Use the phone

Yes, I preach about using the phone and I rarely do so.

Today I made four phone calls. Two were ho hum. One was okay. One was so full of information. That phone call will result in supplying me with information that I've been searching for for months. I'd almost given up on finding the information.

When I get the information I'll have to make some adjustments on my "facts", but it's worth it. It's worth it to have the facts that really were.

No more wondering.

Several years ago Vern Gosdin had a great song, Chiseled in Stone. While it applies to being lonely, it also applies to the genealogist. While wrong information can be chiseled in stone, usually they're accurate enough to get the information we've been seeking.

What if your ancestor died two days earlier than the date chiseled in  stone? But the chance of them chiseling the wrong spouse or parents on that stone is very unlikely.

What did I learn today with my phone call? I learned what was chiseled in stone. I've begged for pictures. I've called various places trying to get the information. Today I called the right number.

When you hit a dead end, pick up the phone. Call the area of country where you're having problems. I'm not familiar with the area I called about. Sure, I've learned a lot via the Internet, but that's nothing like talking to someone who lives there, who grew up there. Someone who knows that part of the world.

Days like today are the days all genealogist cherish. It's the days when we finally start seeing the information that has eluded us for so long.

It's a day to celebrate.

Pick up the phone. Make that call. You might not learn anything, but if you do it often enough you'll strike genealogy gold.