Thursday, November 23, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving To All My Cousins,

This year, I have to post my Thanksgiving message to the newsgroup instead of the website. It is in the process of a major change. I was given the opportunity to switch the site to a new server that will be able to accommodate our rapid growth better than the previous server. While it will cost twice as much, it will provide five times the web space. The server is temporarily out of my hands while they transfer nearly 90,000 pages over. If everything goes well, which I'm pretty confident it will, site visitors won't notice the difference.
Like a lot of you, I find myself taking stock of the year and what I have to be Thankful for. This year the list is long because it has been a year of incredible change and will continue for the rest of this year and into 2007. First, I am so very thankful that in August we were able to have the first Heycuz reunion ever.
I was absolutely thrilled at meeting so many of my cousins and was prouder than ever of our great extended family. I'm so thankful for all of the volunteers who made the event such a great success. Foremost to Stacey Givens, without whom we never would pulled it off, and her fabulous husband and son Grady and Littlest Grady, who let us steal her away for months.
I'm thankful also for Charlton Queen and Dan Sullivan for assisting in the incredible task of guiding a bunch of green horns through the beautiful countryside and taking the time to talk with each one of us about our individual questions. I especially enjoyed Charlton walking me through the cemetery and explaining who each person was and a little of their individual stories--the whole time I was thinking to myself "I should be recording this" but forgot to bring a tape recorder.
I was also stuck by the similarities of people I had never met before, but whom I felt instantly connected. I met a man who was a Green and he had the same way of talking as my Dad. I was shocked at the family similarities.
I am also so thankful that I got to spend time with Wanda Talbot during the day of the cemetery tours. We were able to move our relationship to even a deeper level. I am so much looking forward to another reunion next year and hope to spend more time there so I can spend more time to visit with you.
I am also thankful that after years of saying I should go up north and visit my cousins, Wava and Opal, (my great grandfather Norm Sullivan's nieces); it became a reality in October. Unfortunately, it was only a one-day trip and we didn't get to spend too much time sharing family stories. Cousin Wanda T., who was also able to bring her equipment and scan some of the vast collection of documents collected by Wava and Opal over the years, joined me. That was so fun and I'm looking forward to more trips in the future.
I'm also thankful of all the new cousins I've "met" online this year. Perhaps it was the publicity surrounding the reunion, or the higher Google ranking of our site, but our family has grown by leaps and bounds. In one month alone, Heycuz had over a million "hits" (visitors). It has brought some cousins out of the woodwork and already answered some of my own research quandaries. And I hope it will soon solve many of yours.
I'm also thankful, in my personal life, for the prospect of a brighter future. My husband has accepted a position in Central California. As I write this, I'm surrounded by boxes. He will be moving up there and paving the way for us to follow him in a few months. (I'll send my new address and contact information later when everything is firmed up.) While change can be a little frightening, and the thought of packing 20 years of stuff overwhelming, I'm excited about the prospects of our family's future. Its a farming community and, I hope, a wonderful opportunity for my son to grow up in a family-friendly environment.
Speaking of Lucas, he became a teenager recently, and I'm so thankful that he has been such a joy. He and I spend a lot of time together joking around and doing things and I can't help but be thankful for such a blessing in my life.
Today, I will be surrounded by my husband's family and will celebrate a Greek-American Thanksgiving. In the first years, I went into a little culture shock when I sat down to eat with my new in-laws. Some of the typical Thanksgiving meal fare was conspicuously absent (no stuffing, mashed potatoes...). In fact, the first year, I had to make a quick run for a stuffing I.V. over at my moms' so I could get through it. But, I've come to relish their style of Thanksgiving where the WHOLE huge Greek family fills the living room--temporarily converted into a banquet hall--and the fabulous cooking of my mother-in-law. I am so Thankful for my in-laws, who treat me like a daughter not a daughter-in-law. While this means they will be bluntly honest with me, it also means that they feel I am their family. We recently had a scare when my mother-in-law took a nasty fall, but she's well enough now to host Thanksgiving and so I am thankful that her health has returned and she's able to do that because she loves it so much.
I am also thankful for my parents, who this week celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. I look at my brothers and sister and am so proud of how they turned out and, while they have their challenges, they are able to meet them with determination and graciousness. All of which is due to my Mom's and Dad's parenting skills, who taught us that it is our differences that make us valuable and that no matter what happens we are family first.
I am also delighted that I have such terrific, loving Aunts and Uncles. No matter how busy their own lives get they somehow manage to think of me and my family by dropping us a quick note or emailing a joke or answering some silly family or personal question of mine. I have such a special place in my heart for each and every one of them and feel blessed that I have such a wonderful family.
I am also so very thankful and encouraged by recent events in the news that America is such a wonderful place to raise a family. I'm thankful that we as Americans have a new sense of empowerment and value for our planning our own destiny. I think for years we'd become apathetic but now I hear so many people having discussions and heated arguments about everything from health-care to foreign policy. American's have realized that it is Un-American not to question everything and now we're showing the true American way by welcoming rational debate. Over the last few years, I'd been embarrassed to call myself a journalist because the whole field seemed to forget that it was their Job to investigate the truth and not to report only what was fed to them by government officials. I am so thankful for the American troops who put themselves in harms way so that they can protect our American values and I say a prayer for their safe return.
I also am thankful that I am now 5 years cancer free. You never realize how important health is until it is threatened.
Finally, I am so very, very thankful for my husband. I have to pinch myself when I think of what a talented, creative, supportive man he is and wonder how in the world I got so lucky.
I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you too have a lot to be thankful for.
Love and God Bless,
April

