Can you tell me what the heck is Rherefa? Rherefa Lopetrone.... Rherefa Lopetrone?
Where did I put that book about Italian genealogy... there's a page in there that should help.... OK... so they make their T's like R's.... All right.... Therefa.... Therefa.... IT'S THERESA! Theresa Lopetrone...
Ok, I have the name... but at this rate it's going to take me at least an hour to translate this one record. And, why are there two dates on here? I can't make out that community in which they lived... Where is my sheet with all the Rugas!
Great... now I'm getting motion sickness from viewing these records.
Why on earth am I doing all of this? It's the burning desire to know who came before me. It's finding out why they left their home town to come to the USA. It's so I can know and share it with my mom.
I can't wait to see Mom's face when I show her the wedding record of her grandparents. Her eyes will light up like they did when we found her parents records. I know she'll be thrilled.
Then, there's the joy of reconnecting with family members of great, great aunts and uncles. It's being in contact with extended family and learning about their paths in life. It's seeing my mom so excited when we find extended family. It's being able to share the information with my aunts and uncles.
So, when people look at me and wonder why, I just smile and tell them.... because I can.