A New Family Member

I say a "new" family member, but Brian was born 2 months before I graduated from high school, back in 1974.  I say "new" because I didn't know of his existence until late Thursday night, and I had no knowledge of our familial relationship until Friday morning.  I feel an almost euphoric high, and I can barely imagine how Brian himself feels.  When I got home from the Grand Jury Thursday night, there was a request from a man to become a friend on Facebook.  I did not recognize his name, though he looked vaguely familiar.  We had no mutual friends, and I was curious as to why he wanted to be-friend a white-haired older woman.  I checked out his friends list, and didn't see any "red flags" against saying Yes.  The next morning, yesterday, I got the surprise question.
  Now, to be clear, my Facebook account has my maiden name listed, so I'm plainly Betty Nocks Devine.  The Nocks family is pretty rare on the ground these days. As far as I knew, other than a few cousins who found me a few months ago, there were only 6 or 7 male Nocks family members in existence - and none of them were from my direct descent male line.  Brian, in his first message to me, asked if I knew of, or recognized a specific name.  I did.  It was the name of my first cousin, who passed away in 2006.  I never knew that this cousin had any children.  It seems that Brian was put up for adoption in 1975.
   I'm not certain how long Brian has been seeking his birth father's family - but he has been welcomed and rejoiced over.  He has multiple first cousins (I'm his first cousin, once removed) and he met one yesterday, and was sent family photos of his father and grandparents.  In the photo that Brian has posted on Facebook, he is wearing a ball cap and a big pair of sunglasses.  He sent me a photo of himself without either, and I could tell him that he was the image of his grandfather, my Uncle, and he also looks almost exactly like his father.  There's no denying the genetic heritage - he is a Nocks family member, through and through.  I'm still on an awfully happy high feeling - I never thought that helping someone confirm their heritage could make me feel so very good!

Short & Sweet

Boulder has warmed up enough to see some grass under the snow in yards.  We're expected to be windy today and tomorrow, which will help melt and evaporate the remaining snow.  But, we're expecting more snow Sunday night and Monday.  I am not complaining.  We've not had anything like the lake-effect snow that Buffalo and western New York received...  Our ski resorts are very happy, as they are expecting 10 to 20 inches of snow between now and Sunday night.  But I have to walk on slick and icy streets and sidewalks while out taking care of houses, so I'm just not ... impressed.
   I start caring for Dellwood today, so that's two cats, four carp and five laying hens.  They are easy to care for; but if it's warm in the afternoon, the hens occasionally don't want to enter the hen house for the night.  I'll stop by there on the way to Kathy and Jim's this morning, and will stop in and close them up for the night on my way back home.
  Cousin Sarah inherited most of the Nocks family photos (Thank you for keeping them away from Eleanor, Sarah!) and has been sharing identified photos on the new Nocks family website.  I've seen a lot of family photos that I have never seen before - and a lot of the cousins who have never met are being able to connect with one another.  It's great.  I'm very happy that my cousin Dennis reached out and asked how to get his part of the family tree posted...  It's been a wonderful distraction from worrying about my sister's cancer diagnosis.
  Lovey and Nedi have been happier that it's getting warmer, as they get longer periods of time outside to play.  I don't think that Nedi will find anymore mice to befriend until the Spring - it's still a weird feeling to go into the bathroom and realize your cat has a "pet" mouse sleeping with him in the tub!

Nocks Family

I was supposed to spend yesterday addressing and writing Thank You notes for all the cards, flowers and food Kathy has received since her surgery - instead, I cored, sliced and diced five gallons of crab apples to process into homemade apple sauce.  So my wrists and hands are a bit sore from arthritis this morning, but otherwise, I'm fine.
   The Nocks family has been celebrating a bit, as cousin Sarah set up our own webpage for sharing things - and we are going wild sharing photos and catching up with family that we haven't been in contact with previously. A second cousin that I didn't know existed contacted me by e-mail and wanted to know how to add to the family tree - and that began an explosion of photo sharing.  Hopefully, I 'll have time this afternoon/evening to do some more exploring, and contact another elder in the family and get dates and places to add to the tree.
  Kathy visits the oncologist today at 4, and will learn what she has planned to combat the cancer - radiation, chemo, and/or hormonal therapy.  Once I know that, and Kathy is ready for the knowledge to be public, I'll write about it.  In the meantime, it's still a waiting game - with no paths obvious or designated.  It's very frustrating for both Kathy and Jim.
  Should be able to blog more over the weekend - then I have 4 houses to care for over Thanksgiving, so I don't know when, or if, I'll have time to blog.  We'll see...
 

Veterans Day

 

 

It is 18 degrees outside on this Veteran's Day's morning; we're supposed to warm up to 32 this afternoon. There is a raggedy looking bit of snow on the ground - grass and leaves are poking through it, and it looks like Mother Nature did a poor job of applying a layer of vanilla icing... The sun just appeared, but I think it's going to hide its face again, soon. Nedi and Lovey have been out and about; both came back in with muddy feet and left a trail across my chest. We are supposed to have high temperatures around 60 for the rest of the week (thank goodness!).

  Veteran's Day is intended to honor and thank all military personnel who have served this country in wartime or peace. It is specifically aimed at honoring living veterans. In "The Great War", "The War to End All Wars", or, more simply, World War I, on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 an armistice between Germany and the Allied nations came into effect. On November 11, 1919, Armistice Day was commemorated for the first time. In 1919, President Wilson proclaimed the day should be "filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory". There were plans for parades, public meetings and a brief suspension of business activities at 11am.

  In 1926, the United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I and declared that the anniversary of the armistice should be commemorated with prayer and thanksgiving. The Congress also requested that the president should "issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples."

  Here are the veterans I salute today with love and undying gratitude:

My father, Charles H. Nocks, 21 years US Navy

 

(Left to right)  Uncle Elmer, Aunt Hazel, and Uncle Joe - Dad's brothers and sister

 

Uncle Claude E. Patrick, US Army, 20+ years

 

Cousin Emery Lee Nocks

 

Cousin Glenn Emery Nocks

Great-great-great uncle  Colonel Samuel T. Busey (USA- Civil War)