Monday, September 11, 2006

Fifth Anniversary of Nov. 11, 2001

Steve and I were talking last night about the events of that dreadful day. It's hard to believe its been five years already.

That morning, I had been scheduled to receive a blood transfusion (because the chemotherapy had lowered my blood count). I had been already on the phone to my brother (who handles computer security systems so he had the most-up-to-date information) who assured me that it was OK to send Lucas to school and go to the hospital even though he had to cut me off because he was on the line with the pentagon. Even though he had pressured me to go to the hospital, I had to be dragged there kicking and screaming. I was worried that I'd be taking away blood from the victims who I believed needed it more. Steve finally convinced me to go after he said he would donate as much blood as I was taking. So, I sat there in the hospital bed watching the horror of the events. Nurses would come by and just stand there with me and stare at the TV. Some were on the phone trying to reach loved ones and we held hands while the reports of rescue attempts came through. We cried when we saw people in the street with signs and photos of lost loved ones that would never be found.

Finally, I fell asleep there while CNN droned on and woke up to it the next day, and the next day, unable to turn off the TV for weeks. Even to this day, I cannot look at the news reports of the towers crashing. I haven't been able to see any of the movies on it. God bless those families of the victims who had the strength to stand up and tell their stories. They are much stronger than I.

I'm sure you all have incredible stories about that day and hope you don't mind my sharing my memories of that day in the hope that we honor the victims of 911.

