Searching My Roots

Last Sunday afternoon my friend Barbara and my daughter Shelley came over for Super Bowl. The emphasis was on eating and talking. We enjoyed  some of the ads for creativity but there was little of that in our estimation. The weather was wonderfully mild and we had the back door open for some outside air. It was around 72 degrees F. The one dish Barbara made that I really enjoyed was an African Soul Soup. This was vegan and very tasty. The vegetable broth had peanut butter in and there were chickpeas, fresh spinach along with onion, garlic and tomatoes. The spices were perfect and Barbara sprinkled dried peanuts on top of the prepared soup. I've seen my friends modify this dish using the same broth and using other veggies. My friend Annemarie made a thicker version and called it a stew with different vegetables. So tasty!  It is a type of comfort food.  She also made a very tasty peach sherbet using coconut milk. She made it just before we ate it and it only took her a few minutes.   I made a hummus, but it was mediocre. This was a vegan recipe with no oil added. Also, I didn't get it smooth enough. 

Me, My Daughter Shelley and My Friend Barbara

I had chemotherapy this week and I also saw my Oncologist Dr. Tun. He said all my lab numbers and the results of my last MUGA scan all look good. He stated I would now have a MUGA scan every four months instead of three. That s a god sign  that I am stable. How nice!  Next one will be in April.  Chemotherapy was non-eventful which is always good.

My friends Janet and Barbara and I had dinner at Uricchio's, a fine Italian restaurant before the Bakersfield Concert Associations presentation of Kevin Johnson, a ventriloquist, comedian and magician. His show was so funny that I could hardly catch my breath before the next line came. We all enjoyed it.  I probably would not have tried to go see a ventriloquist so having it as a part of a concert series is great. It was already paid for last year by me.  It was great for all ages!

Kevin Johnson and His Birds

Kevin Johnson and His Birds

Kevin Johnson with his Curmudgeon

My friend Mike has put so much effort into my family tree. It has been amazing. My cousin Barrie got me in contact with a second cousin Simy who lives in New York. She sent me detailed information on her family. I sent it on to my friend Mike to add to my family tree that part that fit. I then did a review of mine and sent it to her. Our lives are so different. It was fascinating to read what that part of the family did. One of their family members was ill and they would not let him into the United States through Ellis Island. So the brothers were split up. They went on to Argentina. I had heard  about this part of the family from my cousin Barrie when his wife made a business trip to Argentina and met extended family while there. 

I wrote up my relationships like she had done hers and emailed it. I also sent a lot of pictures with emphasis on the part of the family she is related to.  Below are some of the pictures I sent to Simy.  Mike then did some more connecting on the other side of the family (my mother) and found some fascinating connections  Simy is Orthodox  Jewish.  My family is loosely Jewish.  In fact some would say we are not Jewish because this  it must come through the mother's side and mine comes by way of my father. I don't care. I am not denying my Jewish heritage however I get it.    I personally like all the differences.  So below are just a few of the family Gamarnick.  We are all a part of the family tree.  Our name was changed to Gaman when my father and his brothers were children.  The family in Argentina also had a name change to Armarnik when they entered that country.

My Father's Parents from the Old Country - Russia and Romania

A picture of me taken 23 years ago at a studio

My Father George and brother Ben visiting me just before
my mother died 1991

Simy was very nice. She admitted that in the picture of her family, she and her two oldest daughters were wearing wigs because they must cover their heads when they are married. She told me her head was shaved and that the sect she is in, married women do this.  She said that I looked like pictures she has of her father's sister.   I asked if she could send me a picture of her grandfather which is my grandfather's brother.  I'd also like to get a picture of her aunt. She also said there were other siblings of our grandfathers. She doesn't know who and I don't know who.      I'll ask other family if they know any of them. I think she is disappointed that I am not religious like her. And, I'm not sure that anyone else on my side of the family are as conservative religiously like her and her family. She thinks it was probably good that Ellis Island turned her family member away because he was sick.  She feels very fortunate for her strong beliefs.  I think the antisemitism in Argentina was so strong that it made their community stronger. 

She told me she was unable to give me any more dates of what she sent to me but did say there was an article of someone in the family in Argentina.  I asked why there were two names for each person and she said you could not use your Jewish name in Argentina because it was dangerous. They maintained their religious beliefs despite the difficulty in doing it there.  

Mike also found information on my mother's side in New York for those who were Dutch. Mike went to school there and was fascinated he was right in the middle of all of it. He found who he believes is an ancestor of mine from the 1700's also named  Rachel, but not Jewish. My grandfather had done a family tree that takes us back to Stephen Hopkins who came over on the Mayflower. I'll get it copied and send it to Mike when I find it.  I know I have it somewhere!   This is so mind-blowing!

My art teacher sent me an email. She is off having had a knee replacement and now getting physical therapy. She though I had come a long way especially with the mane  on the horse that I showed earlier.  She told me to work on the eyes and nostrils.  I asked for her feedback on the squirrel and said I wanted to draw another one which I did this week.   So next week I'll work more on the portrait of the horse to get the eyes and nostrils better.  Besides, my friend Martha who moved to the country and now knows that squirrels can cause a lot of problems by digging holes.  Then the horse steps in them and breaks a leg.  That is not good, because then they need to put the horse down!

My Squirrel

Charlie and Snoopy

That was my week.  Know that I read a lot. I don't include all of that time in writing about what the week was like. Just know it is a given in my life and very important. As I said last week I finished the Qur'an and I have read about a third of The Bible (on a Kindle). My plan is to read some other books like this when I finish this.   So far, lots of violence, but the stories are interesting.   I hope your week went well and you have a great week coming up.  See you next Sunday.                  Rachel