zera's Xanga

Part One of my Genealogy

Tue, 27 May 2008 23:10:48 GMT

Thanks to a Mr. Roller and the Brodnax family tree, I was able to find the roots of my family on my father's side.

Our family had its beginnings in Reichshoffen, Bas-Rhin, Alsace, France, in the late 1600's with Peter/Pierre CONNET. He was born between 1662-1705 and died between 1702-1785. His wife was Catherine GEORG (or Catharina Joerger/Georger) who was born between 1668-1708 and died between 1702-1792. They were married in Reichshoffer between 1702-1742.

Peter and Catherine had three children (all males) as follows:

1. Joseph CONNET who was listed in 1773 as a citizen and a farmer. He was born between 1702-1731 and died between 1757-1816. He married Anne Elizabeth WACKERMAN. This is the root that my family tree follows.

2. Francois CONNET was born between 1692-1743 and died between 1728-1821. He married Catharine WACKERMAN who was born between 1693-1749 and died between 1728-1828.

3. Jean CONNET was born between 1692-1723 and died between 1728-1821. His wife was Barbe WACKERMAN who was born between 1693-1749 and died between 1728-1828.

Reichshoffen is a small town and commune in the Bas-Rhin region of France. The commune is a small gathering of people sharing a common life and is the rough equivalent to incorporate municipalities in the US. Before the French Revolution the lowest level of administrative division was the parish. The parish was essentially a church, the houses around it (known as the village) and the agricultural land around the village. Among other things the priest in charge of the parish was required to record baptisms, marriage and burials and it is from these records that genealogy may be traced.

The name France comes from the Latin Francia which means "land of the Franks." The Rhine river forms the eastern boarder of Bas Rhin and the area is also home to some of the foothills of the Vosges. Mr. Roller pointed out in his research that ore mines were common in the Reichshoffen area similar to those in Pennsylvania.

Sources of information on the genealogy for the Gunnett/Connet family come from Catholic parish records of Reichshoffen, Alsace, France. Also church records of Conewago Chapel, McSherrystown, Union Township, Adams County, PA, and St. Paul's PE Parish, Baltimore, MD. Donald Gunnet of York, PA had a professional genealogist in Strasbourg, France, research the family in Alsace, France.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Sun, 18 May 2008 11:56:48 GMT

This is the most incredible posting to the Internet. It is called Life is Like a Train Ride. Here is the website www.pixiesplace.com/trainride. It is beautiful and very true.

My life has been filled with my daughter's wedding. The experience, though stressful at times, was the high point of my life. She got her wish and was married in a lodge on a mountain and it even snowed. The wedding was so sweet with family and friends surrounding her and Chris. Their love for one another shone like a beautiful light that touched us all.

Meagan has taken the summer off to relax. In the fall it is back to school and another semester closer to applying for medical school.

My husband retired last year (thank goodness) and is working part time as a waiter and bartender at a very nice restaurant near our home.

I am still gainfully employed by dear friends who overpay me and show me great respect. It took 40 years to find a job like this. Well, the journey was worth the destination.

I have been doing a bit of genealogy work on my family. On my father's side, I have been able to trace our roots to France, Germany, Netherlands and Native America. I will probably be posting information about my discoveries here. Hope you enjoy the blogs.

Until I post again, Love and Blessings

The Outrageous and Unbelievable

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:16:26 GMT

On CNN this morning there was a report that King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia pardoned a woman sentenced to 200 lashes and six months in prison in the wake of her gang-rape case. WHAT!!! Thank goodness the King had enough sense to pardon her. But really what is this punishing the woman for her rape? This is the most backward and upside down idea I have heard recently. When are women "en masse" in the Third World Nations going to rise up against the unjust and unfair treatment they receive at the hands of men (not all men, mind you). I cannot see change in these countries until the women are able to say "No!" to their abuse and that of their children. Men enjoy the power stuggles at any cost while the women and children are made to suffer like pawns in a game. No more! No more! Women of the civilized world unite, demonstrate, pray and do whatever it takes to support our counterparts in the Third World. Change must occur and soon I hope.

November 6 St Leonard's Ride (Feast Day)

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:43:11 GMT

In Bavaria, people dress up in native costume and decorate their horses in preparation for a festival in honor of St. Leonard whom they consider the patron of cattle. There is much singing and cracking of whips as the march in parade through the town. (Could this date once have been associated with a cattle sacrifice?)

