"I can't locate all facts - birth dates, immigrant ship landings, military regiments, etc."

If you need help with research, Information Desk Librarians at local libraries are a great help! A personal historian can also point you in right direction. Often, all it takes is a visit to right website or location of right genealogy book or magazine.

"I've got everything written down, but I'm not sure it makes sense."

This is where a good writer/editor, one who specializes in memoir and personal history, can come in. An editor can tidy up your work in a practical manner, assist with sentence structure and flow and otherwise make your words sing! The difference between a jumble of dry facts and a personal history is as near as your telephone. If you want to do your own editing but aren't sure how to go about it, an editorial consultation will help point you in right direction.

Are you feeling stuck in some way that hasn't been covered here? Please don't be discouraged! There are many resources available to help you capture your family memories and those of your relatives - in print, on audio or video. I sincerely hope this is your year to begin such an important project!

Copyright (C) 2004 Carol M. Upton

"Do I have warts?" I asked in amazement. "Sa-ay, how would you know if I have warts?"

"I don't. I mean, you might. That is..."

"Have you gotten rid of telemarketer yet?" my wife called to me.

"Not yet, honey. He's diagnosing my warts," I called back.

"No, you misunderstand," The Voice began.

"What warts?" my wife asked, as she came into room.

"He says I have warts," I explained.

"I did not say you had warts," The Voice tried to interject.

"Well, tell him you don't have any," my wife said.

"OK. I will," I said to my wife. Then into phone, "I think you have a mistake. I don't have warts. Where did you get my number from?"

"I have this list of names..." The Voice tried to reply.

"Could you please hang up?" My wife begged. "Just because telephone rings does not mean we have to answer it."

"OK," I said.

"Now please get rid of telemarketer so we can enjoy our nice, chilling dinner," she said with not a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

"My wife wants me to eat my dinner," I explained to The Voice. "Can I please have your telephone number so that we can continue this most educational discussion tomorrow morning?"

"I'm not going to give you my phone number," The Voice retorted.

"Don't be silly. How can I call you back if you don't give me your number?" I asked.

"I don't want you to call me back. I just..." The Voice tried to explain.

"Now hold on just a cotton-pickin' minute," I said. "You're one who wanted to talk to me in first place. I am doing you a favor by taking time to speak with you on a subject of your choosing. The least you can do is let me call you at time of my choosing, so that I can enjoy a nice hot meal with my wife. Sa-ay, are you one of those anti-family crusaders, calling people during dinnertime just to keep families from spending quality time together? I've heard about people like you..."

-------

A few minutes later, I returned to my dinner, which by now was as cold as a penguin with no feathers. "So you finally hung up on telemarketer?" my wife asked. "Good for you."

"Not quite," I admitted.

"What?" my wife started. "Is he still on phone?"

"I don't think so," I replied. "I think telemarketer hung up on me."