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GRANDMA CLIMBED THE FAMILY TREE  

There's been a  change in Grandma, we've noticed as of late, 
She's always reading history,  or jotting down some date.
She's tracing back the family, we'll all have  pedigrees, 
Grandma's got a hobby, she's Climbing Family  Trees....

Poor Grandpa does the cooking, and now, or so he states 
He  even has to wash the cups and the dinner plates.
Well, Grandma can't be  bothered, she's busy as a bee- 
Compiling genealogy for the Family  Tree.

She has no time to baby-sit, the curtains are a fright- 
No  buttons left on Grandpa's shirts, the flower bed's a sight- 
She's given up  her club work, the serials on TV; 
The only thing she does nowadays is climb  that Family Tree.

The mail is all for Grandma, it comes from near and  far- 
Last week she got the proof she needs to join the DAR.
A monumental  project - on that we all agree, 
A worthwhile avocation - to climb the Family  Tree.

She wanders through the graveyard in search of date and name-  
The rich, the poor, the in-between, all sleeping there the same.
She  pauses now and then to rest, fanned by a gentle breeze 
That blows above from  the Father of all our Family Trees.

Now some folks came from Scotland,  some from Galway Bay- 
Some were French as pastry, some German all the  way.
Some went West to stake their claims, some stayed there by the sea, 
Grandma  hopes to find them all as she climbs the Family  Tree.

There were pioneers and patriots mixed with our kith and kin-  
Who blazed the paths through wilderness and fought through thick and  
thin. But none more staunch than Grandma - whose eyes light up with glee 
Each time she finds a missing branch for that Family Tree.

Their  skills were wide and varied from carpenter to cook- 
And one - alas- the  records show, was hopelessly a crook.
Blacksmith, farmer, weaver, judge, -  some tutored for a fee, 
Once lost in time, now all recorded on the Family  Tree.

To some it's just a hobby, to Grandma it's much more - 
She  learns the joys and heartaches of those who went before.
They loved, they  lost, they laughed, they wept - and now for you and me
They live again in  spirit around the Family Tree.

At last she's nearly finished, and each of  us are exposed - 
Life will be the same again - this we all  suppose.
Grandma will cook and sew, serve crullers with our tea, 
We'll  have her back, just as before that wretched Family Tree.

Sad to relate,  the Preacher called and visited for a spell - 
We talked about the Gospel and  other things as well.
The heathen folk, the poor, and then--'twas fate it had  to be 
Somehow the conversation turned to Grandma - and the Family  Tree.

We tried to change the subject we talked of everything- 
But  then in Grandma's voice we heard that old familiar ring.
She told him all  about the past, and soon 'twas plain to see 
The preacher, too, was neatly  snared by Grandma and the Family Tree.

He never knew his Granddad, his  mother's name was --- Clark?
He and Grandma talked and talked, while outside  it grew quite dark.
We'd hoped our fears were groundless, but just like some  disease,
Grandma's  become an addict - she's hooked on Family  Trees.

Our spirits filled with sorrow, our hearts sank with dismay,  
Our ears could scarcely believe the words we heard our Grandma say, 
"It  surely is a lucky thing that you have come to me, 
I know exactly how it's  done, I'll climb your Family Tree!"

....Author: ~ Virginia Day McDonald ~



Are You A Genealogist?

 

wide-brimmed hat to ward off    _____ 
   sun and rain in cemeteries../     \ 
                             -----------
trifocal glasses...............| 0^0 |..........pious expression for 
dust mask.....................(|-----|)          begging documents from 
sticky tongue from..............\---/            distant relatives
     licking stamps              |-|            
                            -----|-|-----
bent back from bending....../\\  \-/  //\ \      /8|--|..coffee mug that 
  over documents           / ||   o   || \ \    / 8|__|    says "I Brake 
muscular right arm......../ /|| ||o|| ||  \ \  /0/         for Cemeteries" 
  from cranking          / / || ||o|| ||:  \ \/ /: 
  microfilm readers     / /  |/   o   \| :  \  /  :watch (to make sure you 
carpal tunnel........../ /   |    o    |:  : \/      have time before the
  syndrome            / /    |    o    | :  :        library closes to check 
inky hands.........__/ /     oooo====  |  :  :       one more reference) 
writer's cramp.....////      :UUUU   \_|:  :  : vest with pedigree chart on  
                           ::|   / \   | :  :      back for others to read 
coin changer for photocopy   |   | |   |  :  :shirt with large pockets 
  machines and the lockers   |   | |   |   :    for pens, cards, etc. 
  at the National Archives   /---\ /---\    : 
                             |   | |   |     :wallet and checkbook (you can
knee pads for finding....... \---/ \---/        afford genealogy because you
  books on low shelves       |   | |   |        don't spend your salary on 
                             |   | |   |        food, clothing, or shelter) 
bottom of jogging outfit.....|   | |   | 
  (recycled: who has      /--/---| |---\--\ 
      time to jog?)       \--\__ | | __/--/....hiking shoes or duck boots 

--From a soc.roots/Roots-L post by Carol Botteron
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