My grandparents were Herbert Spencer Heslop and Leila Ida Chugg (Mom's parents) and Alexander Hunter and Nora Smout (Dad's). I knew my maternal grandma and grandpa well and loved them dearly. My paternal grandparents died just before and just after I was born, but I love them in principle and for producing my father, whom I happen to think I resemble in form, feature and funniness.
The Heslops and Chuggs came from northern England, the Smouts from near Birmingham and the Hunters from Scotland. Of the many other family names that make up my great grandparnets and great greats, most came from Great Britain, and many joined the LDS church in the 1850s and emigrated to Utah, where my own parents were born and raised.
Since my parents left Utah for Oregon and then Idaho, it's fair to say that my ancestry is from Great Britain, but more recently, from West Weber and Slaterville, Utah. Even my two older brothers were born in Utah. I was the first one who was actually born in Idaho.
I willingly claim my British ancestry (see last blog), but I wonder if I'm more hesitant to claim my Utah roots. I visited Utah throughout my childhood, went to college in Utah(BYU), and regularly visit dear friends and my own children in Utah (BYU!). Rarely, however, would I say I'm from Utah, although I've been known to boast that I'm from Great Britain (I almost always admit it's a few generations removed).
Summer introspection has required me to consider and confess the influence that Utah has had on who I am today:
1. I loved canning fruit with my mother.
2. I love quilts--especially my grandmother's double wedding ring quilt with pink and green corner squares.
3. I love family history. Thanks, Grandma Heslop.
4. I love lace curtains--wait, I think that's from England.
5. I love Utah mountains more than Idaho foothills. (Yes, I know Idaho has mountains, but Utah's are right there in front of you!)
6. I love that the Church is everywhere. Ignored at times, taken for granted by some, and used for shady business deals by others, but always there. Chapels and Temples dot the hillsides and it's nice to know that you have a million or so brothers and sisters who know they're your brothers and sisters. And mostly I'm grateful that Utah became the gathering place for converts so that I could be born with the rich pioneer heritage that I have.
Still, I'd rather live in Idaho and holiday in Scotland !!
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1 comment:
1. I like eating fruit that others have canned.
2. I enjoy admiring/snuggling up in quilts that other people have made (does anyone else notice a pattern?)
3. Family history is pretty cool. Again, reading what other people have compiled.
4. I do not love lace curtains.
5. Mountains do trump foothills any day of the week.
6. I likewise love all of the temples; the multitude of chapels freaks me out a little because I have a hard time comprehending how they can all be filled each Sunday, and yet they are! That's a LOT of people :)
I guess I am also better off in Idaho!
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