RSS

Journal Writing — A New Beginning?

Not really, just a continued effort, on a different blog.

When was the first time I kept a written journal?

It was 9th grade English class — the written journal was a required part of the class.

See, the English instructor was also the school counselor, as well as vice-principal, and a football coach — he sometimes had to be away for various school ‘projects’ — the journal was a way to keep us involved with topics relate to using the English language.

There were no requirements as to what we wrote, how we wrote; spelling or punctuation (as I remember) — just that we had to write something in the journal every day we attended the English class.

That was around 1978-1979.

This was about a year before things got really crazy in my teenage years –

In 1980 my parents got divorced (Dad’s idea) — Mom and I ended up in Adairsville, Georgia with a very old/”cranky” automobile, that did not have a heater; and neighbors who would get into fights — living in a mobile home park isn’t the best neighborhood, at times.

I had plenty of topics/concerns to write about in those days.

Much about of what I was feeling, thinking and dreaming about — found it’s way into spiral bound notebooks, which would keep near my bed.

Why do I continue to keep a journal (or three)?

It helps me make sense of the confusion of life events; such as when my Mom recently broke her ankle — I went to stay with her while she recovered. Spending several days each week with her, then returning back to Weaver, the farm, and Dave each weekend.

From early August – about December 20th; this was the pattern.

While it was still “the reality” I was coping with — I did not write about daily events.

Cooking, washing dishes, feeding the cats; tending Mom’s needs, doing laundry, cleaning floors — not particularly a thrilling group of topics to report — so I just went through each day, hoping that I wouldn’t feel so much like a “fish out of water”…that feeling stayed with me for the duration.

I remember when I was about 12 years old, visiting my grandmother in Calcis — she was a neighbor, lived on top of the highest hill; and had her children visit nearly each weekend. I have a vivid image of one of my uncles — crashed out on the sofa in the middle of the day. I just could not understand why…

About midway through August this year, I completely understood.

Being with family members, close and dear to your heart; does not change the feeling of displacement — you are in SOMEONE ELSE’S home. Nothing of yours is there, unless you bring it along. Points of reference, familiar items (radio. tv, computer) do not seem as friendly, as the are when you get to your home on the days ‘away’ from the sitting with an elderly parent.

No one is to blame for the uncomfortable situation — it just means that you have developed your own sense of being (a well developed personality), away from what you had when you previously live with your parents.

That was the close of 2012 for me.

So what does 2013 hold in store?

Well.. this week the weather may get nasty, again.

That could lend itself to more time spent indoors, contemplating other (outdoor) projects; while maintaining a cedar fueled fire in the wood-burning stove. Such days are perfect for sitting at the laptop, if the power stays on — or the notebook if the power gets shut down — penning or typing what thoughts rattled around in a hyper-active brain.

Any way, this post has ramble on about as far as I dare go for now. So, the “journaling” continues…

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

 

Looking to Start FREE Online Family Tree Research?

If so, please visit this site for several posts on the subject –
http://owencousins.wordpress.com

Think of this as a belated Christmas gift, from someone you know through the Internet.

Hope your new year is off to a good start.

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

 

10:00 p.m. on New Year’s Eve, and all is okay?

10 p.m., and all is “okay” here — despite the lingering “bug,” that Dave and I have been trying to shake — several loads of firewood had to be brought in today, ahead of the rains predicted for later in the week. It is now staked on the back stoop, and a roof.

Since Christmas Day, the loads of dirty clothes have mounded up, and I finally felt enough better to wash several loads; which is a good feeling; after the past week of feeling “BLAH!”

After dinner, I sat down once again trying to trace a few ancestors, and solve a mystery or along the quest.

Another year, and not too much more progress toward finding the elusive Native American ancestor(s) — from the leads I HAVE found, I think that Dave’s heritage will reveal Native American connections before mine lines do.

Dave has family photos of one of his “Native American” ancestors — Margaret Mayo.

I have not found many records online for her or her parents.
- – - – -

What have I found?

Dave has kinship (collateral) connection to thr HOGAN family from North Carolina; whose descendants migrated to Coosa County; some of them marrying my MEADOWS cousins — that is one mystery/lead that will take a while to completely sort out.

Anyway, I must be feeling some better; I have rambled on more in this post than I had planned on.

- – - – -

Hope that you and your have a GREAT New Year’s Day.

We’ll be bringing it in tonight with computer screens, keyboards, and plenty of red or white wine.

Take care, see you in 2013!

