Family – Page 2 – A Photo's Worth

Computer Time Genealogy

After working on my travelogue for a couple of days, I quickly decided I needed to actually take some of my photography from Kauai and create a photo book. Spent all of Thursday working out the details, and sent it off to Shutterfly. I haven’t been disappointed with my book produced by this company. If you haven’t tried them, send me your email and a free 8×8 hardcover book is yours. Full disclosure. I will also get one too. Shipping is not included, though. Just got an email saying my book has shipped. Fast service. Sent it in on Thursday 1/31 and it is on its way 2/4. Excited!

While at the computer, I caught up with some of my family genealogy. I have a world subscription to Ancestry.com and Family Tree Maker software on my iMac. After much worry, and much reading, I decided to sync both trees. My next goal will be to bring this tree to life. I would like to put a face or information other than vital statistics (birth, marriage, death) to names of my direct descendents. I check the hints that appear, and that usually draws me away from this goal. And it is so easy to do. Follow one hint, find another. I am getting better at keeping track of my research by using a notebook, and adding notes to my online trees.

My father and his two brothers (Doctor Rubinstein) are part of the story cited in
Schindler’s List

Another distraction is my DNA test matches. I find a match, and I try and figure out how this can be. Recently connected with a second cousin online with a DNA match. I think of this person as a little kid, who I understand is a recently retired physician. Talk about where did the time go.

Before I went to college most of my relatives lived in the New York metropolitan area. And every couple of years there would be a large family gathering. I knew the names and faces of most of the 100+ people, but I could not see how I was related. I never had grandparents, so anyone over 25 was called uncle, and under 25 cousin. A family tree would have cleared a lot of this mystery up. A suggestion for large family reunions would be a family tree.

I remember thinking that it would be nice to have a Grandma.

I’m thinking of trying to connect with my living relatives online since we are now spread around the country, and beyond. I plan to gather as many email addresses from extended family so that we can send out event notices and keep connected. I may set up a private family page where we can share. Kind of like Facebook’s original intent to connect people. I haven’t decided if Facebook is the way to go, or should I create some other venue. I belong to two private pages, and they have worked. But maybe there is another way to connect. I’m looking for suggestions. How does your family stay connected?

I now possess all my parent’s photo albums, and I have a cousin (1st cousin 1x removed) who researched one branch of my family since 1985. All his research was done without benefit of computer. It is remarkable that his research checks my online hints. He is no longer working on this, and will be passing along more of his research to me. Problem is that I live on the west coast, trunk full of stuff on the east coast. So either I make a trip back east or have another family member ship it here. Will figure this out soon.

Many posts started, but life happens…

The short version. Crazy times happened after Halloween. Things were looking up. I spent some time with my grandsons, voted and saw a reverse in the U.S. House, horrific fire in Paradise, smoke choking Fair Oaks, and then my dog Libby started having trouble on our slippery floors. So off to see Dr. Faith at Reagor Pet Hospital, x-rays taken and placed on pain medication. Thought a few weeks of rest, install a different flooring and all would be better.

My 16 year old granddaughter has been living with us since the start of the school year. Things deteriorated quickly. Sneaking out, rules ignored, school work non existent. Tried counseling, talking, setting boundaries and nothing works. Teenage rebellion in full swing. My mother always said, “There is a time to be parents, and then she was done.”

About this same time my friends invited me to join them on a photo vacation. This would be a first for me. After quite a lot of thought, and encouragement from my husband, I decided to go. Left right after Thanksgiving on December 1st and returned on December 7th. Spent all the time on the island of Kauai taking photographs. Explored most accessible places that didn’t require a lot of hiking. Came home with 1000+ photographs. Had a wonderful time. So why haven’t I posted any, you may ask.

Answer. Stuff happens. My dog Libby missed me, and her limping got progressively worse while I was away. What we thought was a sprain, or blown out knee turned out to be a head scratching hard to diagnose question mark. We took her to UC Davis Vet Hospital where an MRI was done. There is inflammation around the sciatic nerve and spinal disk. Hoped it may be just a bacterial infection that can be treated with antibiotics. Culture came back negative today. Or it may be an inoperable tumor. I am plenty worried, and mucho distracted. Recheck in two weeks. Libby is happier now that I am home, and not complaining with either medicine. Her appetite improved. That is a big indication that something is wrong, when a Labrador Retriever needs to be hand fed.

