Hazel Thornton's Blog, page 3
August 15, 2024
Do you have a voting plan?
If you already have a plan for how and where to vote, you might not need to read this blog post. But maybe there’s something here you haven’t considered. Or maybe you want to help someone else with their voting plan.
Why reinvent the wheel?
I was planning to gather, organize, and present some basic information about voting when I remembered there is a single site that does that already! It’s for everyone, regardless of political persuasion or location: Vote.org.
“Everything you need to vote” — that’s how Vote.org bills itself. And they’re not wrong!
Vote.org is the largest 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan voting registration and get-out-the-vote (GOTV) technology platform in America. (See Wikipedia for more info.)
Your vote matters now more than ever before
Don’t leave anything to chance. Make a voting plan!
This post is as nonpartisan as I could possibly make it. I’m not addressing any candidates or issues.
But if you want to know where I stand politically, and why I’m encouraging everyone to vote, click here at your own risk!
Using the Vote.org site
If you don’t want to supply personal information to Vote.org, on the first form you encounter on their website, keep scrolling down and select your state. (Or the state of whomever you are helping to vote.) It will take you to your state’s voting information site. The voter websites/portals vary for each state. Examples include Secretary of State, County Clerk, and Board of Elections.
If you want to register or check your registration, you will still have to provide a certain amount of identifying information to your state’s voting site, but you might feel more comfortable doing it there.
Pay attention to which fields are required and which are optional. I did use the Vote.org form, but I did not supply my cell phone number because I don’t want any more texts than I already get!
There is no cost to use Vote.org. Feel free to donate, if and when asked, if you want to help the cause of getting out the vote. But it’s completely optional.
Voter Registration Deadlines <<< click here
The dates are different for each state. They are important both for registering to vote and for checking your registration status (in case something happens, and you need to re-register).
Voting plan checklist
These are all Vote.org activities, with my comments added.
Register to vote
If there was ever a year where your vote matters it’s this year!
Encourage your friends and family to register, too! Sometimes all it takes is having a voting plan. Share this post with them or look up their state’s voting page for them.
Check your registration status
Probably nothing bad has happened to your registration. But it never hurts to check!
I actually read that we should check it weekly between now and election day. Weekly! Well, I’m not going to check mine weekly, but if you live in a state like Georgia or Texas, which have both recently been in the news for un-registration form technology flaws and for purposefully making registrations inactive, you might consider checking more than once.
Your registration could be missing or inactive for several different reasons ranging from completely innocent to nefarious.
Request a mail-in ballot
You don’t have to do this, but if you want to, I suggest you do it early. I have a standing order for a mail-in ballot. Last time I procrastinated, which meant I didn’t get it mailed back in time and had to go to my polling place after all. That’s OK, because the line for dropping off a ballot is usually practically non-existent compared to the line for voting.
Don’t forget to check the status of your mailed-in vote before election day. (Was it received and recorded?) You may still need to go in person to vote.
Find polling locations.
My polling location has been at the same for several years. Do you know where yours is? Do you know anyone who might need a ride? Ask them! Do YOU need a ride? As Election Day approaches, Google “Ride to polls 2024 _______” (fill in your city) and see what’s available. (You’ll also see a few nation-wide programs that may or may not service your location.)
Get a group of friends together and make a party out of it!
Get election reminders
I’m not sure what sort of reminders there will be, because I’ve never signed up on this site before. I presume that if you have filled out the Vote.org form they will customize your reminders according to your location.
See what’s on your ballot
Remember: Voting for down-ballot offices and issues is just as important as voting for President and Vice President!
Got young-almost-adult children?
Almost-adults need a voting plan too! Also available on Vote.org:
Pledge to register for those under 18
Pre-register for those under 18
Another non-partisan site that is geared to young people is Rock the Vote.
Does this help you with your plan to vote?
Do you know someone who is planning NOT to vote?
Is it because they think their vote doesn’t matter?
Or is it simply because they need help getting registered and getting to the polls?
Will this information help you help them?
Happy voting, and feel free to share additional national, nonpartisan resources in the comments below!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
______________________________________________________________________________
The post Do you have a voting plan? appeared first on Hazel Thornton.
July 28, 2024
Do you need a medical spreadsheet like mine?
I know, this is really a checklist. Bear with me!
I’ve had a lot of medical appointments lately. To a degree, I think it goes with the territory of getting older. But also, some people really do have more to keep track of than others.
When the topic of doctors comes up and I say, “I have a spreadsheet,” I get one of three reactions:
“Of course you do!”< Blank stare >“What do you include in your spreadsheet?”This post is for the category 3 folks.
I have been using this spreadsheet for years and have found it to come in very handy.
To those who can keep track of their medical data without a spreadsheet, I say count yourself lucky!
First, what is a spreadsheet, exactly?
A spreadsheet is just a chart or table that displays information in an organized manner.
I know that some of you shuddered at the mere thought because you’ve only heard the term “spreadsheet” in the context of accounting or engineering. Sometimes multiple pages and calculations are involved, but not in this case. This one requires no math!
You do not need Excel or any other complicated software (although that will work if you know how to use it). It has to be something so simple that you can create and maintain it easily. Like a Word table. That’s what I use. Here’s how:
Open Microsoft Word and go to the “Insert” tab.Click “Table” and choose your desired number of rows and columns.Personalize the layout to your needs. (Ask YouTube or a human friend for help if you need it.)Enter data into the cells.What do I include on my medical spreadsheet?
CLICK HERE to download this Word template and personalize it. Or use it as inspiration to create your own. My feelings won’t be hurt because: 1) I won’t even know; and 2) I never met a template I didn’t want to customize!
Click on the spreadsheet template to download it for your use.
Mine has 4 columns:
Type = Primary Care, Gyn, Ortho, Gastro, etc.
I joke that I have a doctor for each body part. Which is closer to being true than it is to being a joke. I’m not sharing how many doctors I have lest you think I’m dying, which I’m not. Well, not that I know of, and not any time soon.
Doctor = Name and credential (PA, OD, DDS, etc.)
I also include whether or not they are covered by my current insurance plan, because there have been periods of transition where some were, and others weren’t. If a doctor moves — or retires, or dies, or my insurance no longer covers them — I move them to the top of the cell for my convenience and switch them to a tiny font with strikethrough. This is because I sometimes need to know who my previous doctor was and be reminded of why I am no longer with them.
Location = Name of Facility, street address, phone number, patient portal.
Again, I keep the next-most-previous location at the top of the cell (tiny font with strikethrough) for reference.
Notes = A very brief description of my status and/or last procedure.
Examples: “June 2024 mammogram – OK” or “Left knee Kenalog injection 7/8/24”.
I make these notes in the smallest font size available and keep a few years’ worth of running notes. This is more important to do for some conditions than it is for others.
You don’t have to highlight the dates of your next appointments in yellow, but that’s what I like to do. It doubles as a medical to-do list.
