Digging Out and Looking Forward in 2022 - 10 years of blogging

Recently I spoke for the first time since February 2020 to a live audience. It was surreal to walk into a library with my mask on and instruct a group of people all masked and socially distanced. But, that is our new normal in the age of COVID. Online is wonderful, but it can be very isolating. 

Other things have changed as well, and believe it or not, I am still adjusting even after two years. This is one reason I have come back to my blog. The deep depression I have been in from losing loved ones, friends, and colleagues to this disease cut me to the core. It was hard to communicate let alone go on as normal. 

Throw in starting my Ph.D., one child in college, my husband going back to school, helping my other child with high school, and caring for my father I have been living on caffeine and a prayer. I know many of you can relate! How do I do it, is a question I am asked often. However, when you do not know any difference you make it happen. 

So, it was no surprise to me that as the 10th anniversary of my blog loomed last December I had nothing to say. I do have ten drafts of blog posts sitting on my computer, but pushing the publish button was difficult. This leads me to today.

I need to read, write, teach, and publish more. That starts here. Plus, I'd love to hear from you. Anything you'd like to know more about from a lecture I have presented? Curious about a story I've posted here? Let me know. Send me a message through my contact form. 

Let's make the next 10 years amazing. 

Back on the horse

Well hello world!  I am back and getting in the swing of things.  Well… trying to.  It may take me several more weeks to catch up on everything that I need to.

However, there is a big change coming up in my professional life.  As such, it does mean that my time will be once again split.  Not that I ever have an abundance of time, but I will have even fewer me time hours for personal research.

Next week I will start a new job.  The first time I will be employed outside of the home (by someone else) in nearly 16 years.  Scary!!  I accepted a part time position as a staff genealogist at Colonial Dames 17^th Century in Washington, DC.  A bit scary, a bit exciting, but I am looking forward to a new adventure.  Plus the building is absolutely gorgeous and I have a library to peruse to my heart’s content.  What could be better?!

Currently I am catching up with client reports and things that I owe people.  I do have some new family history breakthroughs that I am typing up, so those stories are coming as well.  Oh, and dad had moved in with us.  I have a research partner now.  He even has a NARA researcher’s card.  Not sure who is more excited, me or him.  In fact, I hope to get him set-up and comfortable as a guest blogger on here.  I think it will be a cool thing.

If you would like to see or listen to an upcoming lecture make sure to check out my presentation page.  There a quite a few coming up, and I am booking into 2017!