KATHRYN R. BIEL: AUTHOR

The Native Americans are known for their oral histories, telling the stories of the tribe from one generation to the next.  Recently, my mom's cousin asked me if, in my genealogy research, I had found any information about our Native Indian ancestry.  To this point, I have not, but I think that there must be some there.  My mother's family is French Canadian, and it is widely accepted that there was inter-marrying between the French-Canadians and the Indians.  Even without proof, I think it must be true because of my love for family history. Each year, for Memorial Day, we visit the cemeteries.  This year, while technically no different, is much different.  This year, we said good-bye to my great-Aunt Millie, who was the last surviving of my grandfather's eight siblings.  Six weeks after that, we said good-bye to my grandmother.  Mimere and Aunt Millie were the last of their generation, the Greatest Generation. The cemetery visits...

So, it's prom season.  I have lots of friends whose kids are going or have gone.  About 120 years ago, I even went myself.  Actually, it was more like 18 years ago.  This is what I looked like: Sorry, Ned, but the image is out there.  Personally, I think we look pretty good.  I can honestly say that I can look at this picture without cringing.  I am laughing because I remember you saying, as the picture was snapped, "You're going to say in 25 years, who was that guy?" It was the mid-90's, and Jessica McClintock was still a huge designer.  We were just graduating from poofed sleeves, hoops and super shiny satin.  Floral hair combs were still big.  Anyway, going to a catholic school, we had to wear white to prom. We also wore the same dress for graduation the night before.  There were some strict guidelines about dresses.  I feel it is time to bring some of those guidelines back. The Times Union has posted pictures from...

Ok, I know I've been AWOL for a while.  Things have just been busy around here.  I've been doing better, less overwhelmed, but still busier than a one-legged man in an ass kicking contest. I just need to brag for a minute.  I'm gonna take the time to give myself a pat on the back.  I have Jake's annual review meeting in the morning.  He is doing well, and he has a great team working with him.  Events at my own schools this week have caused me to reflect on how far Jake and we as a family have come.  He's always been a great kid, no doubt.  But he is doing so well right now.  I think that some kids don't have the benefit of involved parents and that their disabilities are significantly compounded by their parents  (we refer to this as 'parentally impaired.'  This is not as of yet a category for special ed classification, but it should be.) Tonight, Jake was filling me in on the goings on in school.  A new student in another ...