52 Ancestors - Week 26- Family Gathering

52 Ancestors – WEEK 26 – Family Gathering

By Cynthia Keefer Patton

I am working on planning, organizing, and enjoying a family gathering. My older brother David turns 70 on July 26th and my siblings and I have decided to celebrate it in Minneapolis, Minnesota this year.

We booked a large AirBnB in St. Paul and I am excited for the beautiful kitchen where we will be able to gather around and make old family favorites and try some new recipes.

Food--is always the centerpiece when my family gets together. Whether it is Thanksgiving or a casual weekend, almost the first topic of conversation when we walk into the house is "where are we eating dinner tonight?" or "are we going to the grocery store and cooking here?"

My youngest brother Scott was a professional chef for many years, but the rest of us are pretty good cooks, specializing in either regional cuisine, organic food, baking bread, or vegetarian specialties. It makes for an interesting cornucopia of delights!

When we were young, our parents would road trip us from our Southern home in Atlanta to the ancestral places in western Pennsylvania (Washington, Pittsburgh, Mount Pleasant, and Connellsville) in July. My father's birthday was July 1st, so we would combine the visit with the 4th of July and it was a great time when many people were off from work. We would gather with cousins, grandparents, aunts, and uncles. There was always an abundance of food.

As we age, it is harder and harder to gather, with competing work schedules and health issues that are beginning to limit our options. But I am looking forward to the genealogy value of our time together and plan to share my latest research discovers and try and talk some people into doing DNA tests I need for future projects.

52 Ancestors - Week 23 - Health

 52 Ancestors – WEEK 23 – Health

By Cynthia Keefer Patton

We attended my husband Denny Fitterling's 50th high school reunion this weekend in Warrensburg, Missouri. 50 or so of the original 132 graduates attended. I was so amazed at the good overall health of the group. They had only lost 15 classmates in fifty years.

The older I get the more I focus on ways to improve my health--physical, spiritual, intellectual, and mental. Probably the mental health aspect is just as important as anything.

I know my own father who lived until 96 despite smoking for 40 years of his life and eating way too much bologna always had an "optimistic" attitude and embraced each day with the attitude of finding the good in something. He wasn't much of a grouser and rarely talked about his aches and pains or ailments.

I watched in awe this week as American Airlines flew 70 surviving World War II veterans back to Normandy for the 80th Anniversary. 80th Normandy Anniversary

They were all in the 90's and many over 100. What has allowed them this longevity. Part of it could be the knowledge that at one time they survived unbearable odds and have lived with gratitude. They know and appreciate the great gift of health care and healthy living options here in the U.S. 

As a Veteran who has travelled the world and seen abject poverty and repression I never take for granted the chance to live my healthy lifestyle here in America.