Judging Books By Covers

Jack McKee, my mom's father, in Philipsburg, Montana.

William Riley McKee. He'd be my great-great grandfather. He was sent to the Deer Lodge Prison for bad-mouthing the war and hence why my family is from the Pintler area. I don't think 1357 is a date.

George McKee and Mildred McKee, my great grandparents, Philipsburg, Montana.

I think we take our appearances for granted. I guess there's not that much to think about and maybe it shouldn't matter, but I think human creation is fascinating. We are animals. First and foremost, we are here to create. We grow up learning the ropes of survival and once we are set out on our own we start to look for a mate who we will hopefully have babies with and keep the family line intact.

I feel like my maternal instinct has grown from a small aroma candle flame to a full-blown seance. I'm not interested in having a baby right now nor am I ready to have a baby, but for the past couple of years I've felt that warm, tingly feeling around babies. It's the female in me. Women were having children well before my age not that long ago so it makes sense, but it's a little frustrating being a 24-year-old woman in the postmodern age of feminism and independence. I'm all for it, but my biological side is in a tizzy. All this lead up is to hopefully share with you why I am fascinated by the product of human fornication. I'm trying to be scientific. The fact that two people can create one little being who shares half of both their genes is mind-blowing.

I think part of my fascination could be related to the fact that I don't know half of me. At least biologically. I am mom's daughter for sure, but I've always had that interest in my other side. There are certain physical attributes I know don't come from anywhere on my mom's side. Growing up this was tough on a teenager's brain, but I can say two years ago this was all put to rest in a peaceful and satisfying way. That's another blog story I won't get into right now.

The reason I bring all of this up is because I went to a funeral of a McKee relative yesterday in Deer Lodge, Montana. You see, until recently, we haven't known any of our McKee relatives. My mom's father, who was an only child, died when she was very young which made it hard to stay in touch with non-intermediate family which essentially didn't exist after her father died. Anyway, my mom is the queen of genealogy and through her research and interest in family she found cousins recently she never met growing up. For the first time in my life I was surrounded by the McKee side of my family. I discovered that my mom, my brother, and I take after these people. It was oddly comforting. I know I look like my mom, but she's the only person of resemblance I have in my life. She doesn't look like my grandma or anyone on that side, and she obviously doesn't take after her stepfather and his family. I guess that is why I say we take our appearances for granted. Being able to place your origin is important. It's not everything, but it does play a role in our lives. I feel like it is similar to two people who come from the same country meeting in a different country who bond instantly because of their roots. It's simply comforting.