Additional sections:
Title and Personal Information
As I wrote on the template itself, start with a title, or a couple of blank spaces in case you ever want to add a title. I don’t need a title, and I don’t include any identifying information, either (my name, contact info, medical record numbers, patient portal logins, insurance ID, etc.) But that’s up to you. It’s just that it’s hard to add something here if you started with a table and you change your mind later.
If I lost the paper copy I carry with me I would rather have to re-create the most recent notes than to worry about who is going to find it on the ground somewhere. Sure, they could possibly use the contact info to return the paper to me, and are unlikely to do anything nefarious with it. But I’d rather print out a new copy, after updating it, having refreshed my mind by referring to my calendar and patient portals to supply the missing notes.
Rx Prescriptions
The section at the top captures my current medications in red — mostly so I can hand medical professionals my spreadsheet and point and say, “There, at the top, in red.” They always ask about my current medications. I get why they want to know, but…hmmm…if only there were a place they could go to see that information all in one place, like perhaps an online patient portal. With dates next to the updates so they can be sure it’s recent information. (Cue eye roll.)
Miscellaneous
There’s also a section at the bottom for additional info like blood type and where to go for emergency care. I am unlikely to forget my blood type, since I’m an O- universal donor and have a donated a gazillion times, but the chart is also for anyone who finds me unconscious.
I know people like to say how many gallons they’ve donated, but it’s been awhile since I stopped, and I don’t remember. I should have kept a spreadsheet!
What do I do with my medical spreadsheet?
I keep a paper copy in my purse at all times.
Why? Because I am frequently asked questions — by both new and established medical providers — that I can’t possibly remember all the answers to. Given enough time, and an internet connection, I could look them all up, but this saves time.
Also, you never know when information about a seemingly-unrelated medical condition might come into play during an appointment for something else.
Some doctors (well, it’s usually nurses) find my spreadsheet so useful that they ask if they can make a copy of it!
WISHLIST ITEM #1: A patient portal that connects ALL doctors together, not just the ones in a particular medical system.
WISHLIST ITEM #2: Doctors and medical staff who ALL know how to use the patient portal.
How do I keep it updated?
When I need to capture a detail about a recent appointment, or schedule a new one, I add a short hand-written note. It doesn’t matter to me how it looks as long as I can read it.
When the page gets full of notes and becomes annoying (everyone has their own annoyance threshold), I open the Word file, transfer the notes to the electronic document, and print out a new copy.
Sometimes I realize I have old notes I don’t need anymore (such as the date I went for routine lab work two years ago) and delete them.
Name the file something you can remember. Or, if you’re like me, you’ll never remember it, so use keywords. I call mine “hazel health medical chart notes 2024” (so I can easily search my computer for it). I also update the year annually even though it’s the same document.
Careful, if you are prone to losing your paper copy you might want to update it (electronically) more frequently and also keep an image of it on your phone. Decide where it’s going to “live” (e.g. which pocket in your purse and/or a Keep Handy image folder) and be conscientious about putting it away after using it.
Does this sound like a helpful idea?
Do you have a medical spreadsheet?
How do you make, store, and use yours?
Please share with us in the comment below!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
______________________________________________________________________________
The post Do you need a medical spreadsheet like mine? appeared first on Hazel Thornton.
July 21, 2024
What do you mean, no top sheet?
George (RIP) says: No top sheet necessary!
Today I’d like to discuss something of utmost importance; something that impacts all of us on a daily basis: bedding. (Ha ha, but also true.)
How I grew up doing itIf you are like me, you grew up with your bedding assembled as such:
Top layer = bedspreadNext = 0-2 blankets and/or comforters depending on the seasonNext = Top sheet (flat)Next = Bottom sheet (fitted)Bottom layer = mattress coverI think most of my readers will understand that people are meant to insert themselves between the top and bottom sheets for sleeping, but apparently some Europeans are confused about this. That’s because they do not use a top sheet at home. What?!. Similarly, I was almost 50 years old before it ever occurred to me to sleep without a top sheet — or without blankets and a bedspread, for that matter!
Duvet v. Comforter
Before we continue, I think a few definitions are called for.
I’m sure everyone has their own terminology, be it regional, familial, generational, or marketing.
But for purposes of this blog post:
Duvet = A fluffy insert for a duvet cover. I have two — a winter-weight duvet and a summer-weight duvet.
Duvet Cover = A cover for your duvet that can be easily swapped out for a different look. Many people who use the covered duvet for decorative purposes often still use a top sheet. In my case, though, I only purchase duvet covers that look and feel like sheets and can be machine washed and dried along with the bottom sheet and pillowcases.
Comforter = A stand-alone layer, not requiring a cover, that can replace a blanket and/or bedspread, and is usually used with a top sheet.
Depending on the size, I suppose a comforter could fit inside a duvet cover, but that doesn’t make it a duvet despite Landon Bryant, in this TikTok, talking in terms of putting “duvet covers” on “comforters”. He usually talks about Southern things — phrases, food, manners — and I think he’s run out of Southern things to talk about, since there’s not a lot of call for extra warmth in the South. In any case, note the comments on his post — people have big feelings about this topic!
SIDEBAR: Duvet vs. Comforter: What’s the Difference and Which to Get
If this image is blurry, click the sidebar link.
OK, but…no top sheet?!?!I’ve seen several references lately to the “no top sheet” debate. There seem to be two major reasons for the divided camps: geographical and generational. Europeans, for example, tend not to use top sheets (or so I hear), and younger generations (starting with Millennials) seem to be trending that way too.
I was converted to the “no top sheet” way of life years ago on a Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) trip to Alaska. It was something that frankly had never occurred to me before. And I never slept better! (Well, the gentle rocking of the ship might have had a little something to do with it, too.)
NCL’s staff is very international. I’m not sure if they were just doing what they’re used to doing at home, or if NCL HQ declared it to be more efficient. They used duvets, but wrapped them in sheets in a way I’m not sure I could recreate (i.e. they didn’t use closeable duvet covers).
When I got home I researched duvets, duvet covers, and comforters and decided to give it a try. I’ve been through a few duvet covers and bottom sheets since then, but my choices are always made of machine-washable and -dryable cotton fabric that feels soft, like a regular sheet, on my skin.
SIDEBAR: What Is a Top Sheet? Do You Actually Need One?
How I do it now
So, my bedding is (and has been for years now) assembled thusly:
Top layer = Duvet inside sheet-like duvet coverNext = Bottom (fitted) sheetBottom layer = Mattress cover (I just use an old blanket. Maybe one of these days I’ll spring for a proper one.)You should probably know that I’m also not the kind of girl with decorative pillows on her bed. It’s just not worth the effort (to me) of putting them on, taking them off, storing them, and keeping them clean.
Bed pillows are supremely important for sleeping, though! I may or may not write a whole separate post about pillows. I’ve tried them all and am currently a fan of the Pillow Cube, if you want to know.
Benefits of streamlined bedding
Ah, the simplicity of it!
No getting tangled up in the sheets and covers during the night!No blankets separating from the sheets and from each other and having to wrangle them all back into place in the morning!One shake of the duvet and I’m done making the bed!Common concerns
The main concerns people seem to have are cleanliness, comfort, and difficulty of putting the cover on a duvet.