Saturday, August 26, 2006

Pioneers of the First District Reunion

When we first decided to have this reunion we were wondering whether we'd get even a dozen attendees. And look, we've filled this hall. But, to tell you the truth, I'm not surprised at all. I think all of you feel the same as I do. I have been driven with a need to find my connections, for an illusive definition of who I am. Living in California, in my generation anyway, few of us were born there. So, I was always asked "Where are you from?" I always struggled with my reply. I'd say, "Well I was born in Rhode Island, but we moved to Michigan, then we moved to California, then we moved this place and then that place. We didn't have the small town atmosphere where people knew "your story." They didn't know your parents and their parents and on down. They had trouble keeping up with who was living next door. Over the years, we have lost our place, our sense of belonging. As a journalist I've covered heads of state, movie and music icons, sports legends, and all the typical news, but my passion was the biographical features. I loved to hear the average Joe's life story. They'd start out that there wasn't anything there and then their story would come out. I realized there was always something special that happened to every one of them or some event that was monumental. From a feeble old lady tucked away in an old nursing home who turned out to be a former famous fan dancer to a man who was on the USS Missouri trying to rescue those trapped below with his shoes melting right from under him. 
So, I've realized, for me anyway, is that we've lost "Our Story," the story of Where We Come From, Who Are Our Grandparents? All of us here don't want to forget. We want to share their stories and cherish the legacies that they have given us. Only by remembering them can we truly regain "Our Story." So Thank You, from the bottom of my heart for being here today. And I invite you back year after year, to share our stories so they are preserved for our descendants.
I also would be doing a great disservice if I didn't give a very special Thanks to Stacey Givens, without who's tireless work we would not have gotten this all together. She went above and beyond the call of duty by organizing all the tours, the meals we will have here today, the hotel accommodations for those out-of-towners, and the registrations. All while keeping her head and her never-ending goodwill. Please join me in a round of applause. Thank you Stacey.
I would also like to thank our tour guides: Dan Sullivan and Charlton Queen. Those who joined us yesterday will talk your ear off over all the places they went to and what they want to see next year. I would also like to thank Louise Lynch for loaning us books to sell, Dorothy and Reed Jones for information and picking up the books, Charlton Queen for arranging a tour route.  Also special thanks for generous assistance to Wanda Talbot, Robert Bryant, Grady Givens, and all those who have volunteered their services for this event. I'm sorry if I missed anyone.
Before I introduce our Keynote Speaker, I need to say that meal tickets are available for sale at the table near the door. For those of you who plan to go out, Stacey has printed some maps of local restaurants. Also remember to come back after lunch because we have a couple of surprise presentations and the raffle drawing.
I first became acquainted with our speaker years ago when I was given a gift of the book "Out There In The First District." I have seen a lot of genealogy books in my day, but was never more impressed with the care and accuracy and deep familiarity with the community as this book. He has published many books before and sense and so many of you here are family with him.  I am thrilled that he agreed to be our first speaker of the First Annual Reunion of the Descendants of the Pioneers of the First District. Without further delay, cousins I'd like to welcome Rick Warwick.

April

Friday, March 3, 2006

Can't Wait to Meet You

Some of you may have noticed that some changes have been happening on Heycuz and Game of Lifes. We have officially run out of space on the Game of Lifes and so I have been going through and trimming some of the files, rearranging and basically getting it to be as efficient as possible without losing its quality. The webserver will not sell me any more space, as they say they have none available, and even if they did I don't think I could afford it--or justify with my husband the cost. So, what I'm doing is taking out my notes and comments on individuals and just including the meat and bones, so to speak.
I have always believed that family stories are most important and those items will still be there where everyone is encouraged to read and comment on them.
Many people on Heycuz have mentioned how much they miss the Birthday list. But, it is still available on the front page of the Game of Lifes, even more prominently than before. It was becoming too difficult to keep up with it, now that my husband, son, work, selling on eBay, updating the web pages, etc. etc. keep me busy.
Also on the front page are any announcements that are highest on the agenda. Foremost being the Pioneers of the First District Reunion. I hope that all of you Heycuz members can come. I'm doing everything I can to make sure that I can get there. The thought of walking the same path where Owen Sullivan and Elizabeth Lampley and my other ancestors from that area, just makes me giddy. I picture myself laying down in the green grass barefooted staring up at the sky. Oh, but I know that Stacey Givens has so much planned I might not have time for that. I want to meet each and every one of you.
Also on the front page are spotlights on several features on the Game of Lifes, that many people don't often get to including Share the Wealth, The Past Lane, and well, my columns.
Finally, I've added a Google search engine as the other one was not working too well. Google is great because I can tell it to search our site only or the entire web.
I hope that you will still continue to send updates. And, please let me know what you think about the new layout and files.

