Bright Ideas

When the price of DNA analysis had fallen enough for me to purchase it, I did so for my husband and me. I already knew my mother’s family were German, and my father’s maternal grandmother had filled me in on his family history.

I’m 48 percent German and 45 percent England, Wales, etc. I am 3 percent Scottish and Irish. Not enough to go crazy on St. Patrick’s Day. My mother’s family were very German, but Catholic, not Lutheran. Explain that.

So I didn’t really learn anything new, not for free with only my DNA results. I need to pay for further examination. Would I get more than I want? Do I have time for all their detective work? What would I learn?

My paternal grandfather’s family history is a blank, with one disturbing exception. When the father lost most of their money, the mother committed suicide. There would be more (money) left to feed children — so I was told.

I have a couple other suicides in my family: my maternal grandmother, and my younger brother. My grandmother was on leave from a mental institution in which she had spent time. She had access to a gun in her home, and used it to kill herself.

I think she should have killed her husband. He had spent 40+ years belittling her in front of family and friends until she shook with nerves. Who could endure that? He thought it was funny.

My brother must have been bipolar; when his wife was cheating on him and he thought he would lose his sons, he killed himself in the street, in front of his house. He was only 24.

I don’t know of any other suicides and hope there aren’t any. We have better understanding of mental health, and better access to neurologists. If you know anyone who needs help, talk to doctors and PAs to help them.