So, to answer your questions, no, I am not getting a fancy duvet cover dirty, or sleeping with something non-absorbent or scratchy next to my skin. The ones I buy have the same exact feel as a top sheet, and are just as easily washed and dried. We won’t get into how often to wash bedding. It depends on so many things, like what you wear, if anything, to bed. And who allows their pets to sleep with them (me) or eats crackers in bed (not me).
And no, it’s not too hot (or cold) because I have two duvets — a lightweight one for summer and a heavier one for winter. I change mid-spring and mid-fall when I start getting too hot or too cold. And I have, on occasion, slept under only the empty duvet cover (so, the weight of two sheets).
Over the years I’ve had a couple of different styles of duvet covers. Most of them close at the bottom. In that case I recommend the “burrito method” of putting the cover on: The burrito method of putting on (and taking off) a duvet cover.
The one I’m using now, though, opens on two sides and zips closed. It’s sold by Quick Zip, which also offers a unique bottom sheet solution: The sides that fit around and tuck under the mattress stay in place. And the top zips off to wash. Hard to picture? See the illustration below and look for the videos on this page for how the fitted sheet and duvet covers work.
QuickZip fitted bottom sheet
I don’t care if you purchase anything from Quick Zip. I just want you to know that such a thing exists. Can you see how much easier this would be for someone who struggles to maneuver their mattress and fitted sheet? (And maybe doesn’t wash them as often as they should as a result?) If you aren’t struggling, then never mind, this isn’t for you.
Why am I writing about bedding, anyway?
This is not a right or wrong thing. Although I don’t expect everyone to switch their bedding based on what I do, I will say I’m a little surprised at how adamant people can be about the way they’ve always done things, including how they make a bed. And how some of them disparage those who do it differently. But it’s most definitely a way to simplify bed-making, if that’s what you’re looking for!
How to fold a fitted sheet
Either way, you’ll need a fitted bottom sheet. (Well, unless you want to use a flat sheet that’s big enough to tuck in the edges to keep in in place.)
If you aren’t using Quick Zip, and if you have multiple sets of sheets per bed, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of folding them neatly for storage. So here are a couple of how-to videos for you:
(The Seana Method)
If that doesn’t work for you, try this:
How to purrfectly fold a fitted sheet in seconds (Meow!)
PRO TIP: Did you know that you never have to fold anything if you take it off the bed, wash and dry it, and put it back on the bed? Yes, there will be a few hours during which the bed will be — gasp! — naked. But it’s also an incentive to finish the laundry you started, no?
Are you in the “top sheet” camp? Or are you team “no top sheet”?
What generation are you and where did you grow up?
Do you use the terms duvet and comforter interchangeably?
How do YOU put on your duvet cover or fold a fitted sheet?
Please share with us by leaving a comment below!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
________________________________________________________________________________
The post What do you mean, no top sheet? appeared first on Hazel Thornton.
June 30, 2024
Backup Gratitude & Fridgescaping
What are you always grateful for, if nothing else?
My friend Jane and I have been complaining to one another for over 50 years. But we also count our blessings. And sometimes, when things look bleak, and we can’t think of anything current to be grateful for, we have certain reliable backups, like each other and our cats.
Two of my go-to humorous-but-also-totally-serious backup gratitude items have always been “refrigeration and the use of all my limbs”.
Ironically, I have been without both refrigeration and the use of all my limbs for the past several months. And I’ve been pretty miserable about it. Ugh!
Thank goodness I still have Jane and Ziggy!
Yes, I’ve had multiple issues with my legs and knees, which may or may not ever end up being the subject of another post. (Did you know DoorDash delivers crutches? I made two medical professionals laugh by informing them of that fact.) Which reminds me: Please be careful about suggesting to someone else that at least they have their health. More and more folks have “invisible illnesses” and may not, in fact, have their health as a particularly reliable backup gratitude.
The Refrigerator Saga
I won’t detail the entire refrigerator saga here, except to say that my less-than-two-year-old fridge first died in March. It was resuscitated, then died two more times before I was granted a full refund. This makes it sound easy. It wasn’t. There were countless online chats, phone calls, and emails with Lowe’s Protection Plan service reps, and multiple food loss claims due to spoilage. Then, when it came down to it, selecting a new fridge proved remarkably difficult. (I really only wanted four things — stainless steel, a light in the freezer, a good fit for the designated space, and to not cost thousands of dollars. Sounds easy, right? Wrong!)
Anyway, the new fridge was finally, really, delivered yesterday….that is, after the order was delayed due to being lost in the system altogether, requiring me to — yet again — hand-paddle the issue and get multiple people involved at multiple levels.
I keep looking at it to make sure it’s really there and opening it to make sure it’s still cold!
Sidebar: I used the term “hand-paddling” in a few conversations recently and nobody knew what I meant. Do you? Googling it proved difficult because all the listings had to do with literally hand-paddling a boat, not figuratively hand-paddling an issue. So I turned to my friend Chatty-G, who knew exactly what I meant!
Here’s the full conversation, which I thought was pretty interesting:
https://chatgpt.com/share/08b2e402-3f28-4c19-9d68-64714bdcdd62
A couple of key paragraphs:
Yes, “hand-paddling” an issue typically means you’re addressing or managing a problem manually or in a hands-on way, rather than using automated or more sophisticated methods. It’s often used to describe a more direct and perhaps less efficient approach to solving a problem.
Overall, it conveys a sense of dealing with an issue directly and personally, sometimes out of necessity, and often with significant effort.
(Emphasis and italics are mine.)
Fridgescaping
Which brings me to a bit of fun: Fridgescaping
Have you heard of it? (Aka girl fridge, no-kids fridge, rich-people-with-time-on-their-hands fridge.)
I’m all for an organized fridge, but this is beyond-next-level.
No, I won’t be putting little vases of flowers or framed photos or baskets in my fridge. But if you want to, go for it and send me photos!
There are many videos online about this. Here’s one: I decided to try fridgescaping!
And here’s another: Ladies & Gentlemen I present to you Fridgerton
Much as I love the play on words — Fridgerton! — I’ve seen all three seasons of Bridgerton and do not recall a single episode in which we see the inside (or outside) of a fridge (or icebox).
For a bit of friendly backlash: Fridgerton commentary
More, if you want it. So. Much. More. https://www.tiktok.com/discover/fridge-scaping
My Wish for You
I hope you always have plenty to be grateful for, and that nothing happens to jeopardize your backup gratitude items!
What are your backup gratitudes?
Have you tried fridgescaping?
Did you know what I meant by “hand-paddling”?
Please share with us by leaving a comment below!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
________________________________________________________________________________
The post Backup Gratitude & Fridgescaping appeared first on Hazel Thornton.
June 16, 2024
Who will take care of us when we’re old?
Have you ever asked yourself: Who will take care of me when I’m old?
Do you assume it will be your kids? (Which kids?)Do your kids also assume it will be them?Is that really what you all want?Do you even have kids?And what all is included in “taking care of you”, anyway? Are we talking housing-wise? Medically? Financially? Socially?
