Relics: Genealogy, family stories, history & other curiosities.

  Happy New Year!   I have never been happier to start a new year and leave an old one in the dust. I am hoping, as I am sure we all are, that the pandemic becomes controllable or better yet, non existent and we can go back to our lives and of course our genealogy!   I have a few personal goals for 2021 but I have far more genealogy goals. Here are a few of mine.   Education-  I  was surprised and happy about how much education I was able to experience in 2020. I would like to keep that going.  While my enthusiasm for the webinar is waning, for now it is the most convenient way to learn. I am working on being more selective- signing up for those I am really interested in and looking for them in different places. I joined APG this year and their catalog of programs is certainly helping me level up.   Helping me to level up this year, I have signed up for a study group!  I am excited to participate, as I have not been in a study group since college and I certainly have not experienced an

 I have often longed for long stretches of time at home for genealogy and this year I certainly got it. Unfortunately, like most Americans, I was often distracted and struggling to focus. It took me some time, but I did develop a rhythm with working from home, staying safe and working on my research.   February 22, 2020 was the last time I attended an in person genealogy program. I think about it now and I feel so naive, so unaware of what was to come.  It was the the Pinellas Genealogy Society Seminar featuring Dr. Tom Jones at the near by Largo Library. I was able to attend with two friends and it was an inspirational and exciting day. Less than two weeks later, the next PGS event was cancelled and we were figuring out how to work and research from home.   Making lemonade out of the lemons of 2020 has been a recurring theme of my work life this year and it applies to genealogy research too. It is amazing to me how quickly societies and organizations were able to turn around and off