The Definitions of a Family

“If the family were a container, it would be a nest, an enduring nest, loosely woven, expansive, and open. If the family were a fruit, it would be an orange, a circle of sections, held together but separable—each segment distinct. If the family were a boat, it would be a canoe that makes no progress unless everyone paddles. If the family were a sport, it would be baseball: a long, slow, nonviolent game that is never over until the last out. If the family were a building, it would be an old but solid structure that contains human history, and appeals to those who see the carved moldings under all the plaster, the wide plank floors under the linoleum, the possibilities."
                                                                          -Letty Cottin Pogrebin

A Family Is Like

© Nicole M. O'Neil

“A Family is like a circle
the connection never ends
and even if at times it breaks
in time it always mends
a family is like the stars
somehow there always there
families are those who help
who support and always care
A Family is like a book
the endings never clear
but through the pages of the book
their love is always near
A family is many things
with endless words that show
who they are and what they do
and how they teach you so you know
but don’t be weary if it's broken
or if through time its been so worn
families are like that-
they're split up and always torn
but even if this happens
your family will always be
they help define just who you are
and will be a part of you eternally”

           Both of these quotes were chosen to portray the idea of family because the best way to describe family is to relate and symbolize the meaning behind everything. For example, the first definition portrays the structure of the family and elaborating on the ideas of teamwork and how every person is an individual, but all together unity is created in a family. In the second definition the poem expands on the idea of love in a family and how no matter what happens in a family they are going to be the ones who will always be there. I thought both of these definitions depicted the central idea that a family is a close knit inter-circle weaved and patched with love through the good and the bad times.  

                                                                      Works Cited

O’Neil, Nicole. “A Family Is Like a Circle.” Family Friend Poems. n.p., n.d. web. 11, January 2014.

Pogrebin, Letty. “A Quote by Letty Cottin Pogrebin on family, nest, fruit, boat, possibilities, sport, game, human history, building, baseball, canoe, and orange.” Gaiam Life. Gaiam Inc, n.d. web. 11, Jan. 2014.

Personal Cultural Artifact

 The personal cultural artifact I chose was the book my grandma Bonnie Brown made for all of her grandchildren. This book depicts the life of my grandpa Niel Brown. My grandpa died in 1981 which meant that none of my grandma's grandchildren had the opportunity to meet their Grandpa Niel. So she made this book and it starts from the very beginning. He was born in Nevada and was very involved in school. He even ran track. There are countless pictures that show the passion he had for life and the love he had for his family as well as being a pilot. The death of my grandpa isn't really discussed in my family so I never really knew much about it until my grandma made this book. He died in November in the year of 1981. It was Thanksgiving morning and my grandpa and my uncle Michael decided they wanted to go flying because it was a clear day and the weather was perfect. The flight overall was said to be glorious, however, there was a malfunction in the engine of the plane and they crashed into Lake Young (located in Washington). The autopsy report later announced that my grandpa suffered from a head injury which caused his death form excessive bleeding. My uncle, however, was knocked unconscious and later drowned from fresh water. Overall this book portrays the incredible life that my grandpa lived and helps all my grandma's grandchildren better understand who their grandpa was and what kind of life he lived.

Favorite Family Recipe

Your Name Informant: Bonnie Brown, Kent Washington, 1964

Title: Flauden German Coffee Cake

Genre: Family Recipe

Informant (who):

Bonnie Brown is my Grandma who lived in Washington for a majority of her life, but after the death of my grandpa moved to Lindon, Utah. My grandma is 67 and female and received a high school education in the state of California where she grew up. Following graduation she married my grandpa who at the time was a pilot for United Airlines. My grandma’s side of the family mainly consists of German and English descent. As for religious ties all of my grandma’s family for generations have been affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. My grandma was a stay at home mom for thirty years and then invested her time and efforts into real state by buying and flipping houses, she also worked for a bed and breakfast inn which was located in Anacortes, Washington. Bonnie has always been a busy bee whether it is sending out family news letters to update everyone or crocheting endless blankets for every member of our extended family, but one thing that strikes me most about my grandma is her cooking and her desire to please others.    

Context (where):

This recipe was given to my grandma from her grandma which was then passed onward to me. My grandma Bonnie first received this recipe in order to bake this cake for my aunt Sharlene’s first birthday and from then on it has always been a tradition to have the German coffee cake as the birthday cake. This cake has always been a part of birthdays in my family and continues to be every year. My family as well as extended family have always used this recipe for birthdays so in this manner it has been a tradition that with stands the test of time and brings everyone together.

