No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friends or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; It tolls for thee. John Donne, Meditation XVII

Mr. Donne had a very good point, each of us touch more lives than we ever know. We do not stand alone, even if we choose being alone our lives still touch someone at one time or another.

I have been lucky to find some extended family while doing my family research, some have found me to correct errors and others I have found while doing research or just by watching post on Facebook, generated by other cousins and those that comment on their statuses.

I was talking to a cousin that is four years younger than I. Mike and I were talking about spending time at my grandparents home in Kirtland. There were a lot of shared memories many of them warm. I don’t know why as their grandchild that I thought Nana and Grandpa had no contact with other children (even though I knew better), that we were the only ones they ever entertained. Mike shared with me how that they used to climb the hay stacks, humph I thought, we were never allowed to do climb the hay stacks. I am wondering if it was because they where boys and we were girls, or maybe Mom and Dad just didn’t want us climbing.

Then Mike started to tell me how he rode our bikes, you notice how I put OUR bikes. When Grandpa told me once to take good care of them because they were for all the kids, this little child mind of mine thought he meant my Uncle Tom’s three kids,  my sister, and I. I will tell you at the age of 53  I had a short knee jerk reaction and I had to hold my tongue! I wanted so to say Mike what were you doing riding our bikes! How dare you! I didn’t cause I really knew that those were for all the kids.

I was talking to another cousin the other day and she had said she always loved it when Uncle Mac took them for rides on the tractor, well here I go again…what! Grandpa how dared you give anyone else a ride on the tractor! ( I know I am being totally ridiculous!)

These cousins are dear to me and they have given me a new look at my grandparents from different eyes . They have stories to tell that are different from mine, but yet very much the same.  I doubt Nana and Grandpa treated them any different then they treated me…hummm, maybe not, seeing I was the first-born grandchild, oh there is that little self sneaking in there. I may have had a special spot in their hearts, I am sure that their great nieces and nephews were very special to them as they are to me now.

No man is an island, his life touches many. It makes my heart glad to know that my grandparents touched many lives while they were here on this earth, that they shared love with many.

My prayer is that when my life is over it will tell a similar tale. That of one who touched many and that they are now the better for it as they walk through there lives.

Happy Hunting!