Always,
April

Happy Thanksgiving To All My Cousins,

This year, I have to post my Thanksgiving message to the newsgroup instead of the website. It is in the process of a major change. I was given the opportunity to switch the site to a new server that will be able to accommodate our rapid growth better than the previous server. While it will cost twice as much, it will provide five times the web space. The server is temporarily out of my hands while they transfer nearly 90,000 pages over. If everything goes well, which I'm pretty confident it will, site visitors won't notice the difference.
Like a lot of you, I find myself taking stock of the year and what I have to be Thankful for. This year the list is long because it has been a year of incredible change and will continue for the rest of this year and into 2007. First, I am so very thankful that in August we were able to have the first Heycuz reunion ever.
I was absolutely thrilled at meeting so many of my cousins and was prouder than ever of our great extended family. I'm so thankful for all of the volunteers who made the event such a great success. Foremost to Stacey Givens, without whom we never would pulled it off, and her fabulous husband and son Grady and Littlest Grady, who let us steal her away for months.
I'm thankful also for Charlton Queen and Dan Sullivan for assisting in the incredible task of guiding a bunch of green horns through the beautiful countryside and taking the time to talk with each one of us about our individual questions. I especially enjoyed Charlton walking me through the cemetery and explaining who each person was and a little of their individual stories--the whole time I was thinking to myself "I should be recording this" but forgot to bring a tape recorder.
I was also stuck by the similarities of people I had never met before, but whom I felt instantly connected. I met a man who was a Green and he had the same way of talking as my Dad. I was shocked at the family similarities.
I am also so thankful that I got to spend time with Wanda Talbot during the day of the cemetery tours. We were able to move our relationship to even a deeper level. I am so much looking forward to another reunion next year and hope to spend more time there so I can spend more time to visit with you.
I am also thankful that after years of saying I should go up north and visit my cousins, Wava and Opal, (my great grandfather Norm Sullivan's nieces); it became a reality in October. Unfortunately, it was only a one-day trip and we didn't get to spend too much time sharing family stories. Cousin Wanda T., who was also able to bring her equipment and scan some of the vast collection of documents collected by Wava and Opal over the years, joined me. That was so fun and I'm looking forward to more trips in the future.
I'm also thankful of all the new cousins I've "met" online this year. Perhaps it was the publicity surrounding the reunion, or the higher Google ranking of our site, but our family has grown by leaps and bounds. In one month alone, Heycuz had over a million "hits" (visitors). It has brought some cousins out of the woodwork and already answered some of my own research quandaries. And I hope it will soon solve many of yours.
I'm also thankful, in my personal life, for the prospect of a brighter future. My husband has accepted a position in Central California. As I write this, I'm surrounded by boxes. He will be moving up there and paving the way for us to follow him in a few months. (I'll send my new address and contact information later when everything is firmed up.) While change can be a little frightening, and the thought of packing 20 years of stuff overwhelming, I'm excited about the prospects of our family's future. Its a farming community and, I hope, a wonderful opportunity for my son to grow up in a family-friendly environment.
Speaking of Lucas, he became a teenager recently, and I'm so thankful that he has been such a joy. He and I spend a lot of time together joking around and doing things and I can't help but be thankful for such a blessing in my life.
Today, I will be surrounded by my husband's family and will celebrate a Greek-American Thanksgiving. In the first years, I went into a little culture shock when I sat down to eat with my new in-laws. Some of the typical Thanksgiving meal fare was conspicuously absent (no stuffing, mashed potatoes...). In fact, the first year, I had to make a quick run for a stuffing I.V. over at my moms' so I could get through it. But, I've come to relish their style of Thanksgiving where the WHOLE huge Greek family fills the living room--temporarily converted into a banquet hall--and the fabulous cooking of my mother-in-law. I am so Thankful for my in-laws, who treat me like a daughter not a daughter-in-law. While this means they will be bluntly honest with me, it also means that they feel I am their family. We recently had a scare when my mother-in-law took a nasty fall, but she's well enough now to host Thanksgiving and so I am thankful that her health has returned and she's able to do that because she loves it so much.
I am also thankful for my parents, who this week celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary. I look at my brothers and sister and am so proud of how they turned out and, while they have their challenges, they are able to meet them with determination and graciousness. All of which is due to my Mom's and Dad's parenting skills, who taught us that it is our differences that make us valuable and that no matter what happens we are family first.
I am also delighted that I have such terrific, loving Aunts and Uncles. No matter how busy their own lives get they somehow manage to think of me and my family by dropping us a quick note or emailing a joke or answering some silly family or personal question of mine. I have such a special place in my heart for each and every one of them and feel blessed that I have such a wonderful family.
I am also so very thankful and encouraged by recent events in the news that America is such a wonderful place to raise a family. I'm thankful that we as Americans have a new sense of empowerment and value for our planning our own destiny. I think for years we'd become apathetic but now I hear so many people having discussions and heated arguments about everything from health-care to foreign policy. American's have realized that it is Un-American not to question everything and now we're showing the true American way by welcoming rational debate. Over the last few years, I'd been embarrassed to call myself a journalist because the whole field seemed to forget that it was their Job to investigate the truth and not to report only what was fed to them by government officials. I am so thankful for the American troops who put themselves in harms way so that they can protect our American values and I say a prayer for their safe return.
I also am thankful that I am now 5 years cancer free. You never realize how important health is until it is threatened.
Finally, I am so very, very thankful for my husband. I have to pinch myself when I think of what a talented, creative, supportive man he is and wonder how in the world I got so lucky.
I want to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving and hope that you too have a lot to be thankful for.
Love and God Bless,
April