As for me, I also have issues like my dog Libby. And I too had a MRI. Results show severe lumbar spinal stenosis. MRI looks terrible and the Spinal/Pain management specialist is referring me to a surgeon. Something to look forward to in the New Year.

My husband’s second phase of tooth implant takes place next week. Hoping that will be easier than the tooth extraction.

So 2019 is set to be an interesting year. I do hope for some peace in the coming year for my friends and family, and the growing connected world.

Happy New Year 2019 to all!

Rest In Peace Alina

My mother’s journey on Earth is over. She died on Tuesday February 7, 2017. When I left North Avenue Villa early Tuesday morning I felt that the time was soon. I felt that Tuesday would be the day. Alina lived without her Arthur for 21 weeks.

On Thursday my Mom was laid to rest at Home of Peace, a Jewish Cemetery in Sacramento. Rabbi Reuven Taff met with me and my brother on Wednesday. In addition to sharing family stories I appreciated the time taken to listen to me. It allowed me some peace at a stressful time. The rainy day seemed fitting.

In the Chapel my brothers and I told stories about my Mom. Each had a different realationship to her. But what made me proud was my son Joshua’s rememberances. And then my granddaughter Alyssa spoke. Right from the heart. My goodness I will always be glad that I included her in my visits to Mom. Time well spent!

My friends turned out to support me. I again asked Anne to help with the Meal of Condolences. Liz offered to host the meal at her house. Such a trememdous relief for me. Zelda, Eva, Susan, Diane, Liz and Anne are such special friends. Thank you!

I feel sad that our time together is over. I tried my best to take care of her. My parents are together, and they gave me a great foundation. I know that her heart was with my Dad. They met after the war and saved each other! Another Holocaust Survivor has past. I am grateful for having my Mom.

Endings and Beginnings

My Mom is in hospice at North Avenue Villa Board and Care home, and there has been continuous care nurses for the past few days. I respect her wishes to join my Dad, and allow the dying process to control her. Today is day 7 without food or water.

Vitas helps to make sure that she is comfortable. The first couple of days were difficult. Mom was in pain, and the comfort drugs did not make much of a dent. Very hard to watch and hear. My brothers arrived a couple of days into the process, and we take turns sitting by her side. Being able to take a break helps. My daughter provided some delicious home cooked meals. That was a big support.

When my Dad passed away about 5 months ago we knew my mother would want to be with her husband. So no additional funeral planning is necessary.

For most of my life I have taken direction from my responsibilities: education, marriage, jobs, kids, grandkids, and parents. It has been nearly 9 years since I moved my parents to Sacramento. Before that I was traveling back and forth to Arizona to help there. Never experienced empty nest time, and about 3 years ago my oldest grandson came to live with us. I understand that it is hard for young people to start out, but I feel that I now need to grab the reins of my life with my husband.

After my Dad died I had no time to really grieve because I made it my role to take care of Mom the way my Dad had taken care of her. I tried to make this time together a new journey for her. I did not succeed because inevitably Mom never accepted her Arthur’s death. We could spend the day together and suddenly she would say we should check on Dad.

Since I spent many days together I thought it would be interesting to find out about the happier times in my Mom’s life before the Nazis came and destroyed her youth. Each time I visited I picked a new topic: favorite foods, toys, sports. Sometimes I would ask about my grandparents. When I was growing up I heard so little about them. I barely knew more than their name. I wanted to hear what they were like from her 14 year old point of view. Talking like this made time together enjoyable. But sometimes my Mom would drift into sadness, or an agitated Alzheimer state would appear. I never knew what Mom would meet me. I do know that my dog Libby would be ready for all her emotions, and she would smile

For the first time the direction my life takes will be of my own choosing. This takes me out of my comfort zone. Plenty going through my head. I can’t even figure out how life may change. Maybe it is time to figure out my Bucket List. Time is marching along faster and faster and I know that eventually I will become less independent. Need to grab some gusto with my husband and dog Libby!

1611_01_coppsquarry_5074 — My path is opening up. Where will it lead me?

Tag: Family