A to Z Challenge 2023, Charboneau, Endwell NY

Recap and Reflections on “Endwell: My High School Years” — #AtoZChallenge 2023

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Recap and Reflections on Endwell: My High School Years — Including all 26 posts in the April 2023 Blogging from #AtoZChallenge. Thanks for joining me on the journey and commenting along the way!

Now that the April 2023 Blogging from #AtoZChallenge is over, I am happy to be among the winners who completed the online marathon — for the fifth time!

After a frenetic month of blogging six days a week, I’ll be relieved to return to weekly blogging as I continue to explore my ancestors’ lives and the research techniques I used to find them.

Endwell, N.Y.,1968: Easter photo with my family at age 18. From left, Mom, Jeff, Amy, Dad, Mark and Carol. That’s me at right wearing the fully lined suit I made. I had survived high school and was headed to college! Photo by Liz (Stoutner) Laurence

Yet it was fun taking a deep dive into my high school years in Endwell, N.Y, during the late 1960s. Stay tuned — for next year I am considering a return to family history in My Life: The Prequel, chronicling my parents’ early lives, courtship and marriage through photos. I can hardly believe I’ve already done the outline!

RECAP OF “ENDWELL: MY HIGH SCHOOL YEARS”

Below, in alpha order, are links to my #AtoZChallenge2023 posts about Endwell: My High School Years, adding my story to the family history mix. Please check out any you may have missed. Comments are still open on the later posts, and I love hearing from readers!

REFLECTIONS ON #ATOZCHALLENGE 2023

Busier than ever and more writing. Overall, this A-to-Z was busier for me than last time. I went all-in on commenting regularly, but sometimes had to play catch up to get it done. I focused on A-to-Z genealogy bloggers for my visits/comments — but I visited around a bit, too, and even joined some new-to-me blog hops! I also found that high school is such a formative period that longer posts were needed — so I did more writing this year, too.

Great camaraderie. Overall, I learned so much from the meaningful camaraderie and thoughtful comments I received — and from the blogs I visited. I was gratified by the positive feedback and parallel experiences that visiting bloggers shared. It was nice to catch up with bloggers from previous A-to-Z Challenges — and meet new ones through blog hops.

Embracing memoir. My blog focuses on ancestral research — but it’s also important for genealogists to include ourselves in the mix, leaving an online diary like the ones we wish our ancestors had left. That’s why I followed up earlier A-to-Z themes on my early childhood (2017),  my  elementary years (2020) and my early teens (2021) with this series on my high school years.

Many thanks to the team for keeping the A to Z Challenge going — and to everyone who visited, subscribed, followed and commented on Molly’s Canopy. You made my fifth #AtoZChallenge so rewarding. And now that you’ve met my family, please follow, subscribe and join me throughout the year as my genealogy journey continues!

Up next: After a brief break, regular blogging resumes at Molly’s Canopy. Please stop back!

 © 2023 Molly Charboneau. All rights reserved.

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22 thoughts on “Recap and Reflections on “Endwell: My High School Years” — #AtoZChallenge 2023”

  2. I’m glad that you mentioned comments with stories that were sparked by your post. Reading comments on your posts was one of the fun experiences that I had with A-Z. Most blog posts don’t generate that kind of conversation. It was fun to visit here and see more interaction.

    Congratulations on completing the challenge!

    1. Thanks so much, Joy! The high school years seem to resonate with everyone, and I also enjoyed the stories readers shared about their contrasting teen experiences. The backdrop of the Sixties was another common thread. I only hope I do as well next year when I write about my parents’ lives 🙂

  3. That is a terrific suit.

    Congratulations on completing another A to Z and for visiting my efforts so regularly too.

    Look forward to seeing you in 2024

    1. Thanks, Janet! Learning to sew is valuable in so many ways, if only for repairs if not creating entire outfits.

  5. Hi Molly!
    Sounds like blogging is in your DNA. It comes so naturally to you and is so enjoyable for your readers. Thanks for your efforts. I look forward to each and every post.

    1. Thanks so much, Barb! I am definitely hooked on blogging and glad you are enjoying the posts even when they aren’t about our Dempsey ancestors 🙂

  6. Fun family photo, Molly, and once again, I’m impressed with your sewing skills. Your series and the previous ones, also focusing on your earlier years, have helped shift my perspective and grasp the importance of documenting your own life as part of the ancestral tree. That dynamic contribution to the pool of information made available feels expansive in a way I didn’t fully understand before. Congratulations on another successful challenge, and how wonderful you’ve already found inspiration for the next round.

    1. Thanks, Deborah. You should consider writing up your own story — you will be surprised at what you discover about yourself and the times you have lived through. Congrats on completing A to Z! I look forward to your calming posts in 2024.

  7. How lovely to have a theme for next year already.
    I enjoyed your A to Z. Congratulations on reaching the end and thank you for your visits to my blog.
    Endwell is such an appropriate name for a school.

    1. Ha-ha — Endwell is an especially good name for the conclusion of this series as well. Congrats on completing A to Z and see you in 2024!

  8. I enjoyed the journey through your high school years, not just because I moved to this area when I was in my 30’s (so this gave me a peek into how it would have been to grow up here). Look forward to you participating again in 2024.

    1. Thanks, Alana. Enjoyed your posts, too, and looking forward to seeing you on AtoZ next year — and thank you for the invite to new blog hops.

    1. Every year I think, “Never again!” But as letter Z approaches, I decide, “Well, maybe this topic will work for next year.” Looking forward to seeing you in 2024!

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