I've been doing genealogy for at least 10 years, and I have absolutely no idea WHY. It amazes me to think that my ancestors - especially those Brooklynites - survived so much. People die, they move away, whatever life brings, they still go on. And I sit here and wonder what it is they thought about?
Johanna & Michael O'Mara came to Brooklyn in 1850 with their little boy, John. It was the natural instinct that knows you deserve MORE that drove them. They were married for 19 years before Michael died (Civil War) in 1864. Johanna lived for another 39 years. She never remarried.
And I wonder how often she thought of him, how much she missed him. If she walked down their street remembering a time when he walked it too.
Over 100 years later, Johanna's and Michael's great, great, great granddaughter (me) wonders too. I remember the few times I looked into the eyes of forever. And no one knows but me. I never said a word, because I couldn't speak, I was afraid and I thought I had more time. It is the natural instinct that I KNOW I deserve MORE (and better) that drives me.
Obviously, I was wrong-I did not have enough time. People come and people go. Some hurt more than others and they never, ever know. And if everything really does happen for a reason, I will wonder for the rest of my life, exactly what that reason was.
And I will wonder if my great great great granddaughter will wonder about me too. And if she will know the true story.
December 2003 was a personal turning point - but I didn't realize until May 2004. Now it is almost August. And I still wonder....did those numbers mean ANYTHING? Anything at all?
If I live to the ripe old age of Jerome Ingles (Geez, I hope not!) I wonder if I'll have the answer by then ..... or after.
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If you are a fellow researcher and you see a coincidence or two....I am more than willing to share. If you are Jim C. (of Hicksville), I've been trying to contact you....please email me!
If you're family and want something added or removed, just let me know....remember, this is just a draft (and I have two young kids!)
In the future, you will also find more trees here....including Fitzroy and Ganley (Brooklyn, NY), Martin (Mississppi), and Engle/Ingle(s) (Louisiana). UPDATE: New INGLES TREE - see below!
Many thanks to fellow researchers who have contributed in many little ways.
Special thanks to my Grand-Aunts, Alice & Eunice (who are like my surrogate Grandmas) for their patience, guidance, their pictures and most of all, their information!!
And a BIG THANK YOU to Laura - a new second-cousin - who found me and reunited me with my father's side, and the mysterious Jerome Bonaparte Ingles!
Thank you to Aunt Anne for helping me with the Fitzroy & Ganley Trees.
And to my Mom. Thanks for listening all the time to my endless blabbering about the deceased, among a million other things.... and for just being my Mom.
And if you want to contribute, even a picture or story....please do!
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