A Black Sheep

 I am not sure he was really a Black Sheep but he certainly was a Gray Sheep. Growing up my cousins, my brother and I would hear about my dad's cousin, know to us as Itchky. I remember the comments about him were always unusual. Perhaps I met him once or twice over the years when, as a child, we would celebrate Rosh Hashanah or other holidays with my dad's side of the family. At some point I recall hearing that Itchky moved to California and while I would hear of him from time to time, I do not think I ever saw him in person again. Fast forward to today and my adventure with genealogy. Going through early family pictures I would recognize him and the memories came streaming back.

Where There's a Will (#52Ancestors)

Ah, once again it's all in the meaning....  When I looked at this week's topic I, of course, thought of a will left after the death of a family member. But then I suddenly thought of another definition, a definition that refers to a person's strength, strength to do things that some of us may never thought could happen. What must it have been like, in those long ago years, to collect your families, your belonging and to leave behind a life you had always known. Perhaps be the person that leaves first, to make the way and hope that others you love will follow. That is the meaning of 'Where there's a will' I'd like to write about... some of the amazing people who played a part in our becoming the people we are today.

In my family there is not a lot of information about the "why' of why my maternal grandparents came to this country. They each came from Romania but not in the same years. I don't even know if the knew each other before they met here. My mgm is an example of the many young women who left their homes, their parents, their siblings to start a new life in this country. My pgm brought her youngest child, my father, and youngest daughter to start a new life here in the USA. Before that she had sent her other daughter, Bertha at age 16, to pave the way. Leaving meant leaving her sisters as well as the graves of two daughters and her husband. These are just two of the millions of our ancestors, strong willed men and women, who risked all they head to start, they hoped, new and better lives for themselves and their children.

My PGM, Dad, and Aunt

My MGM and PGF

I am not sure I could ever had the

will or been as strong and brave

as they were.

Heirlooms Of The Future - License Plates? (#52Ancestors)

We are all familiar with the heirlooms that our ancestors have left behind. We are grateful for everyone of them. But what about our descendants. What will be leaving behind that our ancestors never even thought about? Perhaps someday there will be a state agency that will have collections of these artifact I have shown here? Where they will be able to find more information about the item where this heirloom was attached? What if someday, through a state agency... just like a census, you could learn what kinds of cars we all drove, how long we kept them and more. I very much doubt it will happen but I do want tickle your curiosity. Hope I have done so.True, I really do have more traditional heirlooms from the past but I'll save those for another ancestor or two in the weeks to come.

Who Knew There Could Be So Many Definitions of Love

It is February and Elizabeth O'Neal has sent out the email with our February Genealogy Blog Party. Writing Assignment. The topic is LOVE. Hmmm, where will I go with this. Happily she has offered suggestions and allowed us to make the definition of LOVE verrrry broad.  Two of her suggestion struck home with me and so here I am. I am going to combine two of her suggestions that, for me, work well together in telling my 'love story', love of helping others and love of a career.
Additionally there is another kind of love involved and we will come to that shortly. I first began my teaching career in Chicago in September of 1954. I taught at 5thgrade at Nettelhorst School for several years and then retired in December of 1956 to begin my family. In 1967 I returned to my profession. My three children and I all attended daily in the Glencoe, Illinois public schools. They were in elementary school and I joined the middle school staff teaching Social Studies and Language. It was a great place to teach and wonderful teachers as colleagues.

About a year later something new began to creep into the world of education. The idea of Learning Centers or Library Learning Centers. The library was not going to be a books only place. The concept of students working alone or in teams on particular project topics. They would use classroom resources and also come to look for additional materials. Teachers would work with the library staff to find new kinds of resources. Shortly opportunities to help teachers and/or librarians develop ways to implement this kind of learning environment. An age of looking at a new learning environment was just dawning. As we all know few areas change more slowly than schools. I found the idea exciting and started taking courses that could lead to my becoming more involved in the interactive learning environment.

My Favorite Name - #52Ancestors2018

Now this is truly a challenge.  Not just a favorite but... the most favorite name. There are so many to choose from along the path of a lifetime. A Place, a person, an object. Wow, this is really harder than I thought. But I think I finally have it. You, dear reader, might not think of this as one name but allow me to do it my way this time. My favorite name has taken many shapes over the years, and I have been lucky enough to hear it in many forms. Are you trying to guess what it might be? Ok, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. My favorite name is MOTHER but not just the way you think of it. It can be a word, sometimes a word to identify a particular person in this way or to refer to another person. It can be represented in print or as a reference to a particular person. But it can also be a spoken, an identification, a name, when speaking TO a particular person. It is within that context that I label Mother (in its many forms) as my favorite name.

