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Archiver > Scotch-Irish > 1999-01 > 0917138275


From: <>
Subject: Family Ties - DNA or No
Date: Sat, 23 Jan 1999 19:37:55 EST


Hello list,

I'd received so many comments from my earlier post about being a "family
historian", that I thought I'd share why I feel this way.

I'm fairly new at this (just about a year), and I've seen this debate on
several lists. For me personally, I began this "quest" as a gift to my
sisters and brother - as I became the keeper of our mother's documents upon
her death. I wanted to put together a "family book" containing those
treasured items, and it was so much fun adding to it that I've kept going.

My sister lived in West Africa for five years, married a Sierra Leone tribal
chief and they adopted four local children (she was in her 40's and it was her
first and only marriage). He was murdered by Liberian rebels and she was
returned to the US - without the children. This was in 1991 and she has been
trying valiantly to secure her family without success. The country is not
safe and she cannot return there, much as she wants to. That's why I feel it
is so important to include her family in our history.

Here's to family - both blood and chosen!!

Mary K
In sunny Houston, TX (where it's been 80 all week)

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