Pt. 2
Ultimately, I was notified by email
that my DNA test had been processed. Quickly clicking on the website (for I
have ‘saved’ it to my ‘favorites’) I found myself both thrilled and surprised
with the results. For you see, while much of the data verified what I already
knew to be true, some of it was altogether new and enlightening to me.
Great Britain-70%, West Europe-17%,
Iberian Peninsula-3%, Italy-3%, East Europe-1%, Scandinavia-1%, North Africa
(Arab)-1%, Sub-Saharan Africa (Black African)-1%, and Caucasus (Israel)-1%;
(with a few miscellaneous blood lines thrown in for good measure).
Did I say I was surprised with some of
the results? (Well, I was).
As I previously inferred, Jane’s post
was thought provoking, and it brought to mind the literally billions of our
grandparents with whom you and I have been blessed to share this planet. For
one has only to do the math to discover that in the mere span of a millennia
and a half each of us possess a billion direct ancestors, or grandparents; (and
the total doubles with each previous generation).
I have never thought of Esther as one
of my potential relatives, nor a savior of my own personal humanity in time
gone by; ‘til only yesterday I read my good student’s tribute to that ancient
Jewish queen.
However, I admit to something very
much like it, since I have often reflected on the circumstances of some of my
forebears whose names I know, (and some I don’t) and who literally caused me to
be the man I am today.
My unknown, unnamed 5x great
grandmother who knew the sting of my 5x great grandfather’s whip, who also bore
his children; (and who, in turn, became slaves after her).
My 4x great grandmother who, when
approached by pro-British Tories during the American Revolution, refused to
divulge the whereabouts of her husband, at that moment fighting with the
Colonists, and as a result was murdered with the sword.
My 3x great grandfather who fought,
and subsequently died in the American Civil War, but not before the birth of a
child; insuring that his (and my) genetic lineage remained intact in the person
of his daughter.
A few of the stories to which I am
privy, and which speak to the strength and heroism of those whom I am proud to
claim as my own flesh and blood.
(to be continued)
If you wish to share, copy or save, please include this credit line.
By
William McDonald, PhD. Excerpt from "(Mc)Donald's Daily Diary" Vol. 52. Copyright pending
If you wish to share, copy or save, please include this credit line.
************
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If you would like to see the titles and access hundreds of my blogs from 2015 and 2016, do the following:
Click on 2015 in the index to the right of this blog. When my December 31st blog, "The Shot Must Choose You" appears, click on the title. All my 2015 blog titles will come up in the right margin
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