The World of Grandpa Don  

Last week I overdid it in the genealogy department. In retrospect there was just too much of this page dedicated to my ancestors (and those of my family) who mean little or nothing to many of you and although I am all wrapped up in them I should not foist them on all of you. I will probably devote a lot of time to them this week but I will try not to bore you with my every little discovery. Maybe a highlight, or lowlight, or two may sneak in. .

We lost the 2016 Summer Olympics! I am not surprised. The US Olympic Committee and the International Committee have been feuding for years. That had to have been a factor. The games for Chicago have not had much popular support from Chicago area citizens outside the sports enthusiasts and in fact there has been much publicized opposition. That has to have been a factor. True, we have a beautiful lakefront, ... but what else? Our transportation system limps along in normal times. How could it serve the added strain? Most Chicagoans never go anywhere near Washington Park ... would that change after the Olympics? As a child I remember the beautiful boulevards connecting the great parks according to the Burnham Plan. They had special double deck busses. In the summer the top deck was open to the air so riders could enjoy the scenery. The boulevard route buses are gone and the boulevards  have all deteriorated and what should have been the jewel of the city are now mostly the pit of the city. The areas of the city which are visited by tourists are beautiful ... Some areas close to downtown have been renewed as residential areas for the very rich. Most everyone else who can have moved out to the suburbs. Chicago lost the Olympic bid and I am not surprised.

My email Saturday from Simple Truths  brought a link to Finding Joy. I have added it to my "Inspiration" page. I also invite you to look at and marvel at "People" a montage of photos in which to loose yourself and which just may initiate some deep thought.

It rained most of Saturday. It was a perfect day to finish transcribing the rest of Marilyn Copeland's notes into my Family Tree database. Most of it involved minor branches attached to major limbs but there were a couple interesting items such as the fact that John & Pricilla Alden's son, Captain John Alden, was put on trial for witchcraft. He escaped from jail and later the charges were dismissed. Another in our family, thought to be insane, was executed for the axe murder of his sister back around 1700.. Definitely a lowlight and I leave the subject with no further comment. Just for the heck of it, using my Charting Companion to Family Tree Maker, I created a "Kinship Report" for myself. These are not all of my relatives, just the ones in my database. They are in alphabetical order listing my relationship to each. There are 45 pages in the report and the surnames range from Abbe  to Zlate. Why don't you see if you are listed there. Some of my friends' surnames are included and we may be related if you can make the connection. Of course this doesn't include my adopted family. If you go to my "Family" page you will find a link to the Kinship Report as well as a link to My "Pedigree Chart" It is huge. I have also added a "fan chart" showing four generations of my ancestors. I have links from that chart to the people listed there.

I had started my increased dose of Byetta (from 5 to 10) earlier in the week and was disappointed that I didn't see a marked improvement in glucose readings. I noticed, at my Saturday morning injection that the pen needle was not functioning smoothly when it is dialed prior to the injection and the plunger seemed to stop short of it's maximum travel. The same roughness in operation was noted before my pre-dinner shot but this time I pressed harder on the plunger. There was a snap and it went completely down. Then I noticed that the rotation of the dial is nice and smooth. I may not have been getting a full dose for several days. My after dinner reading on Sunday (see below) may be evidence that the pen is now working properly.

 

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. ~ St. Francis of Assisi .

Sunday morning I visited with Bella before and after Mass. I am told she is walking all over now but she refused to do it on demand. Kids are like that. But, each time I see her she is obviously developed in one or more ways, her personality, size, abilities, all in a state of flux. As He observed a very long time ago, "... and it is good.". I not only got my sunshine from Bella, but it was there in the sky as well, having been, like Bella, gone for a week. Truly a beautiful day.

