If you missed Episode 1 you can tune in next Tuesday on TCL as they, in partnership with Ancestry.com
, present Episode 2 with Christina Applegate. I'm really looking forward to that episode as I know Christina discovers some disconcerting secrets in her family tree I thoroughly enjoyed Episode 1 and liked Kelly's enthusiasm. She seemed completely natural and for me there was no feeling of "this is all rehearsed" (even though I'm quite sure there is a script of sorts). If you miss an episode you may be able to watch it the next day on TLC depending on what country you live in. For example Episode 1 is available for viewing now but not for me in Canada. TLC tells me I must visit discovery.ca to watch videos but of course Who Do You Think You Are? is not one of those offered to Canadians.
What surprised me this morning was to see some criticism on Faceboook. One genealogist mentioned that he/she didn't believe that Kelly's mother had no clue that her 2nd great grandfather was a Senator. I was flabbergasted! Things happen in families - sons become estranged from fathers, daughters run off and elope and are disowned (as happened with my own great-grandmother).... When that happens, there is often no mention ever again of the grandparent or parent. So why would this be difficult to believe? We have no clue what events transpired in the Rose family.
In my own family, my father knew nothing of his paternal grandfather and never met him. In fact he didn't know that the man was alive until my dad was in his late 20s! My grandfather and great-grandfather were estranged and didn't speak or see each other for the rest of their lives. So great-grandpa was never spoken of.
As for my father's maternal grandparents, he knew very little because his grandmother had run off with his grandfather against her parents' wishes. They disowned her and never spoke to her again. So she never spoke of them.
And we must also remember that "back then" children were seen and not heard, and adults tended to whisper in corners about things that did not, in their minds, concern children. So often a child grew up knowing very little about family and ancestors.
