.

Yes, it does the heart good!   I have been sending her information all
morning so far!   My stepson has been here scanning documents for the last
few days and it was so timely!   I am so glad to have been able to help her.

Thanks Steve.  I am only giving back what was freely given to me when I
first came here to alt.support.alzheimers.  Others who had been down this
road themselves, helped me.   I have no idea how I could've managed it
without them.

Hi Ruth,

The story evolved over the next few days after I posted that, and it had a
somewhat depressing ending.   I stayed in touch via email with the young
lady for a while, and she did actually reach the son of the great uncle she
was seeking, in California, where the family settled.

I put her in touch with a friend of my mother in law's who was actually on
that ship (as a teenager at the time) and knew her uncle while he was still
alive.   They spoke on the phone and tried to locate the exact place where
the uncle lived.  She was able to determine that her uncle had died, but by
knowing the son's name, she got his phone number.

Well, when she called the son, not only did he not have any interest in
continuing the discussion with her, he insinuated she was trying to use him
to "get into the USA".   In short, he blew her off.   She was heartsick,
since she and her husband have good careers and a good life, and she only
wanted to find her great uncle and discover what had become of him,
certainly not to get anything from anyone, she was just interested in
finding her family.

Hope I don't insult anyone by saying this, but some people in California are
a "special breed of cat."   We discovered that when we lived there when
Peter was on a business transfer there for a year, many years ago.
Apparently her cousin grew within the element in which he found himself.

I am currently doing some family research of my own, in hopes of helping the
young ones of today to know where and from whom, they came.   Sometimes it
is helpful to realize their struggles, their joys and sorrows, and to
realize that we all have a genetic history, and it consisted of real people.

In connection with this, I recently sent an email to a cousin of my own,
reiterating a certain family history, which gave the names of quite a few
different second cousins we have all lost touch with.   My own (first)
cousin also blew me off, without even a thanks for the information, or the
slightest bit of interest in my project either.

I am not taking it personally, because some people are just so caught up in
their own lives and making that almighty dollar, that they don't really
think about these things and it just doesn't interest them.   My mom used to
say that some people had "a dog's philosophy of life;  if they can't eat it
or make love to it, then they piss on it."  LOL!

It is a shame, because understanding the past is our greatest clue to the
future.   Such a dismissive attitude as what she (and I) encountered, is an
emotionally bankrupt one.   I don't care how much money one makes, if
someone is that self centered, happiness will probably always elude them.

I will continue with my project, and I am sure the young lady will continue
with hers.... and whatever will be, will be.   Perhaps there are young
people not yet even born, who will benefit from it.