Text (the Cultural Artifact itself – the item):

This recipe was handed down to my grandma from her grandma who passed it down to my mother which eventually cycled to me. This recipe is rather famous in our family because of our German heritage. My family would encourage foods that came from our native land. This cake recipe in particular has always been a cake served at birthdays as well as other special events. For the most part this cake recipe brings up past memories of laughter and family bonding. It is symbolic in the manner that it has always been there since before I could remember. One thing that can be relied upon is that any member of my family will have a German Coffee Cake as their birthday cake.

Texture (how):

 This recipe was hand written by my grandma Bonnie. The authenticity of her writing is truly genuine she takes extra time with her writing and always has. There is also a stain on the card which the recipe was written which shows that the recipe has been used quite often throughout the years.

 Meaning:

This recipe means a great deal to me because for eighteen years of my life I have has a moist German Coffee Cake to celebrate another year of being me. It is a great tradition that continues on and I absolutely adore it. The cake is one that just melts in the mouths of many and I wouldn’t ask for a better recipe. I enjoy this recipe so much because not only does the cake taste delicious, but also the memories that come flooding back when I think about the cake. The endless birthdays and parties would have never been the same without this cake. This artifact is a staple in the households of all the members of my family and everyone feels genuinely grateful to have the recipe. Without this recipe not only would their taste buds be deprived of my great-great grandma’s German cake recipe, but also it would seem as though there would be something missing. 

Family Tradition

Your Name Informant: Marsh and Dave Soria, St. Augustine Florida, 1982

Title: Florida Summer Vacation

Genre: Tradition

Informant (who): My grandma, Marsha, and my grandpa, Dave. Both of my grandparents live in Littleton, Colorado and are currently retired. Marsha is 67 and Dave is 70. Marsha use to work as a secretary at Arapahoe High School. Dave has been a mechanic for many, many decades. Marsha comes from a Swedish, English, and Irish background whereas my grandpa comes from a Mexican heritage. My grandma received her associate’s degree and my grandpa has his high school diploma. Both of my grandparents are die hard Denver Bronco fans and they consistently attend every game. As for hobbies they enjoy cooking together, vacationing, spoiling their grandchildren, and reading for book clubs.  

Context (where): This information or tradition wasn’t necessarily collected, but more so it was just a passed down experience. This tradition started with my dad’s family and now it is done in my family. So the tradition of going to Florida started with my grandparents taking my dad and his brother. Now this vacation is done with not only my grandparents and my dad, but also my mom and the rest of my siblings. This tradition has always been an experience that everyone in my family looks forward to because we have become familiar with the experience so we know that we will always have a marvelous time. The sheer fact that we get to spend over a week and a half just as a family is something my parents really cherish because we are such a busy family that sometime this vacation is exactly what we need in order to become a closer family unit.

Text (the Cultural Artifact itself – the item): The tradition of traveling to St. Augustine, Florida to my grandparents’ time share every other summer began in 1982. My grandparents would take my dad, who at the time was ten years old, and my uncle Roman down to Florida to enjoy the beach and go to Disney World. This tradition started in the summer of 1982 and continued on throughout the years. Now every other summer my grandparents, parents, and my siblings all go down for about a week and a half to the tropical state of Florida. This tradition has created so many remarkable memories. For example, on one occasion my dad came into contact with one of his old college roommates who actually races sailboats for a living and we were able to ride on one which was such an experience. This roommate was also married to a surf instructor. This detail made the trip ten times better because not only did we sail the great waters of the Atlantic Ocean, but I was able to catch my first wave surfing. Other examples would include touring the old lighthouses in Florida or the crazy food that was tasted (alligator actually isn’t as bad as I thought it would be). This tradition of traveling to Florida not only provided great memories, but aloud my family to become closer and bond with exciting experiences.  

Texture (how): Florida has become somewhat of a symbol to my family of adventurous memories and endless laughter. Ever since I was little I would always look forward to going to Florida so that way I could lay on the grainy sand basking in the warm rays of the sun or collecting as many shells as I could on the beach. The month of July is usually when my family makes the excruciating flight to Florida, but once we land the moist air fills our lungs and we all know that it is time to start our adventure. Florida is a place of relaxation and almost sanction for my family to get away from the outside world and just enjoy our family.

Meaning: This tradition is one that I always look forward to because I know that my family will become closer and we always have an incredible time. This event brings joy to my heart because we make the greatest memories. For example, one time we were sailing and we got caught in a huge lighting storm and at one point the lightning struck right next to the boat which caused my mom to go into her protective mode. Honestly in that moment in time I have never felt more protected than in the arms of my mom when that storm was going on. My family also looks forward to the time that we are able to travel to Florida. The members of my family all have positive views because they know that as long as we are together there are going to be memorable experiences.

