A Gift From Beyond

(Originally posted 7/29/2011)

   In 1972 my paternal grandfather Maurice Leonard Reed died on the other side of the state in Bradenton, and my father, who was the executor of his estate, made the 3-hour trip every weekend in order to wrap up his affairs and sell the house.  One of the many things my dad brought home (besides stacks of hand-woven rugs, antique lamps and clocks, and my grandfather's complete set of journals covering 1928 to 1957) was the files of family papers and records. 
     I was immediately hooked.  There was a typewritten family tree (done by a professional genealogist for the family back in 1936) showing our history back to William Bradford, several letters and poems typed on onion-skin paper, and scribbled notes on the backs of envelopes.  Plus a luggage tag, which I held onto, and which proved to be a major clue in my later research.
     My next step was (naturally) going to the public library, where I checked out Searching for Your Ancestors, by Gilbert Doane.  I started writing letters to everyone I could think of - my other grandparents in Michigan, elderly aunts and uncles, and Michigan libraries and courthouses.  I started haunting the mailbox, whooping with joy when I received an answer in the mail.
    I was on my way!