Sunday evening rolled around and I decided to do something special. I had not been to Rocco's Little Italy for a long time and missed the food, ambiance and my friends there. However, I had to get passed the reason I have not been there ... too much good food. I was greeted warmly as always. Patty inquired as to my health and well being and seated me at the table of one of my favorite waitresses. I ordered my Tanqueray on the rocks and when she brought it I interrupted her description of the specials of the day to say I only wanted the Italian Baked Shrimp appetizer. "That's all?" "Yes".  It was delicious. I followed it with a modest serving of spumoni. I was in heaven. With the ambiance of the place ... they keep adding to their Italian atmosphere with various decorations ... the background music ... Sinatra and such ... the people watching, ... couples in love, families with small children, groups of couples and one large family group, ... it was a sampling of life, enjoyed to the brim of the cup, and yes, ... overflowing. Patty pointed out that they were now open for lunch, Tuesday through Friday and invited me to take a lunch menu. I did. I left, well satisfied and in high spirits. It doesn't get any better than this. The bonus was, much to my surprise, an after dinner glucose reading of only 100! That only proves that it can get better than we imagined it could. I invite you to visit Rocco's Little Italy. I knocked on Rocco's door before he opened in 2001 and I have never had to knock since then. The web site has their philosophy of operation, their dinner and lunch menus and their catering menu. They are growing. 

Mary Moskal sent the story of Abbey and Meredith , a beautiful true tail of kindness of a stranger and of deep faith, the faith of a child and the faith of the stranger. I added it to my "Kindness" pages.

Tuesday Joe was here for part of the afternoon. He busied himself doing homework, using my lap top computer. His baseball practice had been canceled after class (rain again) and he had an indoctrination session to go to for his internship at 6 pm. He will be a management intern at the shoe store where he has been working. How convenient!

With a couple clicks on the mouse I created huge pedigree charts for each of my grandkids, and great grandkid, and sent them to them and their families. The charts contain as many as 50 pages and include their paternal and maternal families. They are impressive, if I do say so. Now that I have such a large database of ancestors including all sides of the family and in-laws it is a simple task to tell the Charting Companion to spit out charts and "books". I then save them in pdf format and distribute them leaving it up to the family members to either view them on their computers of if they wish, actually print them. I also completed a 'fan" chart (mentioned above) of my immediate family covering my parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and 2nd great grandparents. Every name has a link giving information regarding the person. In addition, the outer crescent of people also includes a link to a chart of their ancestors as far back as we can go. It is a simple chart which includes all my known ancestors. This Fan Chart is a lot of fun.

 

The great virtue in life is real courage that knows how to face facts and live beyond them. ~ D.H. Lawrence .

Bible study on Thursday, again, was fascinating.  We spoke of the first reading regarding wisdom and the fact that this virtue is worth more than all the gold and silver we can accumulate. Then going on to the Gospel we discussed how all that gold and silver we try to accumulate, possibly in place of wisdom, is an impediment to entering heaven. We have all heard that "It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.". The "eye of the needle" is the small gate in a fortified city wall. At night, the main gates are closed and barred to keep out thieves and attackers. However, a very small gate is available for travelers and late comers. This gate is very small and easily defended. This gate is usually just large enough for a horse or camel to pass through but not if it is burdened with baggage and goods. The baggage must be unloaded before the beast can enter, or leave. So must our baggage be discarded, all our worldly treasures, before passing through the gate to enter heaven. How attached are we to our baggage? Do we plan to pass through the gate? .

I know ... I promised ... but this is an exceptional find on the Family tree. We have a couple connections to the Lewis family scattered about our tree. On that basis I have called my good friend and fellow WebMinistry member from the parish, Bob Lewis, "Cousin". One of the Lewis's family members is a Mary Louis, married to Abraham Doolittle an ancestor of Delight A Dean. Mary is my 6th great-grandmother. We had nothing in our records about Mary's parents or any of her line so I went to Ancestry.com to investigate. There I found several trees listing her and Abraham Doolittle along with her line of ancestors going way back in Wales. There was a William Lewis of whom I found:

Information on the Lewis family from William to Martin Lewis comes from documents found at the Potter county, PA Historical Society .

