About Me

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Lake Mathews (Perris), CA, United States
Born in Illinois, I grew up in Wilmette, a northern suburb of Chicago. I have one sibling, an older brother. I am married, for the 2nd time now, to Butch & got 4 children in the deal. They have gone on to make me grandmother 25 times over & great-grandmother to over 20!. After many years working in industry, I got my bachelors and masters degrees in speech communication, & was a professor in that field for 13 years. I retired in 2001 & returned to school & got my doctorate in folklore. Now I meld my two interests - folklore & genealogy - & add my teaching background, resulting in my current profession: speaker/author/entertainer of genealogically-related topics. I play many folk instruments, but my preference is guitar, which I have been playing since 1963. I write the "Aunty Jeff" column for the Informer, newsletter of the Jefferson County NY Gen. Soc. I work in partnership with Gena Philibert-Ortega & Sara Cochran as Genealogy Journeys® where we focus on educating folks about Social History. More about that: genaandjean.blogspot.com. More on our podcasts: genjourneys.podbean.com. More about my own projects: Circlemending.org.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

I can tell that I haven't been doing much on the blog lately . . . the format for editing is completely different and I now have to take posting time to learn how to use the latest bells and whistles.

Summer has gotten in the way of some serious blogging but, I confess, I have been tied up in another project as well: I am writing a novel and it is taking much of my time. It is based on the program I do titled "Elisabeth: The Story of a German Immigrant" and the story that inspired that program (the story was written by my grandmother, Pauline Elizabeth Miller Wilcox). Writing a historical novel involves a huge amount of research so I am often halted in my work to take a few hours to research an event, person, or place. Now, here's a great benefit: For years I have been perplexed by the Burroughs of New York and confused where one ends and another begins. Because much of this story is centered in that area, I have had to study the locale in order to effectively write about it. So, finally, after years of confusion, I actually have a working knowledge of the place (that is not an invitation for you to contact me for clarification on things New York as I am focusing my learning on the things needed for this project).

I have also been cajoling a friend to give me a most fascinating story on his acquisition of a violin. He has provided me with all the parts I need as well as photos and permission to blog about his story, but that will have to wait just a bit until I can give it the attention it deserves.

So, for those who thought I had just dropped off the earth: not a chance! I am just incredibly busy with too many projects. But life is good and I'm willing to run with it all!