GenealogyBles

Megan has pension records from the National Archives on a couple of relatives. We got to looking at one today: Theodore Sylvester Covill. This would be my great-grandfather on my dad's side of the family. Most of what we have by way of documents are requests for pension and increase in pension, due to disability. Why was he disabled? He had a scrotal hernia and other things, supposedly caused by his service during the Civil War. Document after document talks about "scrotal hernia", "varicocele", "varicose veins in the legs the size of hickory nuts", and two Civil War related gunshot wounds. Basically, I've read all I care to know about my great-grandpa's genitals!!

In the process of going through the stuff today, we discovered that he had 11 kids (apparently the varicocele didn't cause any sterility problems for him)...that three children were under 16 years of age when he died (a widower), and that they had been living in squalor well before great-grandma died. At least two siblings took over the care of the younger ones after he croaked...and so it went. The more I dig into these stories, the more I want to know...but there are some details that are lost to eternity. It's a shame. Everyone should write memoirs!

One of my radio friends is in the hospital getting tests for a large weight gain that is mostly water. Prayers for you, Mike!

Talked to the grandchildren this afternoon. Their Valentine package just arrived today! It took a whole week for it to be delivered??? Most of the stuff I send from Indiana to California takes two days. Not fair that they didn't get their Valentine treats on time!!

News from home made it sound like it was warmer in Indiana today than Silicon Valley. Ya know what? That's okay with me!! It was about time for the weather to break! I hope it's more than just a weather carrot-on-a-stick.

Just out of curiosity, Denis asked me if I thought I would like to live in California. It certainly is beautiful here, but my immediate answer was no. It's too far away from my grandchildren. This is going to sound stupid since I am retired and could live anywhere on the planet that I could afford, but I have established a little place on Walton Drive that is mine (until I am unable to take care of myself) and provides the grandchildren with a place they like to come to....just like my grandparents' farm was for me. Circumstances may change in the next year, but for now, I will visit California and go home to ice and snow and thunderstorms and tornadoes... Hmmm...what's wrong with this thinking???

Blessings to all who follow my blather on here. Spring is coming. Have faith!