Tonight I got a text from my sister, Angie. It said, "Call me, we are Swiss." I had no idea what she was talking about. To be honest, I thought it was a term for being drunk. When she answered she said my mom’s cousin, Carolyn, had found some old paperwork in an antique dresser. It had our maternal grandmothers ancestry on it. It said we came from Switzerland. I started screaming, "We're Swiss! We're Swiss!" You see we have always wondered where we are from. There are a lot of countries thrown out here and there by my parents: Welsh (that is what I told my in-laws I was when they pressed me for a lineage while Phill and I were dating), Irish, Scottish, some type of Native American. But now I have something in writing from an old armoire. And doesn’t Swiss sound right? I have always loved the Swiss. Vieve, can tell you. I have.
And isn’t this what we all have wanted all along? A treasure from an old dresser (oh, to take this to Antique Roadshow). But there is more, according to this paperwork (Angie is sending me copies to verify) one of these ancestors signed the...wait for it...Declaration of Independence! Oh yea! Livingston, Mr. Philip Livingston. And there was something else about fighting with George Washington. Wish I would have that piece of information when Phill’s parents asked. I know this is all sounds pretty far fetched and too good to believe, but I will have the evidence soon enough. Soon enough. So now my dear Ruby is not only Korean-Welsh, she is now Korean-Welsh-Swiss. PTL!
And now I will always address you as: "Dr. Livingston, I presume." Everyone wishes for an antique dresser that yields family secrets--and you got one! The most my family can piece together is that we're probably not really even Loveladys. My grandfather's mother (or maybe his grandmother) was a widow/divorcee (?) with one child when she met and married (we think in the old-timey country manner, which is closer to common law) a Lovelady. Never legally changed her or her child's name to Lovelady, but started using it anyway. Escandalo!
ReplyDeleteMr. Livingston is smokin' hot!
ReplyDeleteI do seem to remember Mandy taking to the swiss people quite well. As a matter of fact, she spent her last dollars on a special swiss lotion for her face. And... i did witness her almost fighting a possible swiss cousin who touched her inappropriately in the zurich train station. He was lucky it was a busy station day. Congrats Benny.
ReplyDeleteI hope Mr. Livingston knew my great great great uncle...who also signed that very important document. I think that makes Ruby eligible for a scholarship someday.
Mandy! (don't ask me how I found your blog b/c I have no idea.)
ReplyDeleteI JUST FOUND OUT I'M JEWISH!!! Well, you know... the lineage thing. But I love the Jews. I really do, so this was all too exciting for me. Anyways, so glad to hear about the Swiss for you. They really are a nice people. And your blog is so fun, glad you are keeping it real. haha!
Have you seen John Adams? George Washington is a saint, and I'm not sure you want to advertise that your family member argued with him. I think I remember the lies that you and Jo used to tell that you were Native American. A lie I never bought and now we have proof. YOU'RE SWISS! I can't believe it. Is Phill so excited that he has his very own Elin living right in his house?
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