Great story Lindy. I love it when people take the time to know some of their genealogy. I, on the other hand (even though raised a Mormon) know practically none of mine outside of West Seattle where I was raised.

My grandma used to tell me how kids would play in the coffins during the 1918 pandemic.

Seriously, though, just wash your hands with hot water and NON-antibiotic soap and mellow out.

get a livejournal! lol jk

Thanks, Lindy, that was a swell story.

Great post! I swear, my family has almost the same photo as the second one, but it was taken in Sweden. As for my family lore, my Welsh great-grandfather, and great-aunt (his daughter who was in her 20s) died within ONE WEEK of each other in 1918 of the flu... in SEATTLE! Could you even imagine what that would have been like? And my great-aunt was the first in the family to graduate university and was a teacher. The family was obviously devastated...

Good job keeping up with those great-aunties. I can barely keep up with my first family, let alone the second and third generation my dad (7 of 9 (and I never noticed that particular Trek reference in my family until this moment)) is always talking about.

You might want to trim your mustache, too.

You never know what might be hiding in it.

I should probably stop incessantly biting my fingernails, huh.

I work at a shitty company that provides in-home care to people, and many of the nurses tramp in and out of houses where people with MRSA and C-diff live. Naturally, I have no health insurance, so I have become completely OCD about handwashing on the job and not touching doorknobs.

The thing is, though, while I wash my hands for 20 seconds every time I pee (yes, I count), I pee a lot and so now my hands have cracks in them. Those cracks make it easier for germs to enter. Hand sanitizer only makes it worse, and it stings.

So I ask the Sloggerati: HOW DO I KEEP FROM DYING NOW, GENIUSES?!?!?!?!?!

Great story! Nice to have a sense of history. Wash your hands, and stock up a bit of food for just in case. We should have that anyway because we're in earthquake territory. Or maybe some time we just won't feel like going grocery shopping for a month.

It's worth mentioning that none of the buildings in the photo are brown, because it's a black and white photo. I realize it's brown IN YOUR MIND, but that doesn't help me figure out which one it is. The one not made of unfinished wood? But wood is brown, too. It is confusing.

Mustache rides! There is bound to be a joke about Mustache Rides!

And it was a cool story, by the way.

@9 I think you should take that over to the questions blog.

That is so awesome that your family's hotel is on the Wikipedia page. I have crazy family stories too, but no kind of evidence or anything. So people just think I'm that crazy gal talkin bout her grandma living with hitler...

@11 Is "next to it" not enough information for you to discern which building she's talking about?

@9: Bag Balm

Always a pleasure to read your posts, Lindy. What was it about facial hair back then? My brother dug up a picture of our great-great-grandfather from 1903. He looked like one of the bearded members of ZZ Top as an old man--you know, like how they look today.

And THIS is why you're my favorite slogger.

What 18 said. Also: from Mom's note, we now know where she gets it. Yay, Lindy's mom!

great story!