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

weavercat@gmail.com

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 31, 2012 in Uncategorized

 

UPDATE: Old Calcis.Us Site No Longer Active

[UPDATE: 31st December 2012]

The  (old) post below is still valid — but there is still a domain name active:

http://calcis.net - at least temporarily; I am not real sure when it will become inactive.

So, I will continue to migrate old files to my “http://calcisalabama.wordpress.com” BLOG — that could take a while…

If you need any further details, write me or just stay tuned to this space.

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

=========================
Well, Merry Christmas!

At midnight, I learned that my “http://www.calcis.us” domain has expired.

&*^%$#! I thought I had at least another week before that happened.

I will just have to be satisfied with the few archived files I got transferred from my WordPress blog from the old “www.calcis.us” site (at least for now).

Tonight, Dave got the “goodies” and food ready for the family festivities tomorrow — while I spent the evening gift wrapping everything, and yes I did get carried away wrapping!

- – - – -

There are other things I want to get done before tomorrow at lunch, but am not sure how much I will be able to do — considering what the hour currently is.

Will at least get a new computer folder ready for the genealogy reports I have been wanting to share with Dave’s brother, Mark.

Well, I do have a glass of wine, damp hair — that needs to dry before calling it a night; and my ‘computer/genealogy projects’.

Hope that you have a very MERRY CHRISTMAS, no matter how you celebrate; or where you are.

– Cathy Ann Abernathy

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 25, 2012 in 2012, Alabama, Current Events

 

December

Welcome to December 1st!
Had to get up for my nightly bathroom trip; wanted to say “we are nearly done with 2012″…am very glad of it.

Been a rough one in many respects. BUT there have been good points about it as well.
Now’s not the time to ramble [yawn!!!] Warm cover are calling me back to bed.

Goodnight!

- CA Abernathy

 
Leave a comment

Posted by on December 1, 2012 in Uncategorized

 

Recent Research Links/Leads

Random Genealogy Research Links and Possible Kinship Leads

  1. Benjamin Mayo – Born: 6 Jan 1806 in Chester County, Fairfield District, South Carolina
  2. James Jefferson Teague – Born: 2 Feb. 1794 in Laurens County, South Carolina — Ancestors and Close Kin.
  3. Thomas Newton Watson – Married: Mattie Samardus McClellan. Thomas was Born: 11 Apr. 1849 in Franklin County, Alabama; he died 1 Sep. 1926 in Opelika, Alabama
  4. James Ervin Watson – Married: 1. Martha Elizabeth Word, and 2. Dorcas Teague Born: 1 Dec. 1823 in Franklin County, Alabama; Died: 21 Feb. 1904
  5. Re: Elijah Teague 1763-1843 Benton Co., Ala – GenForum post 356 (good bit of biographical data)
  6. David A. Wright – was born May 08, 1825 in Laurens Co. South Carolina, and died October 21, 1904 in Calhoun Co. AL. He married Susanna Teague February 20, 1845 in Benton Co. AL
  7. Thomas Mayo – Birth: ABT 1747 in France; BET 1815 AND 1820 in Abbeville County, South Carolina (includes good biographical and historical data about Thomas and family.
  8. Re: Mary Mayo Cheatwood in Chester County, South Carolina – Mayo GenForum Message 100 – Posted from Tony Cobb, 12 July 1998
  9. – MARY MAYO CHEATWOOD in CHESTER CO., S.C. — Post 17, by Robert L. cheatwood

[ END ]

 

17 November 2012

Mom’s has been able to shed the ACE wrap from her healing right foot — but she is still needing a shoe to fit over the new ankle brace. So, that is an item on the shopping list from Walmart.

- – -

Dave is outside clearing a new roadway to move the old grey Ford truck from the backyard/stoop area. Preparing for a repair/expansion project on the back room. He moved in the other (barrel) wood-burning heater last night; so the house is toasty warm, and I am sitting in my office downstairs, as I write this post.

- – -

The post may a bit disjointed — as I am still trying to adjust to being with Mom during the week(s), and at the farm in Weaver on the weekends.

At Mom’s I have to limit my time on the computer, due to the dial-up access (and nothing else available from her phone number).

Arriving back at the farm — I have dishes, cleaning, and laundry to catch up on. [Very similar to what I have to catch up on when I get back to Mom's on Mondays].

I am not complaining — just sharing the ‘new, temporary normal’ that has settled in since Mom broke her ankle.

- – -

THANKSGIVING is quickly arriving this coming week — and this year is one to be very thankful for.

I will continue my ramble later on this evening. Want to check on the dryer, and some other things while I remember to do so.

Catcha later!

– C A Abernathy

 
1 Comment

Posted by on November 18, 2012 in Uncategorized

 
 
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 115 other followers