So, this Easter I learned a bunch of new things about my paternal grandmother and her family. They were one of the very first of the German settlers in Spokane, and mentioned in the paper as the first family in the city to have a real Christmas tree. I knew my uncle Otto had been kicked out of the US for illegally entering... twice.
I didn't know that he spent time in federal prison after the second time. On the third try he made it in (legally) and then met my great aunt. Their son, my dad's cousin Johnny, apparently brought his favorite hooker to Thanksgiving dinner one year. - Jennifer Dittrich
My great grandfather was a shoemaker. His brother was a tailor. They both tried to be railroad workers and were absolutely terrible at it. - Jennifer Dittrich
My grandmother played the organ at her church for most of her life. During that time, she played just one sunrise service for Easter. Afterwards, she told the pastor that if he wanted an organ player for the next year's service, she knew a very good teacher who'd be happy to give him lessons. - Jennifer Dittrich
My grandmother's handwriting (longhand) looks a lot like mine does when I'm making an effort. I always thought it was a lot more like my mother's, but seeing a letter of hers to her sisters, there's definitely a similarity. - Jennifer Dittrich
My grandmother had three sisters - Anita, Emma (who went by Emmy) and Olga. Everyone, including Olga, hated her name, so she just went by "G." Well, maybe not hated, but certainly weren't super-fond of it. - Jennifer Dittrich