Genealogy Blog

Genealogy Blog

            Through all the discussions of the past from the beginnings of humans in the Paleolithic era through the modern era, I became thoughtful of my own heritage and family history.

           

            I am adopted and when I was in my mid-twenties I ventured on a journey to discover who my ancestors were. This was before the time of current Genealogy websites and services promising to trace your ancestor tree.

           

            All I had was one simple piece of paper and a lot of gumption. Written on that single piece of paper were the names, height, weight, vague location of residences at the time of my birth, interests and hobbies of both my biological parents.

            What I eventually discovered was that I was conceived in Oahu, Hawaii (although I am not Hawaiian). My parents were not married and during that era is was inconceivable to have a child out of wedlock.  

            With a surname and a rotary dial telephone (lol), I called a number of residences in the Hawaiian Island of Oahu asking to speak to the person whose name appeared on my piece of paper.

            On the fourth call, I had miraculously connected to my natural grandparents. They said my mom had just left to return home in the Bay Area and asked if I was a friend of hers.  Long story short, I was reunited with my grandparents, and eventually met my natural mother and father.

            One of the most memorable discoveries that came out of this reconnection was a story my grandfather told me about his life in the Navy during Pearl Harbor. He was a captain and had built a bomb shelter for his family. A Times photographer took a picture of my mom and her two sisters inside the shelter sitting on a bed. On the chest of drawers next to them were supplies (e.g., candles, flashlight, canned goods – one of which was a can of Spam).

            This photograph was featured in Times Magazine after which Hormel Foods sent my grandfather’s family a semi filled with cans of Spam! They distributed it to all their neighbors, family, and friends and donated what was remaining to other shelters on the Island.

            My mother gave me a copy of this picture ~ three tow head little girls all snuggled together while big wide grins; I still cherish it today.