Well, it’s official. I will NOT be able to attend BlogHer ‘08. I can’t justify the expense. I’m ok with it, and yet I’m not.

I’m not ok with it because there are people speaking that I wanted to see. I can’t even bear to look at what the schedule is because I don’t want to kick myself for missing certain sessions.

On the other hand, this wouldn’t be my first year, and yet… I didn’t really bond with anyone. I made a couple of friends, yes, but not to the extent that others seem to have. It’s totally my issue. I don’t do well in large crowds like that. I’m usually not comfortable at parties, preferring instead to socialize with good friends in smaller groups.

I do plan on hitting up one or more of the Reach sessions later in the fall, though. Armed with my Kimmer, I know it’ll be a good time. It’s always easier for me to be my charming, witty self when I’m accompanied by someone I adore who is even more charming and witty. Now, if we could just get Kat blogging…

Last week, I had a great conversation with my aunt who has been researching my dad’s side of the family tree for years. I told her about the problems I’ve been encountering trying to find my elusive great great grandmother and she said, “You’ve encountered what we call a brick wall.” And she gave me a couple of suggestions and told me to forward her some information and she’d see if she could dig anything up. The suggestions included a couple of books which will no doubt point me in the right direction of the records I need. I’ve already requested them from OhioLink. I also found a source of newspapers from the area during that time and I’ve been painstakingly going through them one by one to see if any mention is made of her death. My aunt thinks I’m probably correct in my assumption that she died in childbirth.

She made me feel better about what I’ve felt is a rather late blooming interest in genealogy. I only have one grandparent left (on my dad’s side) and she has Alzheimer’s. My aunt pointed out that I developed my interest 15 years ahead of hers and that she had no grandparents living when she started researching. Furthermore, my grandmother who is still living? Her father died when she was four. So, my aunt started off with pretty much the same lack of information. And she has learned a LOT.

Since I was feeling all empowered, I got the nerve up to make a phone call to my mom’s cousin. Her mother took care of my great grandmother (Emma) before she died and I made the call hoping that perhaps the cousin would know the name of Emma’s elusive mother. She doesn’t offhand, but she does have a bunch of papers and photos that she’s going to dig up for me. Apparently, someone has done some research on that line before and she has the information. Potential gold mine of knowledge? I am crossing my fingers!

In any event, the cousin was so friendly and so genuinely happy to hear from me that it doesn’t matter. I’ve made contact with a family member that I never knew and with whom my mom and uncles have lost touch. Reconnecting is one of the reasons I started this project in the first place.

It’s going to be an interesting summer!

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