Saturday Night Genealogy Fun!

I really enjoy reading Randy Seaver's blog, Genea-Musings. He writes about a lot of different subjects from what's news in genealogy, how to use Ancestry.com or one of the genealogy software products such as Legacy or Rootsmagic, to writing about his own family research.

On Saturdays, he has a special meme called "Saturday Night Genealogy Fun" and today's question to write about is:

a) What was your first illness as a child?
b) What was the first funeral you attended?
c) What was your favorite book as a child?
d) What was your favorite class in elementary school?
e) What was your favorite toy as a child?
f) Did you learn how to swim, and where did you learn?

These were the questions asked by Judy G. Russell during her key-note speech at RootsTech last week. You can hear her presentation here.

I have decided to answer the questions here and challenge you to record your answers either in the comments below, in your genealogy database, or in a Word document.  This way you'll have something for your future descendants to find about you!

Lisa Hork Gorrell's Memories

A. My first illness that I know about was having scarlet fever. Our house was quarantined and I remember the doctor making a house call.  I hated the tongue depressor he used to look in my throat. I always thought I was going to choke.

B.  The first funeral I attended was my grandfather, Tom J. Johnston's funeral in 1973.  I was 19 years old and we rode from the funeral home after the service to the cemetery in a limousine.  The coffin was open at the funeral home and my grandmother was not too happy about it.  But he looked pretty good--just looked like he was happily asleep. My youngest sisters were not allowed to go to the funeral. I didn't agree about that and took my daughters to funerals at all ages.

C. My favorite book as a young child was Little Bear with the beautiful drawings of Maurice Sendak.  Later my favorite books were the Little House books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. I was also very fond of mysteries: Happy Hollisters, Trixie Beldon, and Nancy Drew.

 D. My favorite class in elementary school was Spelling.  I often got 100's by writing over and over the spelling words. I also liked making up stories using the spelling words.

E.  My favorite toy was anything to do with cowboys. I had a cowboy hat, vest, and pistol in a holster.

F.  I didn't learn how to swim until I was in the 6th grade. I could get around okay in the pool using some sort of dog paddle.  My mother put me into real lessons one summer and I learned how to swim really fast--my class was full of six-year-olds. I quickly got moved up to a class with older kids (though none my age). Funny how embarrassment can help you learn something fast!

So what are your memories!


Copyright © 2014 by Contra Costa County Genealogical Society.