St. Leonard is venerated by Roman Catholics and Anglicans and November 6th is considered his Feast Day. He is generally depicted as an abbot holding chains, fetters or lock, or manacles. And he is considered the patron saint of political prisoners, imprisoned people, prisoners of war, and captives, women in labor as well as horses and cattle.

He was a Frankish noble in the court of Clovis I who was converted at Christmas 496 along with the king. Leonard asked Clovis I to grant him the right to liberate prisoners who he would find worthy of it. Although it was his right, he declined the offer of a bishopric and instead entered the monastery of Micy near Orleans. Eventually he became a hermit in the forest of Limousin where he gathered a few followers.

A legend states that he was honored as the patron of women in childbirth because through his prayers, the queen of the Franks was safely delivered of a male child. She was with her husband hunting when she went into labor in the woods. St. Leonard came out of his hermit's cell to pray for her and as stated before she safely delivered her child. In payment for his good works, the King gave Leonard royal lands at Noblac where he founded an abbey. A village grew around the Abbey and became known as Saint-Leonard de Noblac.

He is also considered the patron of prisoners and when his name is invoked by those who have been unjustly imprisoned, he brings about their freedom. A legend states that when his name was invoked by prisoners from the cells, their chains broke before their eyes. Many of these prisoners would bring their heavy chains and irons and offer them to St. Leonard in homage. They would stay with him and he gave them forest to clear and work so that they would have a means to live an honest life.

It was not until the 11th Century following the release of Bohemond I of Antioch (a charismatic leader of the First Crusade) in 1103 from a Danishmend prison through the "intercession" of St. Leonard that his fame spread. Bohemond visited the Abbey of Noblac where he made an offering in gratitude to St. Leonard for his release. Noblac became a stop on the pilgrimage route towards Santiago de Compostela.

St. Leonard was one of the most venerated saints of the Middle Ages. It is recorded that he died in 559.

You never know the truth of legends but you can be inspired by the stories. St. Leonard sounds like a really good soul. He wanted to help prisoners to be free of their bondage and freely provided land for them to work. (It is called "Putting your money where your mouth is!") He came from a wealthy family and could have anything he wanted, including a position as a bishop in the church. It would appear that he was guided to live a life of simplicity and solitude as a hermit. It is often much easier to hear God when you are not surrounded constantly by distractions. As far as the safe birth of a child, I feel that he was in the right place at the right time to pray and keep all concerned from getting upset about their circumstance. I don't believe the birth was miraculous but the situation was fortuitous.

I would say that I am hearing to be still and listen for the voice of the Creator for guidance. And to be happy in doing the little things in life which are often "big" things to the receivers of your work.

Namaste

Change in thinking or Growing UP

Sat, 27 Oct 2007 20:02:16 GMT

I was talking with my Mom this morning and she said I had changed and was much easier to talk to. Well, I am here to say that I have grown up quite a bit over the past few years. I will give credit to Xanga for a good portion of the change since I used this site to vent and work through all the thoughts in my mind. Scarey huh? It was a great way to deal with my insanity. Better than going to a therapist. Now I can honestly say with a very clear conscience and open heart that my past entries were all a figment of my imagination. Read into this whatever you want. But I have cleared a good bit of blockage in my life and feel that I have caught up physically, mentally and spiritually to my physical age. WooHoo! I am a Crone! I am finally a crazy old lady who is enjoying my life.

May you each find your happiness. Namaste. Zera

The Mind and Soul

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 14:30:11 GMT

"Clearly there's another form of energy that we have not yet understood, for example, there's a form of energy that appears to leave the body when the body dies.." Dr. Pert

The belief is that the Mind and the brain our two separate things. The brain is an organ in the body that runs the physical body. The Mind is etheric and spiritual. The Mind holds the essence of everything you are, were and could be. Is it part of the Soul? I believe the soul is energy. And it is this energy that leaves the body when you die. The essence of mind does not stay with the body after it dies for it would be of no use. Where does the Mind and Soul go after death? Could the Soul reach a spiritual plane where it meets with other souls? Sylvia Browne believes in a Heaven or Spiritual Plane similar to earth where you meet up with friends and family. Then the soul comes back to earth for another incarnation. This would make reincarnation very personal. What if the Soul reaches the Spiritual plane and at that point makes an accounting of the experiences of the recent incarnation and receives healing and blessing from the Great Creative Being. The the Mind and Soul essence is freed and blended into a great Cosmic melting pot from which particles are gathered for a new soul to enter into the Earth plane with bits and pieces of past Cosmic experiences. This new Mind and Soul would would be born with a combination of many different life experiences from the Cosmic melting pot. Well, it is a thought after all.