I think about these things precisely because I DON’T have kids, and the relatives I live near are aging and childless as well. Uh oh, what if they expect ME to take care of THEM?!?!?
Do you know there's lots you can do to prepare yourself for happy senior years? And ways to discuss this with your family that are enjoyable?
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I’ve suggested in the past that we talk with our families about death. But I’ll grant you, it’s often easier said than done. And there’s usually a whole lotta living that happens before death! Fortunately my family doesn’t squirm and shut down at the idea of discussing funeral plans and such. Take these blog posts, for example:
Talking about death won’t kill you, LOL!
Planning my virtual funeral – who’s with me?
You can, I suppose, live your whole life without talking about aging or dying. But not usually without someone feeling burdened, or neglected, or surprised when an unanticipated need arises, or at a loss for what to do in a difficult situation.
Framework for discussionEven if your family is willing, any single discussion can only cover a tiny portion of what it means to be getting older and possibly needing help. What if there were a framework to help facilitate such discussions?
I found just such a framework!
It’s a book called Who Will Take Care of Me When I’m Old? by Joy Loverde. (Thanks for the recommendation, Susan Lannis!)
Click the link to the Amazon page, and then click the “Read sample” button under the cover image to see the chapter titles. (NOTE: Although I love audiobooks, I do not recommend this one. There were way too many tediously-spelled-out urls right off the bat for me to imagine listening to the whole book that way.)
Family book clubMy local family members — my brother, my aunt, and I — already meet for breakfast most Saturday mornings. So, I thought, rather than just suggest the book to them, or give them copies and hope they read it, why not have a little family book club? We could read just a chapter at a time, so it wouldn’t feel burdensome, and discuss it over breakfast.
So we did!
We’re not quite finished — there are 16 chapters — but we’re close enough for me to report on it. Miracle of miracles, there has been no push-back on reading the chapters or discussing them. I think we all recognized it as a good way to raise topics without picking on any one of us for not having done something yet (like create an advance directive for health care) and a good way to learn about things we hadn’t thought about yet (like how to access all the senior services available to us locally).
HomeworkThere is no book club homework other than reading the assigned chapter. But the book itself contains lots of resources, ways to find more resources, checklists and worksheets.
There have been a few chapters that don’t apply to all of us equally, but for the most part they do apply, or we can see that they might in the future. And, as we have realized and discussed, now we know where to find resources in the event that one of the chapters we paid less attention to becomes important to us.
We usually wait until we’re finished eating and catching up. And then we only spend about 15 minutes discussing the chapter. There’s usually something about each chapter that catches our interest, and we compare notes. If someone says, “I haven’t done that yet,” or, “I’m not ready to do that,” we don’t give them a hard time about it.
It’s up to each of us to do the things we think are important in our own time, or ask for help.
I think the things are more likely to happen, though, if we’ve discussed them and they’re top of mind. More so than if we never discussed or read about them at all.
It’s a trick questionSo, who will take care of you when you’re old? Well, as you may have guessed, and as I suspected going in, no matter what kind of a support system you have, and how many loved ones, it’s ultimately up to YOU to make your remaining years good ones. Even the blurb on the back of the book says, “Everything you need to know to be your own best caregiver.”
And it’s not too early — or too late — to think about it! The quality of your life depends not only on having made (flexible) plans for where and how you want to live, but on remaining social (or becoming at least a little bit social if you never were before), and taking care of your mental and spiritual health, as well as your physical and financial health.
Speaking for my family, I think we all feel a little better now about what we need to do and how each other is situated. We also have our next readings selected (and it wasn’t my idea!): My aunt has a couple of policies (including one for long term care) that she does not really understand and we are all going to read them and compare notes on what we think they mean and how we might get more information if we need it.
Related reading What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy (by Hazel Thornton)Kicking the Bucket List (a short book review)‘Death Cleaning’ isn’t as scary as it sounds! (4 short book reviews)Org4life BlogCategory: CREATE YOUR LEGACYSubcategories:Are you prepared?GenealogyPhotos & MemorabiliaTell Your Story The Complete Eldercare Planner by Joy Loverde
Who do you think will take care of YOU when you get old?
Does your family talk about such things?
Might you consider reading the book and sharing it with your family?
Might you consider starting a family book club?
Let us know by leaving a comment below!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
________________________________________________________________________________
The post Who will take care of us when we’re old? appeared first on Hazel Thornton.
May 14, 2024
The AI Gold Rush
The AI gold rush will result in a few gold nuggets and a lot of silt.
The storm clouds are clearing.
(It’s a reference to my previous post, The rainbow after the storm.)
I’ve been able to start spending less time doing what I have to do, and more time doing what I want to do. And what I want to do is to continue my genealogy research, write more stories about my family, and learn more about how AI can help me do both.
Contents:Do this if nothing elseThe AI gold rushWhat a difference a year makesWhich AI Tools are best?Genealogy and AINew AI tools on my radarShould we fear AI?The AI gold rush is far from overDo this if nothing else
If you have avoided learning about AI (Artificial Intelligence) while simultaneously fearing that robots are taking over the world — cue Elle Cordova’s clever dystopian campfire song — and if you are reading this post just to humor me, and don’t really even want to finish it very much, please watch this animated video:
Generative AI in a Nutshell – how to survive and thrive in the age of AI
The video’s description is this: “Basically a full day AI course crammed into 18 mins of drawing & talking.” I found it to be an entertaining summary of the AI basics I’ve learned about in the past year. If 18 minutes is too much, skip to 10:50 (The AI Mindset), then 14:53 (Prompt Engineering), and 16:56 (Wrap-Up).
The AI gold rush
AI is not new to genealogy or to any other field of interest. Many AI-backed tools were already available online when ChatGPT and similar “generative” tools were introduced to the public in late 2022. (Whereas applications like Google and Netflix searches are considered “predictive” tools.) The big online genealogy websites have used AI for providing record hints, DNA matches and the tools for analyzing them, and document handwriting recognition, among many other features.
This blog post of mine still works as an introduction to the “chatbot” variety of AI you’ve been hearing so much about:
Just be aware that in the year since I wrote it, there’s been a virtual gold rush to create ever more, and ever better generative AI tools. (I thought I was so clever in applying the term “gold rush” to what has been going on, but if you Google it you’ll see it elsewhere.)
In the past year, thousands of new applications have been created. They’ve been rapidly maturing, splitting, and combining. Most will inevitably fall by the wayside — like rinsing the silt from the pan to reveal the gold nuggets — so it’s hard to know what to pay attention to.
What a difference a year makes
If you haven’t yet, this might be a good time for you to dive in and try some new AI apps, but I can’t say I’d blame you for waiting another year to see what shakes out.
I had intended, a year ago, to write a follow-up post specific to genealogy, but life got in the way and the gold rush took off without me. Maybe it’s just as well because posts about AI go out of date the instant they are published!
Here’s a creepy/funny/scary one-minute video illustrating how far AI has come in one year:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTL4KdQwq/
Which AI Tools are best?
