Rekindling Roots: Cousin Connection | Survivor Saga Rediscovered | Gripping Eastland Documentary
Podcast Prelude
In this journey of piecing together sagas for my family and other families affected by the Eastland Disaster, I rekindled a cousin connection that profoundly shaped the narrative of this episode (Ep.36). This particular cousin is also a descendant of the Pfeiffer family and thus is also a descendant of the Eastland tragedy.
This connection is a testament to the power of familial bonds — the way they can illuminate our shared histories and enrich our present. But I must say, while this connection blossomed into something beautiful and insightful, not all such reunions are guaranteed to flourish.
Like tendrils reaching out in a family tree, these connections can be delicate and unpredictable. Sometimes they entwine and strengthen, other times they may not find their grip. And that’s okay. It's important to approach these rediscoveries with open hearts but also with the understanding that the roots may not always take hold the way we hope.
Acknowledging this doesn’t diminish the beauty of when they do succeed. Instead, it’s a candid nod to the complexity of family dynamics, the diversity of our experiences, and the sheer unpredictability of human relationships. Whether these connections grow or wither, each offers its own valuable lessons and, sometimes, even the ones that go south have something to teach us.
OTHER PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
The importance of expressing gratitude, all year long. I share an example of feeling grateful after a meaningful conversation with a cousin.
Imagining an alternative reality where my Aunt Martha had survived the Eastland disaster. How different my family's story and intergenerational trauma may have been. The paradox of grief and gifts that come from tragedy.
The common regret that many of us have - wishing we had listened more closely to the stories of older relatives when they were alive. But there are ways to still "hear" them by being open to synchronicity.
I discuss finding and sharing the story of James Lawrence Gardner, a Galena, IL native and Eastland survivor. His incredible first-hand account published in a local paper in 1915. How finding voices like his helps build a broader picture of the disaster and its aftermath.
I share about an extraordinary newer documentary on the Eastland disaster released last year, titled "The Full Story of the Eastland Disaster (1915)" by filmmaker Tom Lynskey and HFX Studios.
Preview of next week's episode, where I'll share the story of another Eastland survivor, a Canadian immigrant woman named Katherine.
Podcast Link
Rekindling Roots: Cousin Connection | Survivor Saga Rediscovered | Gripping Eastland Documentary
The cover art for Episode 36 asks the questions, "What becomes of those who remain?" and "What happens when they, too, exist only memory?" The inspiration for the four women were my grandmother and her three remaining sisters--after losing their sister in the Eastland Disaster.