My Definition of Longevity

This week the assignment was one word - longevity. I looked it up in Google. Google said or, I should say, Merriam-Webster online Dictionary defines longevity as "a long duration of individual life; length of life; long continuance : permanence, durability."  In this example I chose the "long continuance" definition.

Perhaps that appealed to me because of something I heard many years ago. You are alive as long as someone remembers you." I suppose writes about you counts as well.  Photos are good examples being 'introduced' to a family member by someone who did know them. I especially like the two examples I am sharing today. Two weddings, my brother, Michael, and his bride, Rochelle's wedding in 1963 andd at daughter Jody's (Larry)  wedding receptions in 1988. At each of these occasions we were fortunate to be able to have a four generation picture taken. 

Sally's Wedding Ring: A Bridge to Her Descendants

Over the years pieces of family jewelry moved from their original owners to me. I have loved having and wearing each and every piece. Several pieces changed in appearance over the years. Some changed by the original owner and some I have changed. All have gained meaning for new generations as I share its story. Each piece belonged to, and was worn by, a family member who preceded me. As I wear each piece I have chances to share, with my descendants, stories about their ancestors. Recently I joined the #52Ancestors 2018 Version sponsored by Amy Johnson Crow.  This story is the first as the writing challenge begins.

Did you ever have a CookieCake?

I have begun participating in  Elizabeth O'Neal's Blog Parties. The parties begin on her website. You then participate in visiting the blogs that participate if you wish. Elizabeth chooses the topic and then the fun begins. For this holiday Blog Party there are two choices, Solving A Brick Wall or A Family Cooky Recipe.  My choice for the Holiday Blog Party is a favorite recipe.

Remembering the Beginning Days of Reinvention and Early Beginnings as a child.

January 30, 2009, Revised December 2, 2017

Looking back from where I am today I am truly aware of what a lucky woman I have been. Oh, that does not mean it has all been a bed of roses. It has not but then I don't anyone who has lived a life of all good times and days. It is almost 10 years since first publication. I had been working on a blog for about a year.... not very often and not with much success.  As I reread that first version I forgot to think of the good things I have enjoyed.  The one I am thinking about

My Buby Mutter: Vechna Talmaciu Grinfeld

During my growing up years I do not remember any occasion when there was ever discussion of life in Romania., even though both sides of the family, Segall and Greenfield came from Romanian cities. I must admit that I do not remember my brothers or I ever asking any questions in order to learn more. Even with this lack of hearing the stories, without any details, I have learned some things through family memories, my genealogy research and older family pictures.  Using these resources I can draw a picture of an amazingly strong woman.

Who Would Have Guessed?

Hyde Park High School

I grew up on Chicago's south side in an area known as South Shore. I attended O'Keeffe Grammar School. After my nine years there I moved on to Hyde Park High School. Hyde Park was considered a very good community high school. Because of its location it was sometimes referred to as the "prep school for the University of Chicago." Hyde Park High School opened its doors in 1894 at Kimbark Avenue and 56th Street. That building later became the home of Ray Grammar School.  In 1914 the high school opened its doors in a new building at 6220 S. Stony Island Avenue. Today that building still stands. The community has changed and the school addresses the needs of a new audience of students. It now has another name. It is the Hyde Park Academy.  Over these many years it has had some famous alumni as well.You may even recognize the name of some of these folks: Steve Allen, Fred Beebe, Jim Fuchs, Amelia Earhart (1915), Gwendolyn Brooks (1934), Mel Torme (1944). But, for me, it is still the building where my mother and I each attended high school. That is the important element in this story. Sarah Ruth Segall also lived in an area of the south side that attended this same high school. She graduated from Hyde Park in 1926. Well, years went by as they always do. Sarah Ruth grew up and, along the way, became Sally Segall Greenfield, mother of a daughter and two sons.

The Stamps of Our Lives

Many, if not all of our ancestors, lived through good times and bad times. Some suffered at the hands of enemies that wanted all of them gone. It seems wars have always been a part of man's need to conquer others. Drought, too much rain, freezing conditions have caused pain, destruction and death through the centuries. Some are fortunate enough to have diaries, letters, or newspapers from our ancestors' times. Others of us are not as fortunate.

Thinking Back and A Voice for the Future

Next week I am going to be creating a CD of memories for my children and their children, at the very least. I used to talk with the kids about making a DVD and we all agreed it was a great idea but there is that old problem - time, time, time. A few weeks ago I heard that our North Shore Senior Center had a new solution for creating my story.... The Life Stories Program. For a minimal fee trained volunteers would meet with me, bring some ideas about questions and get acquainted. They would come back a week later and tape an hour discussion. I would be provided with two CDs and could purchase more copies or,I hope,make my own additional copies.