Whew! That was a close one!

There are quite a few things that I want to give thanks for today. Now I know I should be doing this on Thanksgiving rather than on Easter but you know what they always say-- better late than never.

Last June Billie, my wife took a spill and injured herself. Many of you know this so I'm not going to describe the entire incident here all over again. I would, however , like to thank all of you out there who helped me go throught this. And it is still a continuing process. It may be quite some time before I can see Billie shake a leg on the dance floor. Maybe she'll try at Jesse and Pete's wedding. Who know's.

Nancy and Chris, I am so happy you were able to rebuild after Sandy so harshly and bitterly destroyed your home. I know if I was able, I would have helped you Chris. Still I, like you, are extremely grateful that many other loved ones stepped up to help. I'm sure this catastrophe was unbearable at times but I pray it made your family bond much more tighter-- if that was ever possible.

I really relieved to hear that my workaholic brother, now has regular working hours. I was starting to get a little concerned about him working so hard and for so many hours. So many times I've seen the poor man nod off at the end of a party from sheer exhaustion. I know Joanne was concerned as well.
Thank you Metro Energy for giving my brother, Jack, his life back. We missed you at times.

Helen, I mean "Mom", it is always good and even heart-warming to see and talk with you. You have been a protector of mine when I needed it the most. I will always be grateful and love you for that. So thank you for helping me during the bad times when I felt I shouldn't be helped. You were a rock. And if I hadn't said these two words before, let me shout it out here now, "Thank You!" My wish for you is that you should feel as good as you have made others feel.

There is more people to thanks but I have to run . . .

Hello all,

Sorry I haven't written in such a long time. I've been involved with a much larger project--larger than this blog.
And I'm not even one fourth done with it. It has taken persistence and that is a trait that I do not have in great supply.

Nevertheless, I need to tell you, my friends, I received an unexpected email from a Mike Slattery and I had to investigate. I know a lot of you out there are asking yourself the same thing I asked myself when I first got this particular email. Namely, "Who the beejeesus is Mike Slattery?" and why is he writing to "Paddy?"

Well Mike is an avid enthusiast of Ancestry.com just like I used to be. Your read correctly, "I used to be."-- Remember I said I had a problem with persistence?  Well, I dropped Ancestry, like I stopped playing guitar and making scrapbooks, and glass etching, and computer art and a lot more.

Mike said something that made me want to go back to researching my family tree. He said he had several names in his tree that were linked with my great great grandfather, Daniel Spaight. He sent me the names of all my great great grand uncles and aunts-- Daniel Spaight's siblings.

Now my tree was getting more interesting and I immediately went about to prove Mike wrong, but I couldn't. He was correct. So I am happy to announce to many of you, some of whom are my close relatives, we have a bigger family than previously thought. Daniel had seven brothers and sisters, some stayed in County Limerick, some went to County Clare, one entered the Sisterhood in Scotland, and the rest came to various parts of America.

I'll tell you more when I find out.

For the time being, be well, and stay away from dangerous icy patches.

Love
Jim (Paddy)