ROOTS & BRANCHES

A couple years ago, a church friend of mine (and distant cousin—aren’t we all, right?) Jeanne Cocuzza and I were having a glass of wine to debrief after a meeting.

Cocuzza is a writer herself and she knew that I had written some commercially published books but didn’t know about “Roots & Branches” when she innocently asked, “So, Jim, do you have a writing practice?”

I’ll admit I chuckled a bit and said, “Well, I’ve been writing a weekly column for more than 20 years—do you think that’s enough of a practice?”

I thought of that anecdote again as I write this, the 1200^th edition of “Roots & Branches.”

Or as you’d write it on a check: One thousand two hundred and 0/100ths.

It began in fall 1998 in what was then a daily newspaper in Harrisburg. In 2003, it moved to what was then the Lebanon newspaper and shortly after was picked up by the Altoona Mirror, and of course it remains in the Mirror to this day; it also appears in blog form at the URL, www.roots-branches.com.

Many things about the column have remained consistent over its run. The columns have run the gamut of success stories, book reviews, DNA, websites, conference previews, philosophy, and so much more.

Several editions of a compilation of the columns called, appropriately enough, The Best of “Roots & Branches” have been published (which is a reminder to me that it’s currently out of print and in need of a new edition!).

The column has developed followings both local and nationwide. Probably my most durable correspondent has been Eric “Rick” Bender, a New Mexico resident with deep Lebanon County roots. His comments have often made me think of things from a different perspective—and not infrequently have resulted in columns themselves.

Do I have a favorite column?

Well, there are three that stick up above the rest.

One was when I recounted making a Memorial Day weekend visit to the grave of my mentor, John T. Humphrey. Writing about that took the edge off what was an emotional time. As reported a couple of months ago in “Roots & Branches,” I’m so happy that Humphrey was recognized by being chosen for the National Genealogy Hall of Fame.

Another was when I recalled the late Shirley Brown, a Lebanon County genealogist who had been a friend to me in so many ways.

The final one was a column about the late Ed “Dutch” Shultz, who helped me get my first job in journalism. In addition to honoring that part of my personal history, I received emails from people who also knew Shultz and have gained them as new friends.

There’s an obvious trend here: “Roots & Branches” continues to be about the people who make up your family history, whether blood relations or not.