Family History the Modern Way

After a good night’s sleep, I carried my cereal in to join Susan for breakfast. Then we got down to some serious family history. Both Ron’s and Susan’s jobs at ENMUR are based on their computer expertise; he deals mostly with hardware, networks, and operating systems, she with instructional and software issues on internet, databases, and other productivity applications. At home they each have an office with about a half a dozen computers each—giant monitors, laptops, and several in between. Susan hosts a couple of genealogy sites tied to the university, and she runs a couple of programs at home to keep her own family data and who knows what else. I go back to my great grandmother, whom I knew when I was a child, and her husband, in Montana. I ask Susan if she can show me everyone who branches out under them, and then show me who each of their ancestors were. In a few moments her laser printer (a big one—she used to work for HP) starts showering me with printouts. Six of these pages tape together into a giant chart and others report historical details on innumerable family members I have never heard of. I come away with a file folder full of data for future digestion. I offer her two pages of scratchy notes I took from the Bible at Patt’s house. She makes copies and may glean a couple of tiny facts from there, but it pales in comparison. Thank you, Susan, for so generously sharing your wealth of information with me.

I get DD in traveling mode, hitch up Essie, and am on my way before midday. A little gas and a few groceries and I am looking forward to another State Park near Deming, New Mexico. About 60 miles west of Roswell, I find myself doing some serious mountain climbing and it finally tops out at 7,500’ near Ruidoso. Diane and I went skiing there once when we were DINKs.* In the late afternoon, I drive almost 10 miles off I-10 to get to the state park. In this picture, it is situated up in the ‘V’ at the base of the mountains. I called this park a couple of days ago and they had sounded like they could work me in at their overflow area, but when I arrive, I’m turned away—the inn is full.

So I turn around and go back to town. Right about where I left the interstate, there is a small RV park tucked next to the Holiday Inn, so I stop and inquire. Yes, they’ve got pull-through sites available at very reasonable rates. It’s not pretentious or packed with amenities, but it has full hookups, wide, firm roadways, and is only a quarter mile to the on-ramp. I put some laundry in the washer/dryer and take a little walk around. They’ve got some big iron in here; some of these rigs are unbelievable! It somehow isn’t as rustic and hokey as Rock Hound State Park, but it suits my needs for the night to a tee.
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*Dual Income, No Kids