Besides ChatGPT, what else do I recommend? I don’t know because I haven’t had all the time I’d like to try all the tools that interest me. I get overwhelmed too! That’s why I’m grateful to follow others who’ve tried them (on social media, and via their blogs and newsletters).
Here are some of the current best apps and (very briefly) what they’re good for:
And here’s a Facebook post and graphic by my friend D. Allison Lee:
3 ways to dip your toes into the AI water
My favorite source of bite-sized AI info and tips is probably TikTok. That’s where I learned about Goblin.Tools (including Magic ToDo). These tools are described in detail in Julie Bestry’s blog post:
3 Simple But Powerful Productivity Resources — Right in Your Browser Tab
And TikTok is where I learned how teachers are dealing with plagiarism while also incorporating AI into their lesson plans. (Teachers are so creative!)
English 110 Versus Chat GPT — Finding a middle ground with AI usage in the composition classroom
If you don’t already use TikTok, I’m not trying to convert you. But if you’re game, search for the name of a tool you’ve heard about — #ChatGPT, #GoblinTools — or #AI plus a topic that interests you, like #genealogy, #writing, #photos, #health, etc.
Genealogy and AI
If you’re a genealogist check out this terrific (private) Facebook group hosted by DNA rockstar, Blaine T. Bettinger:
Genealogy and Artificial Intelligence (AI). (I’ll call it Gen/AI in the rest of this post. TIP: Before you ask questions there, try searching the group for tools you’ve heard of — to see whether and how they’ve already been discussed — and genealogists whose names you know — to see what they’ve had to say and how long ago it was.)
I have enjoyed following the best and the brightest genealogists (as well as those completely unknown to me) in their quest to learn new AI tools, test how they might be applied to genealogy research, and share their results. I tried a few other AI Facebook groups, but they were mostly students trying to figure out how to get AI to write their papers without getting caught, and arguing with each other. Ugh!
And, of course, it’s not just the tools that get good results, it’s the users. It takes some practice. And it takes knowing which tools are intended to get which results to begin with. As Blaine says: “Don’t use a car to blend your smoothie!” The best way to learn which tools are which is to research and try them.
New AI tools on my radar:
Because genealogy research naturally lends itself to family storytelling — ala my book, What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy — I was excited to learn about this new editing tool. If you still haven’t experimented with ChatGPT, that’s OK. You don’t even need a subscription to ChatGPT to use this tool. And, as with most tools these days, there’s a basic free version to try.
As Carole McCulloch wrote in the Gen/AI group: “I think I can delete my subscription to Quillbot and Grammarly and just keep this one.” Here’s a link to her 6-minute video tutorial about editGPT:
How can AI help with editing and proofreading?
NOTE: I wrote this post all by myself, but I did used editGPT to help me edit and proofread portions of it. (The first thing it tried to change was the capitalization in article and website titles, many of which were not mine to change. Keep in mind that no matter what any editor suggests, the choice is always yours. Don’t blame editGPT for any errors I didn’t check or have allowed to remain!)
In my aforementioned 2023 post about ChatGPT, I wrote (under “Reality Check”) about how ChatGPT’s knowledge cutoff was September 2021, and how it fabricated the names of three books I’d written. It was correct that I’ve written three books, but not those three! Moreover, the ChatGPT titles don’t exist unless in a parallel universe. They sound plausible, though! Since then, newer versions of ChatGPT (and similar chatbots) have more recent knowledge and the industry more kindly refers to made-up facts as “hallucinations” which are always, always, always to be fact-checked by the user.
The idea behind NotebookLM is that you can upload documents to it that you trust, ask questions, and get answers that draw only from the content you provided. Here’s a genealogy-specific examination of NotebookLM by Dana Leeds, another rockstar in the genealogy world:
Exploring Google’s NotebookLM: Potential and Pitfalls for Genealogists
FamilySearch Full Text Search:
FamilySearch is the nonprofit LDS-run website at which you can do research and contribute to a community family tree for free. They have billions of historical records that have been digitized, but only a portion of those record images are currently searchable.
Per FamilySearch: “This test of a full-text search for historical records uses AI to transcribe images into text so they can be fully searched. This feature is meant to save hours previously spent manually reviewing thousands of images for an important piece of information—that can be found almost instantly with an automated search. Over 100 million records from the United States and Mexico are currently available in this experiment. We anticipate adding more collections in the future.”
I’ve tested it a bit, with limited personal results, but I can see it eventually being a wonderful thing. Here is the page for more info on Full Text Search and other tools available for testing:
Should we fear AI?
I came across this article recently:
AI is Corrupting the Internet as We Know It.
Although the title smacks of fearmongering, it’s not wrong, and if you read the article you’ll see why. I think it’s important to understand the potential dangers, and yet, AI is here to stay — especially considering it has already been here in various forms for decades — and I think it has infinite current and potential benefits if we use it wisely. The controversy surrounding AI development echoes the debates around all other previous technological advances throughout history including electricity, automobiles, factories, computers, and the internet itself.
Meanwhile, regarding the AI-generated images in the article, I have seen every one of them before without having joined any of the Facebook groups in which I saw them. Fake National Geographic, Richard Attenborough, and similar sites where people expect to see real nature photos are a problem because the vast majority of followers seem not to have gotten past the first level of recognizing that Nat Geo and Richard A, or his heirs, have nothing to do with those particular accounts.
The article concludes, and I agree: “Who knows where this will lead? Only one thing is certain. AI is here to stay. The question is, can humanity use this amazing technology to do good in the world? AI may hold the key to curing cancer and ending world hunger. In the meantime, we will have to do our best to avoid the negative downside of this technology. We need to ensure that truth always prevails over deception, deceit, and misinformation.”
The AI gold rush is far from over
This might not be my last post about AI, but I will never try to write anything comprehensive or definitive about it because it’s just too vast a topic. It affects every aspect of life that I can think of, and its thousands of applications are constantly changing and evolving.
Debates rage in the creative sectors over AI-generated text and images, and I’m sure things will occasionally go awry here and there. But I also look forward to many of the good things that will come of the developing technology, such as live captioning smart glasses for the hard of hearing.
Have you tried any of the AI tools mentioned here?
Which others have you tried? Do you have a favorite?
Please let us know by leaving a comment below!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
___________________________________________________________
The post The AI Gold Rush appeared first on Hazel Thornton.
April 22, 2024
The rainbow after the storm
The rainbow after the storm. (DALL-E generated.)
It all started slowly and innocently enough, like the first drops of a rainstorm.
I mean, it’s only natural for things in life to break sometimes, and need fixing and maintenance, right? Routine dental cleanings sometimes lead to fillings or reveal the need for root canals and crowns. It’s not just me. The older people (and pets) get, the more extra medical attention they need. Appliances and parts of the house also get older and start to wear out. Cars need to be kept in good working order.
But after a few weeks these demands usually let up and allow one to return to a normal routine. Right?
