Damaris Fish on genealogy

It's your heart, stupid

That's not a very good title for a blog post, but that's how I feel. I have just come out of our Chorus class at the community college. A fellow from the tenor section asked me about humming Mull of Kintyre last week, and we talked about other Scotish songs. I am crying now, here at the keyboard at school.... Y'know, it's something you think you have under control, but when something touches your heart - good thing I kind of know how to type, because I can't see.... Something touches your heart and you cannot deny it, nor keep it in. I feel like my ancestor William Duncan, who has been a brick wall to me - is urging me to begin again to look for him and his roots in Scotland. I am going to make some shortbread tonight. My neighbor has paid me back some butter, & I know that I have a recipe on my computer at home. I remember watching a clip from the movie, "Far and Away" (Tom Cruise) in a class on genealogy, and how that touched my heart, but I didn't know what to do with that feeling. Place does have an influence on us, on shaping our character, on being a comfort for our heart. I am grateful for the earth, for its service to the family of man in hosting us to learn and grow. I don't want to be stupid and ignore the teachings for my heart. ET, phone home.

Land records are a tremendous source for geenalogical information. Owning land was a very big deal. Not every one owned land, nor could own land. Thank goodness for the good records that do survive. Follow the money? Inheritance of land represents very important issues with kinship. We feel strongly about where we are from, and making our mark upon the land. My husband built a rock cairn, with a cement cast of a fish in it. I wonder if it is still standing. Google Earth? Leaving your mark in land records is a big accomplishment. For women to do it is a very big deal. Thanks to keepers, transcribers and posters of land records; and especially to arbiters and the law! Family Home.

From Mull of Kintyre - Paul McCartney/Laine

MULL OF KINTYRE,
OH, MIST ROLLING IN FROM THE SEA.
MY DESIRE IS ALWAYS TO BE HERE,
OH, MULL OF KINTYRE.

FAR HAVE I TRAVELLED AND MUCH HAVE I SEEN,
DARK DISTANT MOUNTAINS WITH VALLEYS OF GREEN.
PAST PAINTED DESERTS, THE SUNSET'S ON FIRE
AS HE CARRIES ME HOME TO THE MULL OF KINTYRE.

SWEEP THROUGH THE HEATHER LIKE DEER IN THE GLEN,
CARRY ME BACK TO THE DAYS I KNEW THEN.
NIGHTS WHEN WE SANG LIKE A HEAVENLY CHOIR
OF THE LIFE AND THE TIMES OF THE MULL OF KINTYRE.

SMILES IN THE SUNSHINE AND TEARS IN THE RAIN,
STILL TAKES ME BACK WHERE MY MEM'RIES REMAIN.
FLICKERING EMBERS GROW HIGHER AND HIGHER
AS THEY CARRY ME BACK TO THE MULL OF KINTYRE.

MULL OF KINTYRE,
OH, MIST ROLLING IN FROM THE SEA.
MY DESIRE IS ALWAYS TO BE HERE,
OH, MULL OF KINTYRE.

posted by Damaris Fish @ 3:40 PM