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| Family and friends gather to celebrate the wedding of my grandparents. |
After a family member requested I not post my original Sepia
Saturday Wedding Story, I frantically pored through stacks of old photos to see
if I had anything else to offer. I came across the above photo that seemed to be
indicative of my confusion regarding my mother’s side of the family. The bride and
groom, Harold (for some reason everyone called him Brix) Sundberg and Myrtle
Richards, my grandparents, were married on 12 August 1925 and thus began the
tangled web of family tree branches, entwined in such a jumble that even today,
my mother, who grew up within earshot of these relatives, still does not know
how her contemporaries, much less the offspring, are related. It seemed appropriate I write one of my famously silly rhymes to illustrate the confusion of it all.
Just HOW Are We
Related?
A Superior Street family was busy in their house,
Their only daughter, preparing to marry her spouse.
Her parents from England were a likely pair,
Stories, recipes, and culture, they would share.
These families from Cornwall boasted many surnames,
Millman, Richards, and Simons were some of their claims.
Ignoring tradition, Myrtle married a Swede,
A handsome guy, Brix, all the Cornish agreed.
The bride’s cousin, once removed, of the Simons clan,
Stood at the wedding as the couple’s best man.
The groom’s Swedish first cousin stood for the bride,
But there’s more to this story – you will need a guide!
The bride and groom’s cousins were husband and wife,
Making for a confusing and intertwined life!
At parties and family gatherings by the Christmas tree,
I only knew these people were, somehow, “related” to me.
Am I a great aunt or cousin twice removed?
What term is correct and genealogy approved?
But, in the end does it matter if the relationships are
clear?
It’s the love and lasting memories that we hold so
dear.
 |
| A memento of the wedding day. Note the signatures of my grandfather's first cousin, Inez, and grandmother's cousin, once removed, Clayton. |
Imagine it is a challenge to trace your family tree! Great job with the poem, it helps explain the family connections.
ReplyDeleteIn genealogy people usually concentrate on their earlier ancestors. But you have clearly demonstrated that also contemporary generations may create raised eyebrows. Nice poem!
ReplyDeleteWhen families marry families, it can get very confusing. I have a distant relative who adopted her granddaughter - so to the other children the newly adopted sister was previously a niece. CRAZY! And how about my uncle who divorced his wife and married his sister-in-law? Now my cousins' aunt is their step-mother. Reminds me of the song, "I'm My Own Grandpa."
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful post. Your grandparents look so happy! My father's parents did not look too happy in their lovely photo, all dressed up except in the smile department! Thank you for such a warm and touching post!
ReplyDeleteNeat poem; now if we had a photo on which we could identify who was who that would really a fantastic help. I guess it might ghave to be a panoramic view if you succeeded in getting everyone in one place. Fine photo.
ReplyDeleteGreat photo and an inspired poem, Kathy. I'm with Wendy - I'm my own grandpa :-) Google for it, it's terribly funny. Jo
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post and especially the poem. Too bad none of those family names are mine. The story is that my great-grandparents came from Cornwall, but I think I've disproved that. I'm thinking it was probably my great-greats and I haven't found them yet. (kathy at abbieandeveline.com)
ReplyDeletelovely poem. and i love how you ended your post. really nice.
ReplyDeleteNancy
Indeed you've caught the moment in photo and words. This rush of happiness may be why some people end up getting married multiple times!
ReplyDeleteIt's nice the stairs were wide enough to accommodate everyone.
ReplyDeleteFun rhyme.
A fine old photograph and a wonderfully "silly" rhyme. As you say, it's the love that matters.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great poem! And the wedding photo is lovely too.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your poem Kathy and the photo of your grandparents is such a happy one.
ReplyDeleteI loved your poem. Now I understand why the relationships are confused.
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy, your new Sepia Saturday link brought me back here. It's possible that you haven't posted yet. It's best to wait until you've done your post for this week and then put a direct link to that post in Mr Linky. Incidentally, you may not be aware that you still have word verification switched on. Most of us have done away with it without any awful consequences. I can send you a link to help you switch it off if you get stuck.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing your next post.