July 30, 2010

15th Cousins?

What do you do, how are you supposed to feel, when you find out that someone you never met until three seconds ago is really your 15th cousin? (Or somewhere around that number, anyway.) For some reason I feel like I should have a connection with such a person, because we can both trace ourselves back to the same Tzadick from the 17th century. On the other hand, though, I'm probably related to more people than I realize if I want to go that far back. So why the big deal?

Also, the farther back you go, the more ancestors you have. Which in turn means that I may have more 'great', 'special' ancestors the farther back I go.

Either way, for those (like me) interested in family, this is a special treat.
  

4 comments:

  1. sorry to burst your bubble. but all of humanity is considered, on average, 10th cousins. you are related to him even less than the dude across the street.

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  2. It's a difference of whom you can trace and who you can't.

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  3. I have to agree with staples. It's really not a big deal.

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  4. I reiterate my last comment.

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