Patsy Miller My first connection with my family history was in 1954. I was a Campfire Girl completing the Torch Bearer Craftsman in Citizenship Rank (Requirement #4A: "Make a family tree showing names thru great-grandparents...Historical significance in country ancestors came from and relate these events to immigration of your ancestors")I had 2 parents, 3 grandparents, and 4 great-grandparents in my life; and one of the great-grandparents had immigrated from Switzerland in the 1880s, so I had a wealth of stories and information firsthand.
Life has kept me busy with education, marriage, growing family, and work outside the home until 50 yers later, when I had time to further research my ancestors and my husband's families; one of his grandfathers was married twice and had 7 + 4 living children. The other grandfather was married four times and had 4 + 8 living children!
In a cover letter I composed for the many family trees I have shared, I added the following paragraphs:
"A work such as this is never totally complete. So I would gratefully accept any changes or additions you might be willing to share since I will continue to update and add information."
"One thing I have learned is how important/valuable it is for each of us to sit down and write a page of information about what we remember of our parents' families and our brothers and sisters. Even if you are not interested in family history yourself, some of your children or relatives will be."
I have been an active member of the Howard County (MO) Genealogical Society for 25 years, and Secretary-Treasurer for 20 of those years. I will never stop enjoying all the stories and will never have time to finish the research.