Archive for the ‘think about it’ Category

A few weeks back, my Dad sent me an email.

When I read it, my jaw dropped to my chest.

Let me start with a little back story.

My Dad has never really known who his father was.

When we study his/our genealogy, we know much of his mother’s ancestry going back to the 1400’s in England, and including very early pilgrims to America (mid 1600’s).  My grandmother always told us that her line was related to the Boleyn’s (of Anne Boleyn fame) and thus relating us to Queen Elizabeth I.  I’ve never verified the connection, but it would be super cool if it were true.

But his father’s side is a blank.  My grandmother would never, even when she was dying, share any information about my father’s paternity.  As he’s gotten older, it’s a fact that has bothered my Dad more, despite his occasional joking that he is a Royal Bastard ; ).

So for his birthday this year, we gave my Dad DNA testing.  If he can’t know his father’s name, maybe we could, at least, know what part of the world we come from.

There was much speculation in our family about his origin.  My Dad is a handsome guy, with dark hair (before his grey) and hazel eyes.  My sister guessed that we might be Greek, since we all love Greek food ; ).

My Dad’s hair used to be so dark, many of us all thought she might be right in thinking Mediterranean.

So you can imagine our surprise when the email came with a comprehensive analysis of my Dad’s paternal DNA:

87% Irish!

WHAT!  Shut the front door!

Can I tell you how fun it is to find out I’m almost 25% Irish!

It’s been quite a buzz at our home…  Lily said, “I’m a little Irish and so is Finnegan (our dog)!” (He is a Wheaten Terrier.)  Ben suggested we make Irish stew, one of his favorite meals, to celebrate.  He’s even writing a country report about Ireland for his 6th grade class.  I’m thinking an Irish Chain quilt is a must on my to do list.

Isn’t technology amazing?  We now have this wonderful connection to our past by just a little DNA.  Wow, is just about all I can say.

“ You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island opportunities and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.”

– H.D. Thoreau

The other morning I woke up early and went outside to sit on my porch swing.  It was early dawn and the light was soft and cool in the sky.  As I sat still, a pair of Sparrow Hawks soared above my head and to my surprise one landed on my back neighbor’s rooftop, so close to me that I heard his claws make a great clack on the roof as he landed.  I held my breath to see such an amazing creature up so close with his fierce eyes and sharp beak.

My mornings out on the swing are chilly now.  I have to wear a sweatshirt and wrap up in a quilt, but I treasure the moments of quiet that I’ve carved out for myself there.

It’s a time when I can really think.  I love the quote above from Thoreau.  This past year has been hard for my family and me and so often I catch myself waiting for some better/easier part of our life to start.  I have to remind myself that each moment, even the hard ones, are important- either for the lessons to be learned and for the perspective it gives me of all that I really have to be grateful for.