Thoughts from today

Thu, 31 May 2007 13:51:26 GMT

I am rereading a book, The Odyssey of a New Religion" by Phillip Lucas. The new religion he has written about is The Holy Order of MANS, the group that I was a member of for 14 years. It is a very insightful book about the journey of our order from New Age to Orthodoxy. Reading this book has reminded me that it is a great part of who I am just as my first marriage of 5 years is a part of me. Instead of trying to be who I think I should be it would be better to spend my time accepting me and then being real.

I enjoyed one of the sentences in the Introduction that stated "It also greatly aided my attempt to gain insight into the way members perceived reality." After all, Reality is only Relative to the Eyes of the Beholder.

I was filled with pride at the Order I joined and the goods works we accomplished. I did find however that I became angry at the Director General and his secretive move of the Order to Orthodoxy. I didn't want to be Russian or Greek Orthodox. I liked being a New Age Christian person of the heretic persuasion so much so that I can honestly say I still am with the addition of eclectic added to the title. Oh, yes, I have to add Crone to that title as well.

I do not agree with the direction that Andrew took the Order and I was very angry with him. However, he was the leader of the group and we didn't have to follow. My family did not follow and left the Order after 14 years of living communally with a group of great but crazy spiritually motivated beings. I enjoyed most of my experiences and disliked others which is totally normal in life. I forgive Andrew for changing directions and forgive myself for holding this against him for so long. I was only hurting myself.

Anyway, if you are into religion, this is a great book to read. Learning to forgive yourself is a great spiritual lesson for everyone to learn. Namaste.

Along the Chattahoochee

Wed, 30 May 2007 20:08:23 GMT

The river is high and the water is moving swiftly. The mist is just beginning to rise off the water. No geese sleeping on the picnic tables this year.

My goose friend with the broken wing and beak is still here from last year. She’s a survivor.

A gaggle of geese, there must be at least 100, are swimming their way up the river in single file. They are following the river bank very closely and I could almost touch them but better not. They move like an army with geese throughout the line quacking orders. I watch as one goose gets up on the river bank and quacks while a good dozen fellow geese swim by. Then he hops back into line with the rest.

It isn’t quite 7 am and already people are here – fishermen, joggers, watchers. Bikers are out on the road. A couple who were fishing when I arrived is just now leaving.

I watched a very large dog pull his female owner down the walkway. There is a young couple kissing over by the cars oblivious to the rest of the world around them. Well, finally, a sculler is on the river. The sun will soon burn the mist off this morning and other scullers will be out.

The area is so trashed. There are six garbage cans that I can see and for some reason people didn’t use them last night. I guess it is just so much easier to drop our garbage wherever. Thank goodness Nature works around us.

I sit here writing and reading and relaxing amongst nature. Only 2 more hours to go before someone comes to help set up for the picnic today. Hope they come early because there have been several people here already wanting me to give up this spot.

Thursday, May 24, 2007

Thu, 24 May 2007 13:33:00 GMT

This has been the most boring time of my life that I can remember at this moment. Work is very slow. I do enjoy working here, though. I love the people. Certainly hope things are not going downhill. The up side is that it provides me with time to write in my journal.

I have been doing alot of reading about women forming circles of communication and spirituality. This is very exciting informationt o me. I believe as many others do that it is now time for women to gather together to be one in our effort to save Mother Earth from the patriarchal thinking that has been going on for 2000 years. I am not advocating that men need to go to another planet. (That's an interesting idea, though) Actually, what I am feeling is that women need to let their nurturing, feeling and intuitive selves come forth and with unite to make the changes that are necessary in every country of this world to improve the lives of women and children. I believe that with education and health care, women will be empowered to take charge with the help of men to make the necessary changes. I believe it is the right of every woman and child to live a life free of fear. I am so tired of our society that believes in "My Gun is Bigger than Your Gun" so I can abuse you, kill you or anything that I want to do.

April 3

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 21:42:33 GMT

Megalisia: This is a Phrygian festival in honor of Cybele, the Magna Mother (Great Mother) that was adopted by the Romans. The story goes that a Sibylline oracle advised the Romans to bring the meteorite which represented Cybele from Phrygia to Rome as a way to end the 2nd Punic War. In 204 BCE the Cybele was placed in the Temple of Victory. The following harvest was great and the war ended the next year.

