This is the first day of the A to Z Challenge. I want to thank Arlee Bird, the founder. What an amazing, fun group and activity he has created. I feel super-special to be able to participate again this year. If you don’t know Lee, visit him at Tossing it Out and say hello. He’s as special as his A to Z Challenge.I’ve chosen Ancestor as my A-word.
Many of you know I’ve been dealing with some family issues since my mother broke her hip. She’s moved into a nursing home (for lack of a better word) and I’ve been clearing out her home. Sometimes I just sit and look at pictures I didn’t know she had and read notes and letters to her from family, and people I don’t know. Every note sings her praises. I believe those notes because Mom was a nurse. A perfectionist. Someone who went far beyond the call of duty. Being a caregiver is who she was/is deep down in her heart and soul.
Not me. I’m not like that at all. I don’t think my grandmother (mom’s mom–the one on the right) was either. And that makes me wonder about my ancestors. What exactly do we get from our ancestors? I wonder what traits, talents, mannerisms of the people you see here (my maternal grandparents and gr-grandparents), are so inherent in me that, no way can I disown them.Is there a writer somewhere in my lineage that I haven’t found yet? I’m searching. I would love to find a connection to an author—s/he doesn’t even have to be famous!
Where do you think our talent comes from? Ancestors, God, or do we create it through our passion for … writing, art … jewelry design? A combination of the three? Do you think our environment plays a part too? Our birth order?I appreciate the complexity of genetics but oh, how I wish it were simpler.
Take a look at these interesting quotes. I love them, don’t you? Especially the first two!
It is indeed a desirable thing to be well descended but the glory belongs to our ancestors. ~Plutarch
No man can cause more grief than that one clinging blindly to the vices of his ancestors.
~William Faulkner
Every man is a quotation from all his ancestors. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Your thoughts? I absolutely love comments!