Informal Family Photo

Informant: Shauna and Kevin Soria, Eagle Idaho, May 25, 2013

Title: A Little Bit of Family Time/ Family Loving

Genre: Photo

Informant (who):

Kevin and Shauna Soria would be my parents who live in Eagle, Idaho. They are both 41 and attended Utah State University. My mom received her associate's degree in nursing. My dad however transferred to the University of Nevada Reno and earned his master's degree in business. My mom use to work as an orthopedic nurse, but with my ever so busy younger siblings she decided she was done working and wanted to be a mom. My dad on the other hand is very busy as the state sales coordinator of AFLAC in the state of Idaho. My parents absolutely love to travel and just spend time as a family whether it's going on spontaneous trips or playing board games. My dad's main hobbies consist of supporting his one and only Denver broncos and he also golfs on the regular basis. My mom is always in the kitchen making something incredibly delicious or she is working out. Overall my parents are great role models and love our family with every fiber of their being.

Context (where):

This photo was actually taken across the street in a forest section of our neighborhood. So the first image consists of all the members of my family. So, my younger brother David, my younger sister Alyssa, myself, my older brother Nathan, and then my mom and dad, Shauna and Kevin. This photograph is actually a huge portrait in my parent's house that is displayed over the fireplace and every time we are together as a family in the front room we see this picture. The second picture is a picture taken after my high school graduation. In the picture are my younger brother and sister, David and Alyssa, and then myself. This picture is definitely not displayed in my parent's home, rather it is an essential memory that describes that moment to perfection. To most people that end up seeing this photo it usually brings a smile or a small chuckle because everyone is striving for the perfect graduation picture and that definitely didn't happen.

Text (the Cultural Artifact itself-the item):

So the first photo consists of all the members of my family. One day my mom decided that we better have a photo of the whole family before my older brother left on his mission to Winnipeg, Canada. Anyway, we took some rather formal ones where everyone was posed, but then my little brother decided he was done with that. So he started to laugh uncontrollably which made everyone else laugh. The picture may seem kind of posed in some way or the other, but it really wasn't. The image that we are laughing is something that portrays my family rather well. In my home jokes are basically free game and we are all super competitive. Overall the photo illustrates my family to the point.

The second photo was a photo taken after my high school graduation. I was rather tired of taking photos and my siblings weren't in the mood either so when my dad snapped the photo he told everyone to smile. So, I put on a tired almost fake smile to just get the picture over with. Spontaneously my brother (who is such an independent, confident, and somewhat cocky little boy) decided to smile like a super model while my little sister sneezed like an elephant. It was one for the books and portrays that moment in time like no other picture.

Texture (how):

The first picture gives off the feeling of love and joy because of the smiles that are engrossed across our faces. With my mom's flared nostrils and my mouth wide open it is a picture that doesn't bring out our most flattering features, but it does symbolize the fun and crazy experiences we go through as a family. The second picture is just plain hilarious because my dad seriously wanted a nice, formal picture of my siblings and I and he definitely didn't get that. In fact, this picture is one that will always make me laugh especially because of my younger siblings and their personalities that shine through.

Meaning:
These photos symbolize the love that I have for my family because of the emotions that are expressed in each one. The first one more so then the second, but the second just goes to show that not everyone can be photogenic 24/7. These photos are history to our family so they are rather important I mean for goodness sakes one of the photos is hanging in our home. My family takes pride and joy in the first photo and is basically disgraced in the second. The first photo enhances the idea that families have fun together whereas the second is just embarrassing.

Favorite Family Story

Your Name Informant: Bonnie Mae Brown, San Juan Islands Washington, 1979

Title: The Attack of the San Juan Whales

Genre: Story

Informant (who):

The informant is my grandma Bonnie Mae Brown. My grandma was raised in Corona, California. She has been a member of the LDS church her whole life and served a full time mission in Australia. My grandma married Niel Brown when she was 18 years old and they moved to Kent, Washington where they started their new life. On an academic level my grandma attended a few college courses, but never graduated with a degree. So she has her high school diploma, but that is about it. My grandma was adopted so most of her ethnic heritage is unknown. My grandma is 70 years old and has four children as well as seventeen grandchildren. My grandma is retired, but serves as a tour guide at the Conference Center in Salt Lake City on Monday evenings. She enjoys the presence of family in her life and will bake or cook anything to your heart’s desire.

