Originally published 16 Mar 2014 Tomorrow, March 17th, marks one year since my cousin Carolyn (Robbins) Michaels passed away. She was my dad's first cousin, and my first cousin once removed. As a child, I remember her visiting Grandmother Robbins from time to time, but I really didn't know much about her then. Years after, when my mother and father passed away, she graciously came to both their funerals, which were six days apart. We exchanged Christmas cards for a few yea

Originally published 22 Dec 2013 Would you send a Christmas card with an image of two black cats? What’s more, would you expect the card to wish the recipient good luck? I’m not superstitious, but I think the black cat theme would be a ways down my Christmas card selection list. Yet, amongst Grandmother Robbins’ collection of calling cards I found such a card. The card was from my Great Grand Aunt, Mary Robbins, to her friend Emily Sisson. Mary was born in 1857 in Unadill