Why look back? For the love of the connection, I suppose...

As one not coupled up, I choose to take the love theme of the day and look to the generations that preceded me.

Researching your family tree can be a rewarding and exciting journey in a mystery where you are both detective and client. I don't know how many states have organizations like this, but Hoosiers have the Society of Indiana Pioneers. If you are directly descended from someone who settled in Indiana before December 31, 1840 (slightly varies in a few counties) you may want to consider joining.

I am so excited about the airing of this new program "Who Do You Think You Are" (premiering on NBC March 5, 2010 at 8pm) that I found myself getting misty-eyed just watching the preview. Having traced some lines of my tree back 11+ generations with a few more to go, I have been amazed to find multiple great grandfathers fought in the Revolutionary War and Civil War, as well as one grandfather who arrived on the Mayflower and a grandfather named Lion who owned Gardiner's Island--in Gardiner's Bay off Long Island in New York. The island has been privately owned for over three hundred years by his descendants (my distant cousins), and is the only real estate still intact as part of an original royal grant from the English Crown! Really cool stuff!

Though we are all connected somehow, as time marches forward, the world tends to feel less authentically connected, and more remotely and loosely connected, it is refreshing to see evidence of genuine connection, at least by bloodline. This increasingly popular pastime actually fits right in with today's modus operandi of being accessible but not necessarily available. Coincidences are inevitable and magical and you may be denying yourself a great joy if you don't chase that proverbial rabbit down the hole. Perhaps this show will inspire you if you need a little extra motivation.

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