In case you haven't heard,

 we're working on plans for a summer visit to Chicago. Most of us but probably not all. The only time that works is in the second week of August. We're looking to get an Airbnb somewhere convenient for south side family. Please look at your family's commitments and let us know if it doesn't work. I know, it gets harder to find everyone free. Maybe trying to find a good time that works for most is out of reach.

I imagine you are following parts of the Chauvin trial. It was neat to see that the most effective of the docs is a pulmonologist who practices a stone's throw from Matt and Jen.

Text me at 716 464 8392.

Ancestors or Influencers?

 My interest in genealogy has been based mostly on the question "Who influenced those who influenced me?" I suppose it's the psychologist in me. Somehow that became "What is my family (i.e., genetic) history?" In pursuit of that I, along with millions of others, sent in saliva to have my genes codified. We all get emails saying that dozens of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, ad infinitum cousins have been found. Well, I have no more than a mild interest in them. Genes are extremely important but not so much in answering the question I started with.

Often it's necessary to learn more. An example is my maternal grandmother, Ann Josephine Cullerton (Graver). Her parents died when she was very young and the Kelly family raised her until she married at 19. Here's the note added to her dewjoy genealogy.

So those two elderly women I knew as distant aunts were far more important in understanding my grandmother than her biological relatives. It's time to contemplate those kinds of connections more.

COVID-19: A Horrible Year

 And it's not over yet. Rates are dropping but could surge again easily. Joyce and I have pretty much been hibernating. Last year at this time we returned from Florida, where state police were greeting people entering on major highways, trying to turn them back. It was so good to get back home, where we seem to have isolated much of the time. So far more people died during the influenza of a century ago, the year my father was born, but unless we move faster on vaccinations, we'll beat them.

We are having our first full family celebration today, for Mary Fran's birthday. Most of us have been vaccinated. some may still wear masks. We are tentatively hoping to visit Chicago family in August. Surely it will be better then!  🙏🙏

MAAC Swimming 2020 Championship

The event is being held in Buffalo this year. Our Grace has competed in three events so far and placed in all. That's quite an accomplishment for a freshman in a conference with eleven colleges. Canisius does a good job using social media and I picked up this image from one of their Twitter accounts.

The entire meet has been streamed as well so I took video off the TV for two of the three events (50 Free and 200 Free Relay) with Grace getting her medal and celebrating with teammates who also placed. Not the best, but something.

50 Free Individual

200 Free Relay

Big sports fan (yeah, right)

Dew and Joy have season tickets for the Canisius College basketball games. The team played Marist yesterday and naturally we were there. A very exciting game, back and forth until Canisius won in the final seconds by 1 point. You can see the sports enthusiasm on Dew's face. Oh, wait---I'm looking at my phone. Never mind.

Then it was on to the Van Burens to watch the Super Bowl. Another very exciting game. Who won?  😂

DewJoy Books is No More

The time has come to discontinue them. Why? Because public libraries across the country now provide a service that can't be beat. It's called Libby and even I use it. You can check out both books and audiobooks and download them to either your phone or tablet. Follow the link to learn more about it.

Let me know if you have any questions.

Winter sport?

We drove through a snowfall of some magnitude and loved by skiers to watch Grace and her Canisius teammates compete against Niagara University. The pool was heated like a summer day and Canisius won. Each swimmer is allowed to compete in 4 events and Grace won two and placed second in two. Then we drove home through even more snow. 😒