Jacqueline’s Jaunts

Week 45 – Birthday – 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks This is my first year working on this year-long weekly writing prompts provided by Amy Johnson Crow and posted on her Generations Cafe Facebook page. I will do my best to write something each week.  BARRY 50TH BIRTHDAY PARTY My husband turned 50 in 2004 and we decided to throw a birthday party. We liked to throw theme parties, so we settled on a tie-dyed theme. We sent out the invites and told everyone to wear tie dye attire. My girlfriend Renee Toomey and I planned a day to go shopping in Berkeley to look for pants and tie-dyed shirts. We were successful. At that time, we frequented a restaurant in San Leandro, CA called The Englander. Two of our friends, Tom and Theresa Lawrie, managed and worked at The Englander. We reserved the side room with the bar. We arranged everything through them but didn't want them to work it. We wanted them to enjoy the party. We had hot food for everyone but can't remember what it was, but I know it w...

Week 45 — Theme Stormy Weather — 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks This is my first year working on this year-long weekly writing prompts provided by Amy Johnson Crow and posted on her Generations  Cafe Facebook page. I will do my best to write something each week.  1923 HAILSTORM DAMAGE I found a newspaper article years ago that mentions my 2X great grandfather, John N. McCurdy. The article talked about a hailstorm that ruined crops and killed livestock belonging to him. (1)   For me it put into perspective that even back then, weather affected our ancestors and their way of life. Not something I have thought much about.  Today I know much more about researching and what to look for. After reading this article again, many questions started running through my head and I now have a bit more research to do from this article.  New questions: 1. John N. McCurdy’s grandson, my grandfather, would have been around 12 at that time. Did my grandfather live close by? 2. Was Jo...