William Lewis was born in Wales and came from England on the ship "Lion", landing in Boston September 16, 1632. He was admitted a freeman Nov 6, 1632 and was a member of the Braintree Company, which in August 1633 located at Cambridge, Mass. In 1635 he resided at the northwest corner of Winthrop and Holyoke Streets, Cambridge. He moved to Hartford in 1636, being one of its earliest settlers. In 1641 he was a juryman and selectman. In 1659 he moved to Hadley, Mass, signing an agreement with his son William, Luke Hitchcock, and others, in all fifty-nine persons to do so, and thus becoming one of the founders of Hadley. He represented Hadley in the general court in 1662, and Northhampton in 1665. In 1663 he was one of 10 troopers in the Hampshire Troop. After his wife's death and before Nov. 29, 1677, he moved to Farmington, Conn, where he died Aug 2, 1683. His will was admitted to probate August 10, 1683, and the inventory filed Dec. 3, 1683. the court records a the State Library show that Philip (a grandson) claimed his grandfather's real estate in Hartford under the English law of primogeniture.

The line of the family from Mary to William as found in One World Tree looks to be accurate and complete (when you weed out duplications and absurdities) and so, I will add the Lewis branch to our tree. Now, if Bob will trace his family line back we may officially establish our cousinship. Bob's family was from up-state New York and so it is reasonable to assume that he is of the Connecticut Lewis clan and a descendant of William also. This William was my 9th great-grandfather. Another source reported that when he sailed for America he brought his son William with him. I have added this line to the previously mentioned "fan chart". Bob, it can be found through the link for Delight Dean.

Ok ... that was a blatant plug for on of my favorite charities. I say no more.

 

If you board the wrong train, it is no use running along the corridor in the other direction. ~ Dietrich Bonhoeffer . .

We have just had 11 days of sub-normal temperatures and about a week  more to come. It is expected to freeze this Sunday. On the bright side, hay fever sufferers will welcome that and you can leave the door open and not be concerned about bugs coming in the house. There are still some flowers in the garden but that will not last. However, the patio furniture will not be put away because after the first freeze we will have what we in these parts call "Indian Summer", a warm spell that is always quite enjoyable.

One of my friends, and probable cousin, Jean Dean, had the loss of a nephew this past week. He was born to Eternal life in his early 50's, much too soon. But knowing that life was a gift to him and to all who loved him we can celebrate the gift rather than being overwhelmed by the loss. Our prayers are with him and his family.

Kelsey has a "boot" and crutches. One leg needs time to heal much more than the other but the crutches will help to rest both. Sometimes we run through life and sometimes we just limp along, but that's life and no matter what, it is a gift and we make the best of it at whatever stage we happen to be. Hang in there Kelsey. Ana has a big cross-country meet this weekend and we are rooting for her. We know she will do her best and hope and pray for the best outcome.

My tussle with diabetes is progressing well. With the increase in the dose of Byetta, my glucose readings have been coming down to the point where the seven day average is now in the "normal" range. I don't understand how it works but I am settling down to a good routine in my eating habits. "Regularity" is the only problem I still have to cope with but I am sure I will work that out. (no pun intended) Getting a good balance of insulin, medication, food and activity is like walking a tightrope. The human body will usually do the balancing for us without the taking of insulin and meds and that is a miracle in itself. But when some organ fails to function properly another miracle kicks in, man's knowledge and ingenuity.  Both are gifts from God. 

  

God warms His hands at a man’s heart when he prays. ~ Masefield.

And so, on this cool rainy day, I continue to be amazed at God's many gifts. I have, in my old age, finally come to appreciate them but at the same time am saddened by the many who squander and waste them rather than share them. I see the violence rampant among the young in our inner city born of desperation and ignorance of God's love as well as ignorance of His desire for us to love one another and the benefits that brings. We gain by loving, not hating.. We gain by giving, not taking. Life is a precious gift, not to be wasted or taken. We will thrive on helping each other, combining, thus multiplying our abilities, not by greed and self aggrandizement. Yes, it seems to be a paradox that we gain when we give but that is God's way and we think like humans, but only because we have allowed Ego to control us.  I give him, Ego, that is, a proper name because he is an entity in himself. Often he goes by the alternate name, Lucifer or Satan. With him in control, God's plan for us is obscured and made to look unbelievable. .

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I Am blest I Am  anointed I Am overjoyed .