As summer winds down and we turn our thoughts toward fall projects and research goals, I wanted to share a personal journey that reminded me, once again, why we do what we do.
This summer, my wife and I embarked on a five-week, 9,000-mile road trip across the United States, with Washington State as our final destination. The trip was ore than just miles logged -- it was a tapestry of family, friendship, and the landscapes.
The highlight was our 50th annual family reunion at Priest Lake, nestled in the Selkirk Mountains of northern Idaho. There, three generations gathered under towering pines and beside clear waters to share meals, laughter, and stories. We traced our lineage not just with charts, but also through the faces and mannerisms of cousins, nieces, and grandchildren that reminded us of our parents and grandparents.
This journey also offered countless smaller reunions— a baseball tournament in Tennessee with our children and grandchildren, a visit with my brother in Colorado, a short visit with a nephew in Montana, coffee and meals with old friends in Ohio. I had the opportunity to visit the area where my mother’s ancestors established homestead claims in eastern Washington and are now buried in a small-town cemetery. With each town and each story, I was struck by how much we are shaped by those who came before us and how important it is to preserve these connections.
Of course, no road trip is complete without a few surprises. In Yellowstone National Park, we found ourselves in a classic Yellowstone traffic jam—dozens of bison meandering across the road, indifferent to our schedules. As the bison casually strolled past our car, I had time to reflect on the grandeur of the moment. Here we were, paused in the middle of a national treasure, surrounded by wildlife and wonder. It was a gentle reminder that our country is vast, diverse, and breathtakingly beautiful. Later, as I reflected on the bison encounter, I was reminded of the journeys our ancestors made—often on foot or by wagon, across similar rugged terrain. How lucky we are to travel these same paths in relative comfort!
This journey reaffirmed my belief in the power of connections. Whether it’s a shared family memory, a handwritten letter tucked in a shoebox or a digital record found in an online archive, each piece adds depth to our understanding of who we are and where we come from. I encourage each of you to reach out to relatives, revisit old photographs, and ask the questions you’ve been meaning to ask. You never know what treasures you’ll uncover.
Thank you for being part of our vibrant community. May your own genealogical journeys be filled with discovery, connection, and the occasional bison jam.