Not this time:
My fridge is out… again?! My 20-year-old washing machine is fine, but the drain is blocked and now I need a plumber?!A raccoon jumped from a fence to my gutter and yanked it clean off the roof?! (I was there when it happened.)What do you mean I need a new car? This one’s only 20 years old!The physical therapist I’ve been waiting weeks to see is on medical leave?!I need PT twice a week, but I can’t get another appointment for a month?!How did I manage to lock myself out of my own website?!They kept my CPAP machine for 8 months (no typos; they gave me a loaner but I had to talk them into it) and still managed to return it to me with the wrong settings?My 20-year-old office chair is falling apart? (Do I detect a pattern here?)The rainbow after the stormAll of this (and more) has been happening against the backdrop of a loved one’s suffering, and the eventual, inevitable, final end of their life. Which happened on Saturday.
Wait…was that part of the storm? Or was it the rainbow?
No, seriously, I think I can feel the storm clouds lifting as I type.
Returning to normalWhat is a normal routine for a retired organizer, anyway? Well, for me it usually involves making progress on personal projects like genealogy research and organizing Mom’s Boxes. Maybe blogging or working on a new book. Taking care of things that aren’t emergencies, but could become emergencies if neglected for too long. But lately my biggest accomplishment has been to binge watch 4-1/2 seasons (so far) of the 30-year-old TV show Northern Exposure (for the first time). Reminds me of the early days of the pandemic when I watched Dawson’s Creek (nearly as old, and also for the first time). When the going gets tough, the tough watch guilt-free TV!
I know what will help: Getting Back on Track (A version of this post — plus the Getting Back on Track flow chart — is included in my book: Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook.)
Déjà vuBut wait — haven’t I been here before? What did I do about it last time? Did I write about it? Of course I did!
As my organizing and writing colleague Shawndra Holmberg says, and most bloggers will agree: “When life gives you lemons, write a blog post.”
A search of my website turned up a couple of favorites:
Odds Are We’re Gonna Be Alright (It includes links to uplifting songs and other posts and websites that I find comforting.)Always believe in yourself (and have a backup plan)Here’s another time I wrote about a storm: Are you feeling adrift too? (We were not all in the same boat during COVID, but we were all weathering the same storm.)
This time around I also asked ChatGPT:
Hazel: I have been overwhelmed lately with so many appointments — home repair, medical, dental, etc. What do you suggest for staying organized while keeping my spirits up?
ChatGPT: (It provided a perfectly serviceable blog-length reply with opening and closing paragraphs.)
Hazel: That’s good. Could you make it shorter?
ChatGPT: Absolutely! Here’s a condensed version:
Centralize scheduling: Use one calendar for all appointments to avoid confusion.Prioritize and batch tasks: Group similar appointments together for efficiency.Set realistic expectations: Don’t overload yourself; it’s okay to delegate or ask for help.Prioritize self-care: Schedule regular breaks and celebrate small victories.Stay flexible: Adapt to changes and unexpected events with an open mindset.Remember to be kind to yourself and seek support if needed.
Thanks, Chatty G! (As my colleague Jamie Steele calls it.)
(Publicly-accessible generative AI has come a long way since last year, but this is still a good introduction, if you want one: An “Interview” with ChatGPT.)
It’s not a contestFortunately, it’s not a contest. Still, I counted up my appointments so far this year to make sure I wasn’t making a mountain out of a molehill. There have been 29 such appointments, which is at least 20 more than usual for only a few months in. This does not count my monthly house cleaning and occasional yard work appointments. It also does not count the time spent online and on the phone figuring out insurance and scheduling issues. Not to mention the expenses involved. (None of the appointments were income-producing.)
Not only is that list not comprehensive, it is (seemingly) never-ending.
Troubles ebb and flow, and I’m writing this post partly because I suspect I have readers who can relate.
Is that you?
Are you OK?
Never underestimate the value of a good clichéCliché (Oxford dictionary): a phrase or an idea that has been used so often that it no longer has much meaning and is not interesting.
I’m the sort of person who believes things will work out. Not magically, or immediately, but generally speaking, with a little preparation and a little faith.
While these paraphrased cliches may be overused, that doesn’t mean they’re not true and helpful:
When it rains it pours. (Don’t forget, that goes for good things, too!)After the storm, look for the rainbow.There is always, always something to be grateful for.First come the rains, then the flowers.This, too, shall pass.Ride the wave. (The wave of emotions, that is. I’m linking to a source in case you are unfamiliar with this one.)Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger (or makes a good blog post).
How do YOU stay organized and keep YOUR spirits up when you are overwhelmed?
What is your favorite cliché, or saying, or bible verse, or song, for hard times?
Do you see something here (or in one of the links) that helps you?
Please share with us in the comments below!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
___________________________________________________________
The post The rainbow after the storm appeared first on Hazel Thornton.
February 22, 2024
Money Mondays: Are You Paying Your Money Enough Attention?
Call it what you will — The Law of Circulation, Feng Shui, The Principle-of-Not-Getting-Your-Lights-Turned-Off-Because-You-Forgot-to-Pay-the-Bill — money ebbs and flows and takes on a life of its own.
Managing money is like raising children who act up, demanding negative attention if they aren’t getting enough positive attention.
Whether you think you’re rich or poor — well, that’s part of the problem, isn’t it? What we think and feel and believe about money has a huge effect on how we deal with it. I’ve had “poor” clients who live with a scarcity mentality, being loath to spend any money at all for fear that they might never get any more than they already have. And I’ve had “rich” ones who, despite their ability to pay, simply do not always pay their bills on time, incurring financial consequences.
But we can all improve our situations a bit at a time by paying more attention to our finances.
Managing money is like raising children who act up, demanding negative attention if they aren't getting enough positive attention.
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Paying your money regular attention on Money Mondays will help you avoid late fees, worry, stress, missed opportunities, and legal problems.
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Don’t try to do it all in one day, just do a little more on each Money Monday. (Unless, of course, you are facing a looming deadline with a penalty.)
From the Cash Flow Clutter chapter of Go With the Flow! (The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook):
Cash Flow clutter comes in the form of outdated financial records (like pay stubs and utility bills from the 20th century), and lingering financial tasks (such as unfiled tax returns, incomplete insurance claims, and postponed financial decisions).
Money likes attention, and if you don’t pay it regular positive attention it will demand negative attention in the form of late fees, worry, stress, missed opportunities and legal problems.
Beware of financial icebergs!Of course, this is just the tip of the financial iceberg. As you focus on your money you may uncover issues you didn’t even realize you had. (I’ve been double billed for how long?! Dang, I wanted to cancel that subscription before it renewed itself!)
Ask for help, if you need it, from an organizing, financial, or legal professional. It will pay off in the long run, I promise!
Are you paying your money enough attention?
How do you make dealing with money easier for yourself?
Please share with us in the comments below!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2013-2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
___________________________________________________________
The post Money Mondays: Are You Paying Your Money Enough Attention? appeared first on Hazel Thornton.
February 16, 2024
Witches in the Family
Witch Hill (The Salem Martyr) painting by Thomas Satterwhite Noble 1869
Yikes! Witches? Really?
