Angie
I have been doing genealogy since before Alex Haley wrote "Roots". I have
had many lows. We all do. Sometimes we put our genealogy away for several
months, but we always come back. It is addictive as many legal/illegal
substances. It is difficult to leave alone. (smile)
I can assure you that we all have relatives who don't care (my own sisters
could care less..but one of their children is beginning to take interest so
I will have a family pal someday), people who don't answer letters (they may
have a very good excuse) are nothing new to all of us. In the olden days we
said we "hid our telephone bill from our spouses because we called these
people who didn't answer letters" computers sometimes make it easier to get
information.
I have followed some lines these 30 years and can't get beyond the 1850
census and even then no one beyond first cousins will admit they are
related. Then all of a sudden an opening appears and the information just
pours in. Three years ago I was thinking just like you. In less than
three weeks I received photos of a grandmother who was born in 1797, one
of her daughter, and also one of her daughter-in-law with her mother. I
am still researching this line and having trouble but the photos give me
hope.
The people who had the pictures knew I was doing genealogy but one has
no real interest. The other lady who sent the photos owns a trunk full of
material about my family, but she is not a blood relative.
I must say through these years of research I have met many people that I
remain
in contact with...librarians, genealogy society officers, other researchers
who
are not of my lines; and I have also met distant cousins who are interested
in
genealogy that are closer to me than first cousins. Some of these people
and I
have made jaunts to Salt Lake City sharing rooms and cutting expenses as we
research. We travel back and forth across the US to visit. It will all work
out in time.
In the meantime, may I encourage you if you haven't to please join your
local genealogy society.
There are people there who can help you and whom you can help! I believe
that
working on a special project (indexing, compiling a local history, etc where
you now live)
pays back for the work someone else did in the area of some of your
ancestors.
Don't give up! Enjoy it!
Gayle
gayle1(a)wheatstate.com
Blowing out another's candle
Won't make yours shine brighter.