Fifth Anniversary of Nov. 11, 2001

Steve and I were talking last night about the events of that dreadful day. It's hard to believe its been five years already.

That morning, I had been scheduled to receive a blood transfusion (because the chemotherapy had lowered my blood count). I had been already on the phone to my brother (who handles computer security systems so he had the most-up-to-date information) who assured me that it was OK to send Lucas to school and go to the hospital even though he had to cut me off because he was on the line with the pentagon. Even though he had pressured me to go to the hospital, I had to be dragged there kicking and screaming. I was worried that I'd be taking away blood from the victims who I believed needed it more. Steve finally convinced me to go after he said he would donate as much blood as I was taking. So, I sat there in the hospital bed watching the horror of the events. Nurses would come by and just stand there with me and stare at the TV. Some were on the phone trying to reach loved ones and we held hands while the reports of rescue attempts came through. We cried when we saw people in the street with signs and photos of lost loved ones that would never be found.

Finally, I fell asleep there while CNN droned on and woke up to it the next day, and the next day, unable to turn off the TV for weeks. Even to this day, I cannot look at the news reports of the towers crashing. I haven't been able to see any of the movies on it. God bless those families of the victims who had the strength to stand up and tell their stories. They are much stronger than I.

I'm sure you all have incredible stories about that day and hope you don't mind my sharing my memories of that day in the hope that we honor the victims of 911.

