The topic for week #48 is “This Ancestor Stayed Home”.  This topic makes me smile. I have a friend who tends to always text me when I’m driving. She gets my “driving with focus on” message. Her response is “Of course you are driving!”. I’ve always been one to be busy, and pre-pandemic, you would likely find me driving somewhere.

I’m not one of those people who goes on about the “good old days”. I feel it’s a great time to be alive. I grew up in a rural community and moved to a relatively large city when in my mid-20’s.  I worked multiple jobs at a time and obtained an undergraduate and graduate degree. I was always on the go.

Fast-forward to 2023. Genealogy, now my full-time focus, affords me the daily opportunity to think about “the old days”. I think of my maternal grandmother. She was home most days, except to go grocery shopping (15 miles away), and church services (Tuesday night, Thursday night, and Sunday morning). Her job was to take care of the home and her family. My grandfather worked as a mechanic (on our property) and had a couple part-time jobs. Still, he was home most of the time.

My other grandmother worked outside the home (and inside as well, raising my dad and his brothers).  She worked in the fields as a young girl, and as a teacher and a Stanley Home Products salesperson when raising Dad and his brothers.

When I was working full-time, and going to school, weekends never felt like much of a break. It was always the rush to get errands done, as well as household chores and laundry. While I joke now that I’m busier than ever, I do take the time to enjoy my weekends. I’m grateful for this genealogy journey that allows me to build a work schedule around my obligations. I am the one who gets to decide if I’m “going to market” or if I’m going to stay home. Right now, staying home seems like a gift as I get prepared for the holidays, and for the start of 2024.

Next topic up is “Troublemaker”. Let’s see, which ancestor will I talk about?! Until then, I wish you all a great week ahead.