My Life

Searching My Roots

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

illustration-0429-2013-hbo-family-treeI love puzzles of all kinds. Sudoku, crossword, jigsaw — you name the puzzle and I’ll work it. My new favorite puzzle challenge is ancestor hunting.

A few months ago I started researching my family tree on the paternal side of my family where we really don’t have any info about where we came from or how we got here. I have to confess, I’ve even wondered sometimes if our last name was real or adopted in the 1940s as a tribute of some kind to a certain “God Bless America” composer. Using FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com, I’ve already learned so much about my family — a piece here and a little nugget of info there. I’m excited to uncover even more puzzle pieces in the next few months.

How about you? Do you know the story of your family’s history in America? Have you ever wondered where your family lived before they journeyed to this country?

Spooky Denver

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

It’s Halloween and there’s plenty of scary stuff in Denver to get you in the trick-or-treat mood. Most people know about the Stanley Hotel, which served as the model for the hotel in Stephen King’s book The Shining. But another Denver location inspired the 1980s movie, the Changeling.

Changeling House

The first time I heard the story of Russell Hunter’s experiences in the house the hairs on my arms actually stood up. Whether you think Hunter’s experiences are real or not, the story is pretty creepy.

It’s a classic haunted house story, complete with bumps in the night, bulging walls, hidden passages, and greedy relatives.

The Denver Public Library website has the complete Russell Hunter story, which you can read by clicking here.

My Love for the Denver Public Library

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

I just returned from my monthly pilgrimage to my favorite book Mecca: The Denver Public Library. I love libraries of all kinds, but the DPL has a special place in my heart. I spend hours there every month, browsing stacks and enjoying the discovery of new and antiquarian books that strike my fancy.

Today I came home with my book bag so full, I had to support the weight by carrying it in my arms up against my chest, instead of dangling it by the handles. Here’s the conversation when I got home:

He: How was the library?

Me: Wonderful! I got some great books on late-nineteenth-century Colorado and the librarian helped me search the rare books collection to find just what I was looking for.

He (watching me extract one book after another from the bag and carefully stack them in an order that makes sense to me on the dining table): Those books are old. You don’t even know who touched them before you. They’re probably covered with germs.

Me: There are no germs on books. Only cooties. And all book cooties are good cooties.

He didn’t say anything else so I’m assuming he thinks my response is either nuts or scientifically accurate. Either way, I was glad the discussion ended because it’s too hard to explain to a non-book-lover that handling and holding a book is a large part of the allure of reading.

Don’t get me wrong; I love the digital age and the convenience of an e-book reader, but for me there’s no substitute for holding a book in my hands . . . even if I get to hold them only until the due date when they go back to the library, where they happily live with the other book cooties.

Fall in Colorado

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

Fall is definitely my favorite season. To me, autumn means cozy sweaters, crisp air, and beautiful foliage. I took these photos in my neighborhood.

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The little bench in the photo below is the perfect place to spend a little quiet time, while thanking God for the beauty of the season.

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(Sigh) Isn’t Colorado beautiful? I am so blessed to be able to live here!

A Place to Belong

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

Colorado is such a wonderful place to live. Our state motto is: “Nothing Without the Diety,” which fits right in line with my motto, too! Every morning I thank God for creating my beautiful home on earth. With wonderful people, clear blue skies, awesome mountain views, and wide open spaces within minutes of my front door, I feel a strong connection to Colorado that I don’t feel anywhere else. This is home, my place to belong.

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Maya Angelou said: “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”

I hope you’ve found your safe place in this world, too!

Unlikely Praise by Carla Rossi

~ Writer Jenny Berlin ~ Leave a comment

I’m currently reading Unlikely Praise by Carla Rossi. I read the first two pages on Amazon (don’t you love the “Look Inside” feature?) and I was hooked! Carla’s flawed but lovable characters and her writing style captured me immediately. I can’t wait to find out what happens. How will Candi and Shade get together when they have absolutely nothing in common?

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Here’s a link if you’d like to check out Unlikely Praise: http://amzn.to/17gekIs