Pioneers of the First District Reunion

When we first decided to have this reunion we were wondering whether we'd get even a dozen attendees. And look, we've filled this hall. But, to tell you the truth, I'm not surprised at all. I think all of you feel the same as I do. I have been driven with a need to find my connections, for an illusive definition of who I am. Living in California, in my generation anyway, few of us were born there. So, I was always asked "Where are you from?" I always struggled with my reply. I'd say, "Well I was born in Rhode Island, but we moved to Michigan, then we moved to California, then we moved this place and then that place. We didn't have the small town atmosphere where people knew "your story." They didn't know your parents and their parents and on down. They had trouble keeping up with who was living next door. Over the years, we have lost our place, our sense of belonging. As a journalist I've covered heads of state, movie and music icons, sports legends, and all the typical news, but my passion was the biographical features. I loved to hear the average Joe's life story. They'd start out that there wasn't anything there and then their story would come out. I realized there was always something special that happened to every one of them or some event that was monumental. From a feeble old lady tucked away in an old nursing home who turned out to be a former famous fan dancer to a man who was on the USS Missouri trying to rescue those trapped below with his shoes melting right from under him. 
So, I've realized, for me anyway, is that we've lost "Our Story," the story of Where We Come From, Who Are Our Grandparents? All of us here don't want to forget. We want to share their stories and cherish the legacies that they have given us. Only by remembering them can we truly regain "Our Story." So Thank You, from the bottom of my heart for being here today. And I invite you back year after year, to share our stories so they are preserved for our descendants.
I also would be doing a great disservice if I didn't give a very special Thanks to Stacey Givens, without who's tireless work we would not have gotten this all together. She went above and beyond the call of duty by organizing all the tours, the meals we will have here today, the hotel accommodations for those out-of-towners, and the registrations. All while keeping her head and her never-ending goodwill. Please join me in a round of applause. Thank you Stacey.
I would also like to thank our tour guides: Dan Sullivan and Charlton Queen. Those who joined us yesterday will talk your ear off over all the places they went to and what they want to see next year. I would also like to thank Louise Lynch for loaning us books to sell, Dorothy and Reed Jones for information and picking up the books, Charlton Queen for arranging a tour route.  Also special thanks for generous assistance to Wanda Talbot, Robert Bryant, Grady Givens, and all those who have volunteered their services for this event. I'm sorry if I missed anyone.
Before I introduce our Keynote Speaker, I need to say that meal tickets are available for sale at the table near the door. For those of you who plan to go out, Stacey has printed some maps of local restaurants. Also remember to come back after lunch because we have a couple of surprise presentations and the raffle drawing.
I first became acquainted with our speaker years ago when I was given a gift of the book "Out There In The First District." I have seen a lot of genealogy books in my day, but was never more impressed with the care and accuracy and deep familiarity with the community as this book. He has published many books before and sense and so many of you here are family with him.  I am thrilled that he agreed to be our first speaker of the First Annual Reunion of the Descendants of the Pioneers of the First District. Without further delay, cousins I'd like to welcome Rick Warwick.

April

Can't Wait to Meet You

Some of you may have noticed that some changes have been happening on Heycuz and Game of Lifes. We have officially run out of space on the Game of Lifes and so I have been going through and trimming some of the files, rearranging and basically getting it to be as efficient as possible without losing its quality. The webserver will not sell me any more space, as they say they have none available, and even if they did I don't think I could afford it--or justify with my husband the cost. So, what I'm doing is taking out my notes and comments on individuals and just including the meat and bones, so to speak.
I have always believed that family stories are most important and those items will still be there where everyone is encouraged to read and comment on them.
Many people on Heycuz have mentioned how much they miss the Birthday list. But, it is still available on the front page of the Game of Lifes, even more prominently than before. It was becoming too difficult to keep up with it, now that my husband, son, work, selling on eBay, updating the web pages, etc. etc. keep me busy.
Also on the front page are any announcements that are highest on the agenda. Foremost being the Pioneers of the First District Reunion. I hope that all of you Heycuz members can come. I'm doing everything I can to make sure that I can get there. The thought of walking the same path where Owen Sullivan and Elizabeth Lampley and my other ancestors from that area, just makes me giddy. I picture myself laying down in the green grass barefooted staring up at the sky. Oh, but I know that Stacey Givens has so much planned I might not have time for that. I want to meet each and every one of you.
Also on the front page are spotlights on several features on the Game of Lifes, that many people don't often get to including Share the Wealth, The Past Lane, and well, my columns.
Finally, I've added a Google search engine as the other one was not working too well. Google is great because I can tell it to search our site only or the entire web.
I hope that you will still continue to send updates. And, please let me know what you think about the new layout and files.

Always,
April