"Hope" is the thing with feathers -

That perches in the soul -

And sings the tune without the words -

And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -

And sore must be the storm -

That could abash the little Bird

That kept so many warm -

I've heard it in the chillest land -

And on the strangest Sea -

Yet - never - in Extremity,

It asked a crumb - of me.

(Emily Dickinson)

Hello all. I'm an early-career librarian who's been an amateur genealogist (and cemetery explorer) for as long as I can remember. I live in SoCal. I am also a great believer in hope. :)

Please don't use photos I post. If you want to, ask me and I might let you use some.

I also like to restore married women's maiden names. Please tell me if that's not appropriate for an entry I've edited and I'll cancel it or won't do it.