Well, suspected and accused in court, yes!
Convicted and hanged, thankfully not!
In which I fall down the rabbit hole of finding out that one of my ancestors was accused of witchcraft in 1667 Connecticut.
Click To Tweet
You’ve no doubt heard about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692-3 Massachusetts.
But what about the Connecticut Witch Trials that predated them by 30 years?
Yeah, me neither.
Hartford Founders Monument
The Salem trials were more numerous and better publicized, but the trials in Connecticut towns such as Hartford, Wethersfield, Old Saybrook, and Old Lyme were equally tragic to those involved.
I knew from my genealogy research that I had ancestors who lived “up there”, and “back then”, but nothing that connected them directly to Salem in 1692-3.
I even visited the area, 30 years ago, to research some of my ancestors (surnames Ingersoll, Kibbe, Cooke, Kelsey, Pratt, Lord) and see where they had lived and died. My mom, aunt, and a family friend were on the lookout for fall foliage, gravestones, and statues with our ancestors’ names on them.
Who knew that I would later discover that my 10th great-grandmother, Anna Wolcott Griswold, was accused of witchcraft in 1667 in nearby Old Lyme? (Or, as it was known then, just Lyme.)
To be fair, I didn’t even know I had a 10th great-grandmother named Anna Wolcott Griswold until now.
.How did I, all of a sudden, learn about Anna Wolcott Griswold?
It started with Maureen Taylor sending me an email with the subject line: “Are You Related to The Photo Detective?” (OK, she sent it to her entire newsletter mailing list.)
Maureen was one of the trusted experts featured in my book What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy. She helped me figure out the story behind the book’s cover image of my namesake bathing beauty grandmother. Maureen, like most genealogists (both amateur and professional) is preparing for RootsTech, the largest annual genealogy conference in the world, coming up later this month. The link she posted in her newsletter is one of my favorite features: Relatives at RootsTech. I have written about it before and posted my own links on Facebook. (Scroll down to see my link in this post.)
The idea is that if you have built your family tree back far enough (often only a couple of generations will do it) it will connect to the world family tree in FamilySearch and their computer will be able to calculate how you are related to others who have done the same. Granted, it could be quite a distant relationship. Maureen and I are 11th cousins once removed, but the fact remains we’re related because we have common ancestors. Maureen’s 9th grandfather was my Anna’s brother George, and their parents were Henry Wolcott (1578-1655) and Elizabeth Saunders (1584-1655).
(OK, now I’m wondering how they both died in 1655. The genealogy rabbit hole never hits bottom!)
.
Sidebar: What the heck is a second cousin once removed?
.How do I know we’re really related, though?Because I did the research on my side myself.
The accuracy of the FamilySearch world tree depends entirely on its users and the documentation they have used and cited. The first thing I do when FamilySearch suggests I’m related to someone is to check my side of the match to see how far back I have already proven that line. When I get to someone I don’t “know”, I stop and think about whether it could be true and start looking for documentation to support (or refute) it. In this instance I was two generations short of our alleged common ancestors, but those two generations were easily proven.
.
Click image to learn more.
Do the mathCould I have learned about my 10th great-grandmother without Maureen Taylor asking, “Are we related?” Sure! But consider this: At the 10th great-grandparent level I have 4096 ancestors. No, really! Just take a look at the “How Many Ancestors Do You Have?” chart.
RootsTech updates the number as more people join.
It’s this math that makes me believe it when FamilySearch tells me I have 13,840 relatives at RootsTech. Just think how many descendants those 4096 ancestors must have by now! (Only a fraction of them will be attending RootsTech.)
There are so many ancestors to research, and there is so much history to learn, that it’s possible I might never have returned to that particular branch of the family on my own due to having so many others to occupy my time and my imagination. So, thanks, Maureen!
.But wait, what happened to Anna Wolcott Griswold?Records are scarce as to the details, but apparently it was her neighbor, John Tillerson, who accused her of witchcraft. Fortunately her family was well-respected and she had a supportive, level-headed husband, Matthew Griswold. They refuted that claim, accusing Tillerson, in turn, of slander, which was also taken seriously in those days. The Griswolds won the case, but Tillerson was poor and the Griswolds did not receive monetary compensation. Their reward was that the court’s opinion was published widely and Tillerson had to pay court costs: 7 shillings for the express warrant and 5 shillings for the constable.
So it could have turned out much worse for Anna. Can you imagine being accused of witchcraft in that time and place?
.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare
Full circle momentMaybe it was in my DNA to love the Newbery-Award-winning book The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare, when I read it in fifth grade. Same time frame. Same location. Although the book is set in Connecticut, I didn’t remember that half a century later. Conversely, I don’t know that at age 10 I had yet learned about the Salem witch trials.
In re-reading it, I think the “witch”, elderly widow Hannah Tupper, got off easy. She had been persecuted as a Quaker in Massachusetts and driven away to live as an outcast in predominantly Puritan Weathersfield, Connecticut. (I had no idea at age 10 that I was descended from a long line of Quakers on my dad’s side!) The protagonist, 16 year old Kit Tyler, an English girl who had been raised in Barbados, was also accused of practicing witchcraft. She was a non-practicing Catholic who could read, and — gasp — swim! Remember, it was thought that only witches floated; the innocent sank in water and often drowned while proving their innocence. Kit’s biggest sin, however, was that she befriended Hannah. They were both were blamed for a wave of sickness in town and suffered the wrath of the community, at least to the extent that a fifth grader can handle. One source says it is inaccurate that a Quaker would have been persecuted in Connecticut (and it is a work of fiction, after all), but I don’t know — based on my research, I think they doth protest too much.
This book was one of my earliest exposures to injustice — along with To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee — and to how hateful and unfair people can be towards someone who is different than they are.
.My ancestors are all immigrants, and yours probably are tooNearly all of the branches of my family (that I have researched) arrived in America during the 1600’s. So I have not gotten to do any Ellis Island research for myself, and very little across-the-pond research, either. But make no mistake — they were ALL immigrants. (Well, except for one woman whom cousins claim was Native American, but without any satisfactory proof.) Although I do qualify, I’ve never been tempted to join the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), largely because of their hoity-toity reputation. It’s possible that over time they have redeemed themselves with modern day attitudes and good works, I don’t really know.
Click image to find out!
I am, however, at least a little bit tempted to join the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches, a hereditary/lineage society for female direct descendants of the victims of the colonial witchcraft trials. They list Anna Wolcott Griswold as a qualifying member.
Do you have any (falsely accused) witches in your family tree?
Are you planning to attend RootsTech?
What is your favorite RootsTech tool or feature?
Please share with us in the comments below.
And…are we related? Click here to find out!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
___________________________________________________________
The post Witches in the Family appeared first on Hazel Thornton.
Witches in the Family?
Witch Hill (The Salem Martyr) painting by Thomas Satterwhite Noble 1869
Yikes! Witches? Really?
Well, suspected and accused in court, yes!
Convicted and hanged, thankfully not!
