Uncle Emil
Audio: Uncle Emil When I started these posts on finances and my family, I wasn’t sure where they would go or what the value would be. One outcome so far has been a surprise: your families also have secrets and …
Who Is This Woman?
Audio: Who Is This Woman? In this case, I’m not referring to some aged name on the family tree. I’m referring to the one who birthed me. Laurie, my psychologist friend, had prepared me to go back to New Jersey, …
Are You a Good Witch?
My great-grandfather, Emil F. Folda, was born in 1866 in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, and was brought to a sod house near Heun, Nebraska, as a toddler. The family relocated to take advantage of the Homestead Act as well as soil with …
Shocked by a Catholic
Audio: Shocked by a Catholic I grew up without religion. I don’t know if that’s the continuing influence of my great-grandfather or my parent’s active choice. We had a Christmas tree with presents, and chocolate bunnies for Easter, but I …
Two Days Before Thanksgiving
Audio: Two Days Before Thanksgiving When I first heard this story from my father, the news came during the Thanksgiving meal. But according to his grandfather’s journal, the news came two days before, on Tuesday. My great-grandfather was Emil (pronounced …
Meeting People You’ve Never Met Before
I hope I’m not interrupting, since this is a Thursday. On my walk this morning—cold with brilliant sun—I had an idea and if I wait until Sunday, it could be too late. Earlier this week, my psychologist friend asked how …
The Sins of the Parents
Audio: The Sins of the Parents Back when I was in the fundamentalist Christian church, I read the Bible a lot. It was a status symbol to have a bible showing signs of wear from heavy reading. Covers that fell …
Money Isn’t the Only Secret
Audio: Money Isn’t the Only Secret I started work on my family tree, so it could be a tool for readers as I research the story of money in my family. I worked in Ancestry.com. My dad’s side came together …
The ‘Indian Threat’?
Audio: The ‘Indian Threat’? Because Thanksgiving was last week, and because my Diversity & Inclusion class is coming to a close, there is something on my mind. Thanksgiving? Or Takesgiving? It depends on your perspective. It depends on the story …
Death Benefits
Audio: Death Benefits I set up my will so that none of the beneficiaries benefit if any of them die first. The dead person’s share doesn’t go back into the pool to be shared by those remaining. It goes to …