22 September 2008

Getting To Know Me, Getting To Know All About The Educated Genealogist


Terry Thornton over at Hill County issued this challenge well over a month ago. I have been trying to hold off until the last minute to submit my entry because I only started my blog a couple of months ago and wanted to try and write more posts.

I had intended to start this blog months ago. Frustration was getting the better of me. It was 1988 when I started my research. The last five years I totally immersed myself in a structured, formal education. Finally I am confident that I have the skills and knowledge to perform historical and genealogical research on a professional level. The only thing I am missing is a job. I feel like I am "all dressed up with no place to go!"

Then I became a genea-blogger. What better way to show the world who I am and what I can do. I tend to see the humorous side of things, sometimes at the wrong times. But life is way too short to be mad, angry, pout, be a gloomy Gustine.. well you know what I mean. For instance, at a DAR council meeting recently, right after we sang the Star Spangled Banner, something came over me and I said, "Play Ball!" I swear, I only whispered it to the lady next to me (who coughed up her mint). I meant no disrespect, just trying to get myself psyched for a full day of business meetings. Maybe this is why people do not even look at my research and case studies - if I am such a goof then it must reflect my work.

Well nothing can be further from the truth. I tackle every new person, place or thing head on. Every report or lineage application I have ever done gets the best I have to give. I hope that by reading my blog people come away knowing I am 100 percent committed to becoming the best genealogist and researcher. I have worked and studied very hard the last five years to become not just a genealogist, but to become a board certified genealogist and if I can quit blogging long enough, I will get my portfolio sent in by the end of this year.

So almost two months since I began and I have written 55 posts. "Whatever shall I choose?", she says in her very best Scarlet voice.

A. The Brightest - I was going to choose my Pauline/Helen series, but I am not finished, I am not satisfied with the ending, but until I can get to Boise, Idaho and Kansas City, Missouri it remains an open case. Instead I am choosing the very first posting I ever wrote in my entire life - "Sheri Went To Samford". If it weren't for that article, I wouldn't be here today.

B. The Breeziest - I am choosing "A Primer on Setting Goals and Reaching Them." I still laugh til it hurts when I think about the look on my son's face when he saw me on the ride in front of the grocery store.

C. The Most Beautiful - This one has to be my submission to the 4th Edition of I Smile for the Camera - Ace of Hearts. It's been over 20 years since my daddy died. There are times when I think of him that I can't remember what he looked like the last time I saw him. Writing about my father helps keep him alive for me.


"Getting to know me..." is only one song from my all time favorite musical "The King and I." I just adore Yul Brenner's pointy ears!


My favorite is entitled "Shall We Dance?" It's kind of the way I see the world, I'm always ready to give it a whirl!




4 comments:

  1. Sheri - I've loved your stories. I started reading after you'd written some of your Sheri goes to Samford posts so had to go back & read all! I'm so looking forward to what you find on Pauline. Thanks for bringing more sunshine into the genea-blogging world. By the way I say "Play Ball" after the National Anthem most of the time - no matter where I'm at!

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  2. Wendy,

    Aren't you the nicest person. I thank you for reading my blog and am pleased when I know I have made someone chuckle a little.
    By the way, I am a faithful reader and fan of your blog.

    Sheri

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  3. I really enjoy your blog and love reading your stories. Can you tell me more about the structured education you mentioned in this post? I want to head down a similar path, so I'm always asking others how they did it. Feel free to email me (amybean2 at yahoo) or comment on my Facebook.

    I'm getting ready to head back to my power-less house in Houston, so it may be a few days before I get back to you. :)

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  4. Hi Sheri, I enjoy your blog also, and your sense of humor! You always seem to put a smile on my face! I am also interested like Amy in how you went about your education! It is a long haul isn't it? Oh but what a journey! ;-) If you have responded to Amy already, maybe you can just copy the info to me, make it easy, but would love to hear! msteri808@gmail.com

    Thanks, Msteri

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