In which I fall down the rabbit hole of finding out that one of my ancestors was accused of witchcraft in 1667 Connecticut.
Click To Tweet
You’ve no doubt heard about the Salem Witch Trials in 1692-3 Massachusetts.
But what about the Connecticut Witch Trials that predated them by 30 years?
Yeah, me neither.
Hartford Founders Monument
The Salem trials were more numerous and better publicized, but the trials in Connecticut towns such as Hartford, Wethersfield, Old Saybrook, and Old Lyme were equally tragic to those involved.
I knew from my genealogy research that I had ancestors who lived “up there”, and “back then”, but nothing that connected them directly to Salem in 1692-3.
I even visited the area, 30 years ago, to research some of my ancestors (surnames Ingersoll, Kibbe, Cooke, Kelsey, Pratt, Lord) and see where they had lived and died. My mom, aunt, and a family friend were on the lookout for fall foliage, gravestones, and statues with our ancestors’ names on them.
Who knew that I would later discover that my 10th great-grandmother, Anna Wolcott Griswold, was accused of witchcraft in 1667 in nearby Old Lyme? (Or, as it was known then, just Lyme.)
To be fair, I didn’t even know I had a 10th great-grandmother named Anna Wolcott Griswold until now.
.How did I, all of a sudden, learn about Anna Wolcott Griswold?It started with Maureen Taylor sending me an email with the subject line: “Are You Related to The Photo Detective?” (OK, she sent it to her entire newsletter mailing list.)
Maureen was one of the trusted experts featured in my book What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy. She helped me figure out the story behind the book’s cover image of my namesake bathing beauty grandmother. Maureen, like most genealogists (both amateur and professional) is preparing for RootsTech, the largest annual genealogy conference in the world, coming up later this month. The link she posted in her newsletter is one of my favorite features: Relatives at RootsTech. I have written about it before and posted my own links on Facebook. (Scroll down to see my link in this post.)
The idea is that if you have built your family tree back far enough (often only a couple of generations will do it) it will connect to the world family tree in FamilySearch and their computer will be able to calculate how you are related to others who have done the same. Granted, it could be quite a distant relationship. Maureen and I are 11th cousins once removed, but the fact remains we’re related because we have common ancestors. Maureen’s 9th grandfather was my Anna’s brother George, and their parents were Henry Wolcott (1578-1655) and Elizabeth Saunders (1584-1655).
(OK, now I’m wondering how they both died in 1655. The genealogy rabbit hole never hits bottom!)
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Sidebar: What the heck is a second cousin once removed?
.How do I know we’re really related, though?Because I did the research on my side myself.
The accuracy of the FamilySearch world tree depends entirely on its users and the documentation they have used and cited. The first thing I do when FamilySearch suggests I’m related to someone is to check my side of the match to see how far back I have already proven that line. When I get to someone I don’t “know”, I stop and think about whether it could be true and start looking for documentation to support (or refute) it. In this instance I was two generations short of our alleged common ancestors, but those two generations were easily proven.
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Click image to learn more.
Do the mathCould I have learned about my 10th great-grandmother without Maureen Taylor asking, “Are we related?” Sure! But consider this: At the 10th great-grandparent level I have 4096 ancestors. No, really! Just take a look at the “How Many Ancestors Do You Have?” chart.
RootsTech updates the number as more people join.
It’s this math that makes me believe it when FamilySearch tells me I have 13,840 relatives at RootsTech. Just think how many descendants those 4096 ancestors must have by now! (Only a fraction of them will be attending RootsTech.)
There are so many ancestors to research, and there is so much history to learn, that it’s possible I might never have returned to that particular branch of the family on my own due to having so many others to occupy my time and my imagination. So, thanks, Maureen!
.But wait, what happened to Anna Wolcott Griswold?Records are scarce as to the details, but apparently it was her neighbor, John Tillerson, who accused her of witchcraft. Fortunately her family was well-respected and she had a supportive, level-headed husband, Matthew Griswold. They refuted that claim, accusing Tillerson, in turn, of slander, which was also taken seriously in those days. The Griswolds won the case, but Tillerson was poor and the Griswolds did not receive monetary compensation. Their reward was that the court’s opinion was published widely and Tillerson had to pay court costs: 7 shillings for the express warrant and 5 shillings for the constable.
So it could have turned out much worse for Anna. Can you imagine being accused of witchcraft in that time and place?
.The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare
Full circle momentMaybe it was in my DNA to love the Newbery-Award-winning book The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare, when I read it in fifth grade. Same time frame. Same location. Although the book is set in Connecticut, I didn’t remember that half a century later. Conversely, I don’t know that at age 10 I had yet learned about the Salem witch trials.
In re-reading it, I think the “witch”, elderly widow Hannah Tupper, got off easy. She had been persecuted as a Quaker in Massachusetts and driven away to live as an outcast in predominantly Puritan Weathersfield, Connecticut. (I had no idea at age 10 that I was descended from a long line of Quakers on my dad’s side!) The protagonist, 16 year old Kit Tyler, an English girl who had been raised in Barbados, was also accused of practicing witchcraft. She was a non-practicing Catholic who could read, and — gasp — swim! Remember, it was thought that only witches floated; the innocent sank in water and often drowned while proving their innocence. Kit’s biggest sin, however, was that she befriended Hannah. They were both were blamed for a wave of sickness in town and suffered the wrath of the community, at least to the extent that a fifth grader can handle. One source says it is inaccurate that a Quaker would have been persecuted in Connecticut (and it is a work of fiction, after all), but I don’t know — based on my research, I think they doth protest too much.
This book was one of my earliest exposures to injustice — along with To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee — and to how hateful and unfair people can be towards someone who is different than they are.
.My ancestors are all immigrants, and yours probably are tooNearly all of the branches of my family (that I have researched) arrived in America during the 1600’s. So I have not gotten to do any Ellis Island research for myself, and very little across-the-pond research, either. But make no mistake — they were ALL immigrants. (Well, except for one woman whom cousins claim was Native American, but without any satisfactory proof.) Although I do qualify, I’ve never been tempted to join the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution), largely because of their hoity-toity reputation. It’s possible that over time they have redeemed themselves with modern day attitudes and good works, I don’t really know.
Click image to find out!
I am, however, at least a little bit tempted to join the Associated Daughters of Early American Witches, a hereditary/lineage society for female direct descendants of the victims of the colonial witchcraft trials. They list Anna Wolcott Griswold as a qualifying member.
Do you have any (falsely accused) witches in your family tree?
Are you planning to attend RootsTech?
What is your favorite RootsTech tool or feature?
Please share with us in the comments below.
And…are we related? Click here to find out!
______________________________________________________Hazel Thornton is an author, genealogist, and retired home and office organizer.Hung Jury: The Diary of a Menendez Juror What’s a Photo Without the Story? How to Create Your Family Legacy Go With the Flow! The Clutter Flow Chart Workbook Feel free to link directly to this post! Click here to ask about other uses.Copyright 2024 by Hazel Thornton, Organized for Life and Beyond
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