon.

I didn’t mean to be away so long.

Can you ever forgive me?

Sure, if I walk around enough I will be able to locate this ancestor — without a map, or knowledge of the lot in which he was laid to rest, I believed. However, when I arrived on Friday afternoon, the task at hand revealed itself as insurmountable. Nonetheless, I was determined.

Taking just a few steps inside the gate, looking around at this vast burial ground — and I do mean vast — seeing the names, dates and sometimes faces of those who have passed, some of them as children, others as elderly adults, I realized this was a sacred place and that like them, I’ll, one day, be an ancestor too…

So I began to walk. I walked throughout the cemetery, staying on the paved roads I’ll admit. I didn’t see every single tombstone, because I didn’t feel right walking over the different graves,across the grasses not knowing for sure where I was needing to go in the first place. I also just didn’t feel right dressed the way I was — jeans, a sweater and coat — I felt I should have dressed up for them and covered my head. And I also felt that I should have brought something out of respect, or at least said something…

I eventually left, not accomplishing my goal. I attend to go back with more information, hopefully a map, and perhaps flowers or a candle, a prayer. I attend to leave with a photograph to send back to this ancestor’s living loved one in search of them. And it would be nice if I could bring a friend.

I found the following article at Genealogy.com that could prove helpful to someone in search of burial sites within cemeteries, or cemetery records. I plan to employ some of the suggestions in my search.

Update: (11/3) I was finally able to go back to the cemetery and find out from the workers there the resting place of the loved one I was seeking. The grave was unmarked. Nonetheless, I took photos of the space, showing it’s relation to the gravestone nearby and the tall, old tree, with leaves the color of the season, that hovered, possibly there as long as, or longer than, the ancestor rested beneath.

It was so clear. There they were, in black and white, and some in sepia tone, the ancestors I have been looking for — photos, nicely preserved and handed over to me.

Could this be a peek into what’s to come or just a carry over of my wishful thinking?

Census research tips on rootstelevision

Since I’ve been in school, adjusting to a new city and new way of living, really, I’ve felt that my blog isn’t always first in terms of what must get done. But this award let’s me know that someone’s still reading; two people at least!

Now on to the rules for this tag.

 One…

1. Can put the logo on his/her blog
2. Must link to the person who gave the award
3. Must nominate seven other blogs and link to them
4. 4. Must leave a comment on each of the nominated blogs

 The seven blogs (in no particular order) are:

1. A3 Genealogy
2. Find Your Folks
3. All My Branches
4. AnceStories
5. Crowe’s Nest
6. Genealogy Simple & Fun
7. Family Matters

Now of course there are many, many more out there that I love, but because of the rules, and because I understand this tag has gone around a lot already, I mention just seven.

Happy genea-blogging!