Would you go back in time or into the future?
I think I'd rather go back in time, probably not earlier than about 1900. I'd like to meet some of my ancestors from two or three generations ago to see what their lives were like. This is assuming my time machine would then let me return to the present, but hey, it's my fantasy so I guess I can declare it to be so.
Back in time. I'd like to see my ancestors (and see how they lived ) and also my parents/family in the 60s, 70s & 80s. I'd love to see what the world was like in those decades. I'd love to see my mother when she was a senior in high school. I'd love to just follow her for a random Friday or Saturday night. Experience her life for a day.
shareHave you ever done any family history research?
shareI've attempted to but never can get any answers. I'd love to. My family has always told me I'm Irish & German. Love to know if thats true.
shareI have, but I still want to learn more. Maybe you've already tried this, but I suggest talking to your oldest living relative if you can. Sometimes, if you tell them why you're asking, they may be willing to tell you what they know. Any names, dates, locations or other family stories can be a starting point. Old letters, diaries, documents of many kinds can help.
shareI'll keep asking and doing research with documents I find. What did you find out about your ancestors?
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To the past, buy Apple, Disney, Amazon, Wynn, Google, Sonos, Tesla stocks for a song.
And, in terms of betting on sporting events (World Series, World Cup, Super Bowl, etc.)?! Fuggitaboutit! Same thing with Powerball. Take a trip to tomorrow, come back and play the Las Vegas Sportsbook.
This post was inspired by Jean Claude Van Damme’s only good movie, TimeCop.
Oh wow, winning one of those huge Powerball lotteries would be mind-blowing. I can't even imagine all that money.
shareSure you can. Imagine what you will do with it! Imagine how many you love you can help. Imagine how much you will help yourself with professional financial guidance . You and those you love (and who love back) can be SET FOR LIFE in this scenario; and I wish it for you. I also wish it for me.
shareI wish it for you too! It would be a great feeling to set my daughter and my brother up for life, they'd never have to stress about money. They could do whatever they wanted. I'd spend several thousand covering this body of mine in tattoos. Haha, yeah I can imagine it. It would be fun!
shareOh, R_Kane! you are so smart! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!! DING DING DING!!!
I want to change my answer!
I think the most interesting thing I discovered is that my maternal grandfather had two brothers. My mom always insisted he had none, but one day I asked him and he said he had a younger brother. Even when I told her what he'd said, she didn't believe it. But I was able to confirm it through census records. I found that one died in infancy, so my grandfather wouldn't have remembered him. But the other died at age 13. When my mother passed, I took her cremains to be buried in her family's plot back east, and sure enough, there was a grave for the 13-year-old.
shareoh wow, that is interesting. Its such a wild thing to discover a family secret or something you didn't know/something you were told wasn't true. Twenty years ago I found out my mother had a son and put him up for adoption. Crazy.
shareThat's interesting, too. I haven't found anything like that, but you never know. I know one set of my great-grandparents were born in Sweden. Another ancestor came from Holland. Another thing census records can tell you is the occupation (usually) of male heads-of-household.
For me, the hardest part is trying to keep everything straight about how everyone fits together. And going back even just 2 or 3 generations you end up with a lot of names and dates. Can you tell I love doing this? 🙂
I can tell you love doing it! Its great talking to someone about something they enjoy. I like when people get excited about things :) Holland and Sweden, thats pretty awesome. That would be neat too, finding out the jobs of my ancestors.
Yeah, you'd need a bulletin board or something to keep everything together!
I've actually thought about dedicating an entire wall of my spare room to this. I'm taking a break from actual research since I'm painting that room soon. After I get everything in order, I'll get back to research, although that may not happen until the cold weather sets in. It's a good winter hobby, but nowadays I'd rather be outside now that spring is finally here.
shareI'd visit the past. The future is too uncertain. There are lots of historical places I'd like to be able to see. For instance I'd like to see classical Greece and Rome, ancient Egypt, ancient China and so on (though my white face would look a little odd in the latter, unless I could pose as a foreign trader or something lol).
shareI'd like to maybe go back in time for a day or two just to check out my relatives. I think it would be wonderful to meet my parents when they were first married.
There are times when I sometimes wonder what it might be like to have a day with my younger self. I'd like to tell her that there is no need to worry about the future and show her how great life has worked out for us. It may seem like a silly daydream. When I think of how much times have changed since I was a kid, or even a young adult, or even an older adult, the culture shock could very well do me in! 😗
When I think of how much times have changed since I was a kid, or even a young adult, or even an older adult, the culture shock could very well do me in!
Things have certainly changed way too fast!
I'm blaming it on our cat. He likes to snuggle up with us in bed. He cuddles next to you at first. After a while, he shoves you half out of bed! Our Charlie is a real bed hog! In the end, I just couldn't get back to sleep. I'd turn the tv back on, but I hate to wake the husband.
I get it. I shouldn't be up either, of course, but I'm such a night owl. I seem to get my second (or third) wind about the time everyone else is going to bed. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
shareI hear you. I really like being a morning person. I get more stuff done. I'm afraid I'll wind up a vampire!
By the way, I like this! ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Very cool!
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I would go back and serve in WW 2 with my father.
sharePopping back in a time machine and actually serving next to your dad would be impossible logistically, but I share your sentiment.
I would love to go back to the summer of '45 when my dad walked about three miles from the train station to his parents home because he couldn't get a taxi. He had been overseas for 30 months and the walk home allowed him to gather himself to prepare for the shock of seeing his mom and dad and siblings for the first time in almost three years.
I would love to make that walk with him and hear his old war stories again, but I'm afraid I'd start crying and he'd think I was weird. He's been gone 15 years this August and there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him.
Interesting idea. Do you know where he served during the war?
shareHe was in the British Navy for almost 6 years - Battle of the North Atlantic mostly and the invasion of North Africa.
shareOh ok...interesting and amazing history right there
Pretty heavy stuff going on in North Africa
The Suez Canal was a prime target of the Nazis...key Allied victory at El Elamein turned the tide in the desert Tank/Troop warfront
Monty and The Brits ran The Desert Fox down and the US GI's showed up in time to serve as a major force!
Next target...Italy, the 'Soft Belly of Europe...'
Italy turned out to be a pretty HARD belly for our team but it worked out after Anzio
Those guys (and your Pop) are heroes
The Best sort of people
My dad served as a radar technician in the US Army Air Force (the predecessor to the US Air Force). Although he's gone now, he did tell me a few stories of his time in the military during WWII. He mentioned parachuting into Italy and being injured when his radar equipment landed on his foot. He enlisted and was assigned to radar (sorry, can't remember what his unit was called) because he had a college degree, which was relatively rare in those days. His job was to set up the radar equipment wherever needed.
shareI always associate your dad with WWII...
You have mentioned his great service before and it sounds amazing
He was a sailor right?
Thousands of Canadians landed on Juno, Sword and Gold at Normandy for the Biggest seaborne invasion in history
Major respect to your dad my friend!
USA and Canada...ALLIES for all time
Yes - British Navy 1939-1945
shareI am in awe
Most of the vets in my family are gone now
I just wish they had written down a few memories, thoughts, reactions to what they had witnessed and done...
But they were the old school Irish and they took those details to the ground with them
A shame really
I'd only want to go back in time if I could still know all of what I have learned about everything so far.
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