mtaggartI have often called my hair the “bane of my existence.” If ever there was wildly stubborn hair, that’s mine. I can’t even begin to tell you how frustrated I was growing up in southern California in the 60’s and 70’s when stick straight hair was in. Mine chose instead to flip and curl and in some places, stand straight out.
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| John Monroe Ganus and sons L-R Top row Robert, Roderick M., Newton L. bottom row John Monroe, John T., William F. |
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| Nephi Glen Hostetter |
So that began my quest to find other things about me that actually help me to fit in with my ancestors.
I had to laugh once when I received an email from a newly found distant cousin and he asked if I had ever noticed rather pronounced ears in my family. Yes, I told him—and with that we began an exchange of ancestor pictures back and forth, proof positive that our families shared more than surnames. I was delighted to know that while I had always thought they were Ganus features because my Grandpa Ganus had those ears, this cousin was actually a Rainwater cousin and so it made me feel connected instead to my Rainwater family.
What other things? What about personality traits? I hate someone beating me off the line at a stop light—I know, I know, I’m way too old for that one, but it was fun to learn from my mom that her father had been the same way. While I am not sure that there is a gene for such a thing, I delight in knowing that I share this with a grandfather that I never knew .
I giggle each time I find a new Ganus connection and learn that their ancestor was known for their spunk. I shared some stories showing Addison’s spunk in a previous post, but I’ve also been told that John’s sister Martha was very spunky and that at times, so was my great great grandfather John Monroe Ganus. Do I see that in myself? Well let’s just say that as much as I struggle with my hair, my spunk can be an even bigger problem.
I will never love my hair, but I must confess that some days it does make me smile as I realize that it connects me to them and somehow that helps. What physical and personality traits have you inherited?
Copyright © Michelle G. Taggart 2012
Well, I think I inherited a few of those same traits from you Mom. I have a very serious problem of not wanting to be beat off the line. Only therapy will help me overcome that one though. I also have hair problems, my hair when it gets longer sticks straight out, like a big cotton ball. Fortunately for me it really doesn't bother me that much, I can cover it up with a hat, or just buzz if it gets too bothersome.
Ha ha—I thought I just passed on all of the good stuff to you! (sadly a hat or buzzing isn't an option for me)
This is delightful — wavy hair, prominent ears, and spunk. I like this ancestor game, and I had a good look at the curly heads in your lineup! In our family, they would say "he had a temper," which sounds related to "spunk," and we thought that trait was definitely inherited, as they say some psychological tendencies are. We had the "Kirven nose," prominent and hawk-like, which I escaped but saw in my late sister, and now, her nephew. As for hair, ours was straight as a stick and we would be envious of Charlie Brown's "little red-haired girl," all curls.