Context (where):

Throughout my life my grandma has told me various stories, but of all the stories she has revealed this one has been my all-time favorite. It took place in the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington. My grandparents were present for this extraordinary experience. The observers that witnessed this encounter were enlightened and blown back by the rare experience that they had. In some way, shape, or form they demonstrated courage and calmness.

Text (the Cultural Artifact itself – the item):

It was like any other day, my grandma and her family decided they wanted to take their boat out and so they decided to go up to the San Juan Islands. It was about mid-day when they final pushed off from the dock and made their way on the water. As they voyaged from island to island they noticed a group of killer whales off in the distance and didn’t think anything of it. So they continued on. But out of nowhere my grandpa felt the boat rock slightly off the usually course and became rather alarmed. He shut off the engine to see what was in the water. In seconds a pod of orcas surrounded the boat. This alarmed both my grandparents because they had never encountered a situation such as this. They continued to sit on the water swaying closer and closer to the nearest island with each passing wave. Without further hesitation my grandparents knelt in prayer that they might be safe and that no harm would come to them. Immediately after they finished their prayer the pod vanished. My grandpa started the engine back up and they continued on their way, but for a split second they saw their lives flash before their eyes.

Texture (how):

This story explains the experience that my grandparents had in the San Juan Islands. Though the orca is common to this area they didn’t put into perspective that they might encounter a pod of them. The reaction of my grandparent was honorable to say the least and with swift action the orcas dispersed. The story itself always fascinated me every time my grandma would tell the story because it isn’t every day that a little girl hears a story about killer whales and how my grandparents survived to tell the tale. Reflecting on the story I do not doubt that the words which my grandma told me on that hot summer day to be false. In fact, it is a story that my mom would tell me whenever I go boating no matter where it is at. She would commonly say “watch out for whales you never know when they might surface.” It almost became somewhat of a joke in my family, but overall it is incredible story that my grandma continues to tell.  

Meaning:

This story demonstrates the courage that my grandparents had and how calm they reacted to such a frightening situation.  I feel incredibly proud to claim them as my grandparents because my grandma is definitely one of my heroes and also one of the most influential person in my life. This story is one that is continually told in my family and claimed as the time Grandma and Grandpa survived the orca attack even though they were never attacked. My family finds it to be humorous on the surface and that is why jokes are made about it, but honestly everyone looks up to my grandparents and the actions they made in the situation.

4-Generation Chart

Family Tree Analysis

It was rather interesting going back and looking at my genealogy because there are some funny things that happened throughout history just observing the chart that I created. For example, I didn’t realize my grandma Bonnie married her cousin because their mothers were sisters. So I decided to talk to her about it because it was so strange to think that there was incest in the family. After talking with her, she informed me that she did marry her cousin, but it was justified because my grandma was adopted. The adoption of my grandma Bonnie into her family also played a huge part into my mom’s adoption. Bonnie Brown had felt the love expressed from Mae and Harry Jackstien and decided she was going to adopt a few children as well.

Another observation that I made was the fact that past first names became very common middle names. For example, on my dad’s side of the family my grandma Marsha’s mom’s name was Marie and now my middle name is Marie. My dad’s grandpa was named Blas Soria and my dad’s middle name is Blas. Also my grandma Bonnie’s middle name was Mae which is the name of her mother. Anyway I thought it was rather interesting how previous names showed up quite often from generation to generation.

When it comes to living in certain areas the immigration process began with my great-great grandparents. On my mom’s side the Jackstein’s came from Prussia and Germany, the Brown’s came from Germany, and the Gudmundson’s came from Denmark. It was really interesting because either way all of these individuals ended up crossing the plains to reach the Salt Lake Valley and most of my relatives stayed the in the general area. Looking at various family history sites there were a few memories or stories that were expressed by my great-grandma Jackstien and she basically elaborated on all of her siblings. In some ways I feel as if the characteristics have trickled down from generation to generation. She had a sister by the name of Irene who was incredibly outgoing, funny, and positive. She was a professional chocolate dipper and how my great-grandma always remembered that her sister always smelt of delicious chocolate. My great-grandma further expands on the topic of education and how most of her siblings didn’t graduate from high school. In fact, many found jobs at local banks at such by the time they were in the 10^th grade so they would drop out. She also talked about her older brother Arthur. You can really tell by her description that he was a role model to her. Her brother served in the First World War He went to officer’s training school and became a Major. He also served in the Second World War and saw the worst of the war in England. Now on my dad’s side the Carothers came from England and the Soria’s came from Spain and Mexico. The Soria’s somewhat spread out and they range from Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois, and Colorado. Overall it was rather interesting to discover so many new facts and details I didn’t realize about my family.