There are so many diverse ways of tracking family's traits. Genes and DNA, of course, are the newest and most scientific, but physical appearances and personalities have always been a way of reminding us of those who came earlier.
I titled my cookbook, "A Trail of Love and Breadcrumbs," using food as a means of telling the family stories. Of course, that came from the wonderful Hansel and Gretel fairytale.
Currently, the Smithsonian Institute has offered readers an opportunity for a given fee to determine their genealogy.
Admittedly, my own method is totally unscientific, but also, quite accurate I believe. Because I think the female line in our family could also be distinguished by our obsession with footwear.
My Mother and I shared few secrets, but there was one I always remember. She dearly loved shoes. Her feet were narrow and delicate, as was she. Mom was tiny, beautiful, and an absolute personification of the flapper era. In those depression days, money was not abundant, at least for fine leather footwear, so we shopped not in the traditional stores, i.e., A.S.Beck, Florsheims, etc., but rather we frequented the small dark alley tucked along the 34th Street corridor where tiny little bootery signs were in the glass front windows. These stores were hardly boutiques, but probably stocked discounted items from the higher end stores. However, it was our secret, and usually, due to her unique narrow foot size (quadruple A) Mom found lovely leather shoes at prices she could afford. Her shoes were her joy, and I loved sharing our secret.
Many years later on a sweltering August afternoon in Soho shopping with my oldest Granddaughter, I heard her call out in joy, "Uggs." I honestly had no idea what she was talking about, be it mineral, metal or human, until she said, "And they have pink."
Then I realized in the shop window across the street there was a display of rather large boots in pink suede. The delicate leather footwear my Mother had favored had been replaced with a chunky, very comfortable, all weather boot in various colors, and my Granddaughter was as delighted with her first pair as my Mom had been with her purchases decades earlier.
Several years later on one of the memorable Madonna Heights Christmas trips, my Daughter and I found ourselves enveloped in a sudden snow squall in Cape May, NJ, without appropriate footwear. With good fortune smiling upon us, we did discover a shop that fortunately had Uggs, in both black and brown that fit both of us perfectly, and thus the trail of shoes continued.
Hannah, the first Great Granddaughter of our hearts, was born shortly before my Husband was called home. We were privileged to send our welcome gift, the tiniest pair of orange Uggs I have ever seen.
Our youngest Granddaughters are twins, and quite dissimilar in appearance. The older girl is tall, blonde, and of course, beautiful, as are all Grandchildren. The younger, by seconds, is so much like my lovely Mother in appearance, I am constantly amazed.
And would Mom wear Uggs, never; nor would her youngest Great Grandchild. However, when given a choice of a gift recently, her Sister selected Uggs, perfect for the weather in northern MI where she attends school.
And I had to wonder if the trail of footwear had ended for the family abruptly until checking online, I discovered a pair of red sequined slippers that my Mother would have loved, and I believe, so will her youngest Great Grandchild. And thus the female trail of our family remains alive.
I must admit, however, that a male member of the clan, has referred to me as "Imelda Marcus and her daughters." I dispute that. The title really belongs to Mom and should be "Imelda Marcus and her descendants."
And such fun we've all had along the way!