The Romans celebrated Megalisia on April 3 with a parade in which the image of the Cybele was carried through the streets in a chariot drawn by lions, her animal. Her priests danced along side her image throwing flowers everywhere and gashing themselves in her honor.

Lucretius says :with bronze and silver they strew all the paths of her journey...and snow rose blossoms over her."

This is from Rufus, Anneli The World Holiday Book Harper SF 1994 from The School of the Seasons website.

As an aside, it is believed that the Phrygians were among those migrating peoples known as :Sea Peoples" who destroyed the Hittite Empire. They originated in the Danube area and migrated into Thrace. Later they crossed the Dardanelles settling in and around Troy. Eventually the spread over western Anatolia.

The Phrygian Kingdom comprised a confederation of peoples which ruled from central Anatolian plateau. They established themselves as a strong and powerful kingdom around the 8th century BCE when they became a noticeable political and military power.

For your further edification, the Cybele rules fertility, forests, mountain, bees, androgeny, fortresses, turrets, bulwarks, city walls, holy madness, religious ecstasy, untamed nature, single motherhood, building with stone and reproduction of wild plants and animals. She is the matron of eunuchs, transvestites and the trans-gender community

Her worship is a mystery region that originated in Asia Minor then spread through Europe to North Africa. Her feast days include June 23, a spring festival from Mar 15 to 27 and April 3. This info mostly comes from www.open-sesame.com/cybele

Birthday of Washington Irving: He was born in 1783 in New York City near the end of the Revolutionary War. His parents, Scottish-English immigrants, were great admirers of General George Washington and named their son after their hero.

Irving had many interests that included writing, architecture, landscape design, traveling and diplomacy. He is best known as the first American to make a living solely from writing.

In 1809 using the pen name of Diedrich Knickerbocker, he wrote "A History of New York" that describes the lives of the early Dutch settlers of Manhattan. This where the NYC basketball team got their name, the NY Knicks.

In 1828 the Spanish elected Irving to the Real Academia de la Historia. And in 1830 he received a gold medal in history from the Royal Society of Literature in London. In 1842, having been trained as a lawyer, President Tyler appointed him Minister (Ambassador) to Spain.

In 1832 Irving established his home Sunnyside in Tarrytown. He never married or had children. Instead he shared his home with his brother, Ebenezer, and his 5 daughters.

On November 28, 1859, on the eve of the civil Ware, Washington Irving died at Sunnyside surrounded by his family.

Information taken from www.hudsonvalley.org

Feast Day of St. Isodoire, Bishop of Seville: He was born at Cartagena, Spain, about 560 and died April 4, 636. His two brothers were both bishops and his sister was a saint.

He is the Patron Saint of the Internet because of his compilation called Etymologies, an encyclopedia of all the knowledge ancient as well as modern of his time. In it many fragments of classical learning are preserved which otherwise would have been hopelessly lost. Like the Internet, his sources and explanations were not always accurate but his desire to proved the most extensive information was.

At the 4th National Council of Toledo, St. Isidoire influenced the bishops to establish seminaries in their cathedral cities hoping that the resources of education would counteract the growing influence of Gothic barbarism. The 8th great council of Toledo styles him "the excellent doctor, the late ornament of the Catholic Church, the most learned man, given to enlighten the latter ages, always to be named with reverence."

Artemis the Savior: This is a Greek lunar festival which takes place on the 6th day of Mounichion which honored Artemis Soteria, Artemis the Savior.

The story is told that an enemy force set out for Magaera during the time of the Persian War. Knowing themselves to be outnumbered and out armoured, the Megaerans prayed to Artemis for help. That very day a mysterious woman appeared on the road to Megaera and was captured by the Persians. She successfully bargained for her life by offering to guide the army through the forested hills during the night so that the Persians could mount a surprise attack. However, once deep in the woods with paths leading in all directions, the woman disappeared leaving the Persians a full day's march from Megaera and unsure of which way to go. Aretmis then sent her animals to torment the Persians causing them to panic and uselessly expend their arrows. When the Persians finally arrived at Megaera, they were exhausted and out of arrows. The Megaerans handily routed the enemy. In gratitude to Artemis, they built a huge temple in her honor.