Is your family tree made up of distinct single branches that reach smoothly and elegantly into the sky? Or does it have places where it twirls and spins in ways that create shadows and unexpected growths? Those unexpected growths on a tree may be burls. Monthly posts from members celebrate their contributions to family history storytelling — in all its forms.
Thank you Kerri. I remember you mentioning some of these things in the presentation you made for @Projectkin. I have shared this article with my family history seeking relatives.
Ya know, as a little sidebar to this, I love the concept of "family history seeking relatives" I have several in my own family who aren't themselves interested in the research "as research," and instead want the goods. 🤔 I'll think about this some more as I think it could be key to spreading interest and an appreciation for history and context.
I will forever think of those complicated family bunches as burls. In my private database, I hide nothing. In a public database, or article, I try not to publish something that would truly be hurtful to a living person. There is so much to write about that I don't find letting those painful stories "rest" until a later date.
I wholeheartedly agree Karla. This is exactly how I handle my information too. While attending to the "facts" of our families and their histories, it seems kind to manage (as best we can) any negative emotion that may create for others.
I love the analogy of a burl (or two) in the family tree. I have some in mine and some yet to be discovered as unknown relatively close DNA matches appear.
The DNA tests do open up a whole new set of possible burls. Technology today provides possibilities to see what's inside the burls, at least from a genetic perspective ... both exciting and sometimes eeeeeek!
Burls in a tree are a perfect metaphor for the twists and turns that family histories take. We adopted our daughter from Russia. So I drew our new family as a tree, with the roots of the tree coming from the flags of all the different countries, we all came from.
My story has taken down my family tree. My cousin, Sue, asked me to join her on a trip to Italy to search for ancestors, but in my book, I express the feeling: "Sue never saw what a fierce storm had rolled in, striking my tree’s limbs. She had no way of knowing that the fallen branches lay haphazardly all over my yard by now."
It really is a great metaphor to represent something that happens more than we would like. Secrets in families always have a way of coming out. It’s why I really discourage them. Too risky.
Thank you Kerri. I remember you mentioning some of these things in the presentation you made for @Projectkin. I have shared this article with my family history seeking relatives.
Oh that is wonderful Marci. It is always the best news when someone feels like a written piece can be helpful to others!
Ya know, as a little sidebar to this, I love the concept of "family history seeking relatives" I have several in my own family who aren't themselves interested in the research "as research," and instead want the goods. 🤔 I'll think about this some more as I think it could be key to spreading interest and an appreciation for history and context.
I will forever think of those complicated family bunches as burls. In my private database, I hide nothing. In a public database, or article, I try not to publish something that would truly be hurtful to a living person. There is so much to write about that I don't find letting those painful stories "rest" until a later date.
I wholeheartedly agree Karla. This is exactly how I handle my information too. While attending to the "facts" of our families and their histories, it seems kind to manage (as best we can) any negative emotion that may create for others.
I love the analogy of a burl (or two) in the family tree. I have some in mine and some yet to be discovered as unknown relatively close DNA matches appear.
The DNA tests do open up a whole new set of possible burls. Technology today provides possibilities to see what's inside the burls, at least from a genetic perspective ... both exciting and sometimes eeeeeek!
Burls in a tree are a perfect metaphor for the twists and turns that family histories take. We adopted our daughter from Russia. So I drew our new family as a tree, with the roots of the tree coming from the flags of all the different countries, we all came from.
My story has taken down my family tree. My cousin, Sue, asked me to join her on a trip to Italy to search for ancestors, but in my book, I express the feeling: "Sue never saw what a fierce storm had rolled in, striking my tree’s limbs. She had no way of knowing that the fallen branches lay haphazardly all over my yard by now."
Oh my heart aches. Trees falling in a forest and the winds of a storm, a perfect metaphor for how news can flow through a family.
It really is a great metaphor to represent something that happens more than we would like. Secrets in families always have a way of coming out. It’s why I really discourage them. Too risky.