Mexico - Part 1 - The Catrina

I've been woefully inadequate keeping up this blog. Okay, moving on...

The photo I posted last week is a Catrina purchased from Diane Pearl's shop in Ajijic. The stop in this shop was unplanned, on the way back from somewhere else, because one of our 'party' was looking for a particular item. Diane Pearl's carries VERY nice things, things you would buy for yourself or a special present, rather than throwaways for the folks back home. Catrina's are a particular specialty.

I browsed a bit and was drawn to some gorgeous painted boxes (I have a thing for boxes), but hadn't decided which one to purchase when a Catrina from an upper shelf began vying for my attention. Against my better judgment and posted signs which read 'Catrina's are fragile', I allowed her to leap into my arms and began thinking that she might make a nice present for my daughter, Amanda. I hesitated and unable to find the price tag, started to put her back on the shelf. My friend Tyler came up beside me, commented on how lovely Catrina was and asked me about the price. I replied that I didn't know and was going to put her back when Catrina promptly threw her head on the floor and broke it.

You could have heard a pin drop in the shop. I immediately said 'well, I guess I just bought this Catrina'. The sigh of relief from the two women behind the counter was audible and they began helping me locate the broken pieces so she could be glued back together (kind of like Humpty Dumpty). After about an hour of repairs and careful packing (Diane Pearl herself made sure The Catrina Grizelda was packed securely to prevent further escape), we made our way back 'home' to Tyler's.

The Catrina Grizelda (named after our new friend in Ajijic, Grizelda Prunepickle, who insisted we stop at Diane Pearl's that day and then felt so badly she bought me the most spectacular pair of earrings I've ever owned), is now happily holding court on the mantle in our living room. The remaining chip in her hat serves as a reminder of what can happen when one loses one's head.

The Catrina Grizelda

[HD] Lady GaGa - Paparazzi Acoustic Version (Live @ 95.8 Capital FM Radio)

And today, I file...

... probably tomorrow, too. Organizing electronic files and filing stacks of paper that have been creatively hidden away in the bookshelf. Okay, some of them are just stacks - not so creative. I wonder, if I hide them in a new spot long enough, can I just pitch them all without looking at some point? Do I dare? Ha!

Who They Were Shaped Who I Am - Part One

My mother left me her photo albums, scrapbook and a metal strongbox full of papers. These three things told the story of her life with my father. I put them away in the back of the closet, where the remained for many years.

In 1998 I found myself living alone for the first time - and found I enjoyed the solitude. I decided I wanted two things; to discover where I came from and in the process, discover who I was now. I pulled out the photos, scrapbook and box of papers and began to sort through the documents and scrap-paper notes. Some of them were obvious, old mortgage information, birth, death and marriage certificates, etc. Some were obscure clues to something else - part of a letter or numbers written on a torn corner from another paper.

I went to Best Buy and bought some family tree software. Then, I got on the Internet and researched 'how' to research. There were no online genealogy databases in 1998, but there were already many Internet-savvy family historians out there sharing their knowledge and connecting via dinosaur dial-up. From them I learned about the Family History Centers at local Church of Latter Day Saints facilities. I found the location and hours of the one closest to me, and spent many evenings and Saturday mornings scrolling through roll after roll of microfilm. Every minor find was a major victory and I expanded the branches on my family tree quite rapidly in the first few months.

From that time on, my ancestors have walked with me. Who they were shapes who I am. I like them (most of them) and I think they like me.

Today is the first day

... of the rest of my blog :)

If you're reading this (hopefully you're reading this), it's because I've sent you the address to my new blog. It's just a ramble...