The Other Side of the Family
A German Jew on the paternal side, and as it turns out, Scottish and Irish on the maternal side.
I was able to trace the Maternal side all the way back to the year 1075 from Normandy into England briefly, and then to Scotland for hundreds of years before my ancestors moved and lived in Ireland for hundreds of years, before coming to America and settling in Pennsylvania. At that point in history (mid-1700's) my paternal and maternal ancestors settled in the same state in America.
My branch of the paternal side moved to Texas and then on to Arkansas, and my branch of the maternal side moved to Tennessee and then on to Arkansas. This is where my mother and father met and married. The twigs on the branches of the family tree were living about five miles apart at that time.
I haven't tried to trace the girls back in time yet, but it is probably a safe bet that their heritage is pure, and not confused like mine. Well confusion is not a problem. The Jews won't accept me anyway without a Jewish mother or a conversion.
In one respect there is no confusion. I come from a long, long, long line of farmers. From that perspective, I am the renegade breakaway; the college graduate; the lawyer. And now, gasp, married to a Chinese woman and with a Chinese daughter! But I still have dirt under my nails because of my love of vegetable gardening, so the farming instinct must be in my blood. Ping has the same desire to work the dirt and grow things.
Therefore, as much as we love our home, I still think we should sell it and get a place with room to garden and near a high school with high test scores and plenty of Asian students. Like Sugarland or in that area. We could grow our own A Choy and Dong wa and Gai lon and green onions and more. I doubt that the girls will go for this idea, though.
I was able to trace the Maternal side all the way back to the year 1075 from Normandy into England briefly, and then to Scotland for hundreds of years before my ancestors moved and lived in Ireland for hundreds of years, before coming to America and settling in Pennsylvania. At that point in history (mid-1700's) my paternal and maternal ancestors settled in the same state in America.
My branch of the paternal side moved to Texas and then on to Arkansas, and my branch of the maternal side moved to Tennessee and then on to Arkansas. This is where my mother and father met and married. The twigs on the branches of the family tree were living about five miles apart at that time.
I haven't tried to trace the girls back in time yet, but it is probably a safe bet that their heritage is pure, and not confused like mine. Well confusion is not a problem. The Jews won't accept me anyway without a Jewish mother or a conversion.
In one respect there is no confusion. I come from a long, long, long line of farmers. From that perspective, I am the renegade breakaway; the college graduate; the lawyer. And now, gasp, married to a Chinese woman and with a Chinese daughter! But I still have dirt under my nails because of my love of vegetable gardening, so the farming instinct must be in my blood. Ping has the same desire to work the dirt and grow things.
Therefore, as much as we love our home, I still think we should sell it and get a place with room to garden and near a high school with high test scores and plenty of Asian students. Like Sugarland or in that area. We could grow our own A Choy and Dong wa and Gai lon and green onions and more. I doubt that the girls will go for this idea, though.
from one part Scotsman to another I give you this, the first is the words and the second is the music it is the Scotish national anthem, I hope you enjoy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPaJhlIIYjM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DN87mVzL28s&feature=PlayList&p=32DB56BB4B9A32DD
I hope they work for you.
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Impressive, Michael. The music and the words and the scenery. It inspired me to do a little research and reading about Edward's invasion of Scotland, which was during the time that my ancestors were there.
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If you would like, I could have Mingjun talk to the girls about how much better the produce from her little garden tastes, especially the green onions and cilantro. Even up here, and planting late, the garden is doing great. Nothing like fresh. And raised beds are amazing.
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I can not agree more about fresh grown foods.
I spent a couple of years growing up in a Good Life (BBC TV show) household. I don't think I could be like the Goods, but I'm wanting to set up some produce gardens. Plus it would compliment the fresh strawberries!
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