Ruminations - Currach

Ruminations

Nov6

2 Comments

History Repeating

Posted in: History, Ruminations

This is not specifically genealogy related, but is a point in history where it is obvious that we as a country have not learned the lessons of history and I needed to place these thoughts somewhere, if only for myself.

History is Genealogy, they are inextricable.
What our ancestors experienced and created, we live with.
The society we espouse today will affect our descendants.
Many have chosen to embrace hate and division, or at least tell themselves that what they are seeing are not those things.
The effect is the same.

November 6, 2024

I think the most hurtful thing is that so many “good people” have just ignored all of the teachings of their church or the secular rules of morality and ethics and have bamboozled themselves into believing that a lying, awful, divisive and hate-filled person is somehow our national savior.

My question, that I cannot answer, is “Are they still good people?”
I can and have disagreed with many people on various topics, but this has pushed well beyond the veil of my grace and I will have a hard time looking at people the same way.

In reality, most of my family’s lives will be the same.
White people have it easier.
Women in NY still have rights.

There are so many others in other locations and with other backgrounds that will not have that.

Yet the followers and beneficiaries of ingrained societal privilege have concocted this fantasy that they have somehow been robbed of their rights and that the answer is to strip others of their own using some corrupted moral compass that has been viewed through the wrong end of a hateful telescope.

They think divisiveness breeds strength, when it just brings more divisiveness.

We are a nation mainly descended from immigrants, whose strength was cemented by the melding of our differences (as imperfect as that has been), the “huddled masses yearning to breathe free” – but many have decided the door should not only be closed, but bolted and nailed.

To be clear, the current divisiveness is not solely of immigration and the opinions that fosters. That is but one bolt used to stitch whole cloth the tropes, scare tactics, and bullying designed to concentrate power through fear and cover the light of true equality, truth, and compassion.

In one of Lincoln’s most famous speeches he said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

But we can’t let that thought deter us or break our optimism. His speech ended with –

“Of strange, discordant, and even, hostile elements, we gathered from the four winds, and formed and fought the battle through, under the constant hot fire of a disciplined, proud, and pampered enemy.

Did we brave all then, to falter now?—now—when that same enemy is wavering, dissevered and belligerent?

The result is not doubtful. We shall not fail—if we stand firm, we shall not fail. Wise councils may accelerate or mistakes delay it, but, sooner or later the victory is sure to come.”
Nov10

1 Comment

One Upright Man

Posted in: Ruminations

North Brooklin, Maine
30 March 1973

Dear Mr. Nadeau:

As long as there is one upright man, as long as there is one compassionate woman, the contagion may spread and the scene is not desolate. Hope is the thing that is left to us, in a bad time. I shall get up Sunday morning and wind the clock, as a contribution to order and steadfastness.

Sailors have an expression about the weather: they say, the weather is a great bluffer. I guess the same is true of our human society—things can look dark, then a break shows in the clouds, and all is changed, sometimes rather suddenly. It is quite obvious that the human race has made a queer mess of life on this planet. But as a people we probably harbor seeds of goodness that have lain for a long time waiting to sprout when the conditions are right. Man’s curiosity, his relentlessness, his inventiveness, his ingenuity have led him into deep trouble. We can only hope that these same traits will enable him to claw his way out.

Hang on to your hat. Hang on to your hope. And wind the clock, for tomorrow is another day.

Sincerely,
(Signed, ‘E. B. White’)
Apr28

No Comments

A Light Left On

Posted in: Books, Ruminations

For those of us of the genealogical mindset, we seek slight glimpses of ancestral life in their archived documents, their location, time in history, and even hope for finding mentions in newspapers, even if less than good.

More desired are personal letters or diaries, but I suspect few of us are lucky enough to possess such things.

Now, I have some homework for you. As you read May Sarton’s poem A Light Left On, below, think what “inside weather” you might document and leave for your loved ones to recall you by, to help understand the space you live in, physical, spiritual, and waiting for your return…

A Light Left On

In the evening we came back
Into our yellow room,
For a moment taken aback
To find the light left on,
Falling on silent flowers,
Table, book, empty chair
While we had gone elsewhere,
Had been away for hours.

When we came home together
We found the inside weather.
All of our love unended
The quiet light demanded,
And we gave, in a look
At yellow walls and open book.
The deepest world we share
And do not talk about
But have to have, was there,
And by that light found out.

Poem: “A Light Left On,” by May Sarton from May Sarton Collected Poems 1930-1993 (W.W. Norton).
Aug28

2 Comments

Surprising Causes of Death

Posted in: Ireland, Ruminations

Recently I have been trying to get back to my research to both tie up loose ends and tighten up the documentation. My hope is that another go-through will help me notice some clues I may have missed in prior passes. In particular, I’d like to get my Irish half of the tree back a generation or 4.

Even though I’m only 2 or 3 generations removed from Ireland and even with some excellent cousin contacts in Ireland to help answer questions and discuss things with, those parts of my trees could use some real leafing up.

Peeking at my family in the 1901 Irish census, I again noticed my 2x-great-grandmother living with them. She is 88 years old at the time and (unsurprisingly) is not there in the 1911 census. I realized I had never looked for her death certificate! I had been unsuccessful in finding her marriage earlier in time, so thought perhaps I’d get lucky and find her maiden name included.

With a name like Mary Egan, finding the right record can easily be a daunting task. But, with some calculated searching of the Civil Registration Indexes in the correct parish I came up with a likely death record for her in 1902. I faxed in a request for a photocopy to GRO Ireland (only €4) using the free online Hellofax service, and Voila! I received the certificate via email within a week or so.

It is definitely the correct death certificate, as it mentions the Townland and my great-grandfather as the informant. Sadly, no maiden name was included. (I didn’t really expect it as it would be atypical I think.)

But, her cause of death is startling: “Severe burns, 6 weeks, no medical attendant.”, and her death was registered about 5 weeks later than the event.

Jeepers. I suppose open hearths and aged people are not a good mix. I wonder if anyone else has any interesting stories of having been surprised by how people have died?

Is gaire cabhair Dé ná an doras.

UPDATE: As usual, after I received this certificate I forwarded a copy to one of my cousins in Ireland who is a 1st cousin from my Dad’s generation. He recalled that when younger, his mother told him that the family’s thatched house burned down. So, once again – it pays to keep in touch with family AND talk to them about your findings!
Sep11

3 Comments

NYC Police Museum – 9/11

Posted in: New York, Ruminations

I visited the NYC Police Museum a few years ago when my son was about 7 years old. He was very interested in the 9/11 exhibit there, but was tough talking with him about it.

Our thoughts are with all that were lost 12 years ago.

That museum is a great one to visit – the exhibits are well done and it is located in the Old Slip police station near the South Street Seaport. Sadly, it has been closed since Hurricane Sandy – hopefully it will open again soon.

Thanks to the NY Public Library “The Pageant of America” Collection for the image of the Old Slip Police Station.