Sepia Saturday 567. U is for Undaunted: Seventh Blogiversary! Twenty-first of 26 posts in the April 2021 Blogging From #AtoZChallenge. Theme: “Endwell: My Early Teen Years”— adding my story to the family history mix. Please join me on the journey. 
If anyone had asked me seven years ago whether I would still be blogging in 2021, I’m not sure how I would have answered.
Yet here we are — celebrating the Seventh Blogiversary of Molly’s Canopy, my family history and genealogy blog!
And on this anniversary I am especially proud that I was able to continue undaunted — despite the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic.
Entering coronavirus lockdown
In early 2020, I had no idea what lay ahead as I began the year blogging about a research trip to the NYS Archives in Albany — then continued with stories about my maternal German Stoutner ancestors.
But I had to stop blogging altogether for a couple of weeks in March — when New York City went into lockdown, and I prepared to shelter at home as my area of Queens became the U.S. epicenter of a new, global coronavirus pandemic!
A to Z Challenge 2020 was a lifeline
The A to Z Challenge 2020 turned out to be a lifeline during last spring’s stressful C-19 lockdown — a productive way to pass the April days at home and connect with fellow bloggers worldwide who were going through the same thing.
Writing about Endwell: My Elementary Years kept me entertained and distracted — and by the time the annual A to Z blog-fest was over, our NYC contagion curve had begun to come down and restrictions were somewhat eased.
Pivoting to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic
That’s when I turned to a series I had long wanted to write about my dad’s Uncle Albert Barney Charboneau who died in the last great global contagion — the 1918 influenza pandemic — and its parallels with our own viral outbreak.
The series resonated with Molly’s Canopy readers worldwide who regularly left comments and observations about the similarities and contrasts between that outbreak and the one we are living through.
The sustaining power of ancestors
By early 2021, with Covid-19 vaccines on the horizon, I was able to resume the Stoutner family saga — marveling all the while at the sustaining power of ancestors and their stories to keep one going even in the darkest moments.
And when the A to Z Challenge rolled around this year, I was again down with the program — this time focusing on Endwell: My Early Teen Years, a sequel to last year’s series.
Looking forward to year eight!
Seven years ago — when I ventured to the battlefields of Virginia to witness reenactments of my Union Army ancestor Arthur T. Bull’s 1864 Civil War battles — I had no idea that the blog I started to commemorate his life would last this long.
Nor did I envision how many family history stories would emerge — nor how much I would learn in the process — nor how many ancestral tales are still waiting to be told!
Which is why I am looking forward to year eight of Molly’s Canopy — and whatever ancestral surprises it may bring.
May thanks to my family, friends, colleagues, readers and the intrepid blogging crew at Sepia Saturday for your continued visits, comments and support — and if you are new to Molly’s Canopy, I hope you’ll join me on the journey!
Up next, V is for Various other teen interests: From “Twilight Zone” to RFK. Please leave a comment, then join me as Endwell: My Early Teen Years unfolds one letter at a time! Meanwhile, please visit this week’s other Sepia Saturday bloggers.
© 2021 Molly Charboneau. All rights reserved.