Thankful for the Simple Things in Life

Hi Fam,
It was a great Thanksgiving this year. The family shared a great time together and no fighting! Not that we ever have fighting, but it’s nice to be different from the bickering I hear about family time around this event. As usual, Pam outdid herself in the food preparation and how it was presented. As you can also see, most everyone is joyous and full.





















The night was capped off with Nat and Jonathan playing Chess. Personally, I have never beaten Nat, so it was a pleasure that Jonathan whooped his butt. (lol) you’re still a great player Nat.

And, not to outdo this event, it was Erica’s birthday. Yes, our little one turned sixteen this day and we had a small celebration the next day to commemorate a day hopefully she will never forget. See you all at Christmas.

A Star is Born

Printed in the JFK Press

FRESH FACES AT JFK

The JFK girls basketball team has relied on strong senior leadership to advance deep into the PSAL playoffs the past two years.
This season, O’Neil Glenn needs a few freshmen to play significant roles if the Knights are to be successful.
Glenn expects freshman forward Leshauna Phinazee and frosh guard Chelsea Custidio to compete for starting spots. Either way, both first-year phenoms will play big minutes in the Knights’ season opener next Wednesday.
Fellow freshmen Dmitria Abbott, Deaisia Acklin and Chelsea Custodio also could make important contributions.
The coach said he noticed some “growing pains” when the Knights scrimmaged CHSAA power Mary Louis earlier this month, but he’s optimistic that the first-year players can quickly adapt to the high level of competition in Bronx/Manhattan ‘AA.’
“We’re not rebuilding, we’re just renewing,” said Glenn, who is beginning his 10th year behind Kennedy’s bench. “I don’t think anyone expects us to be as good as we’ve been in the past when you lose so much the last two years, but we’ll see.”
Robyn Jenkins, Teara Shaw and Keonti Powell return from last year and will give Kennedy stability and firepower in the backcourt, along with Jazzarae Campbell, a junior guard who led the Knights JV to the city title.
Darleen McLeod, Nene Coulibaly and Iraida Santiago will patrol the paint for the Knights. Glenn doesn’t need his frontcourt to do anything fancy: “Rebound, rebound, rebound,” Glenn said when asked what he’s expecting out of his forwards and center.
The coach isn’t dwelling on the significant talent the Knights have lost over the past two seasons; Tatiyiana McMorris, who led the Knigths to the 2007 final, is a sophomore at Marquette and Danay Collier, who helped JFK reach the semis last year, is a freshman at Monroe Community College in Rochester.
Despite the loss of all that star power, Glenn says this group could reach similar heights. “We have girls on our team who started numerous times last year,” Glenn said. “The goal is semifinals or better. We just have to come out and play.”

CHSAA GIRLS

An Era Comes to An End and A New Beginning

Hi Fam,
As of November, 2008, I was let go from my job. Now, you may say this is a sad event, but I have to say, this time has given me a full aspect of true friendship. I was called by people on my job I did not expect, and received no calls from the ones I did. It has also allowed me to sit back and look at just how life throws you a monkey wrench and what we do with it. I have a job interview December 2nd and hope all will go well. If not, I will persevere.

Happy 48th!!

Thus far, man have not come up with a way to preserve or found the “fountain of youth” However, how can one explain how Merlin, in her 48th year from birth still radiate such beauty after all this time. Though never said enough, I love my sister. She has been the foundation of my being here today, and for that I will always thank her. At 19, when we, Cherrie Ann and I were left with no adult guidance, Merlin stepped in and held it down. Working for a law firm on Wall Street, she worked her way up the ranks and was a high level administrative assistant. When faced with the prospect of raising her niece a few years later, she quit to be closer to home and take care of the family. Since that time, she has dedicated herself to her family and their upbringing. She allowed me to wallow in the house for a few years when she made me get up off my rump and go to school. I can’t begin to say or even think how I could ever show her my gratitude but to let her know how much we love her. Congratulation Merl, you’ve been the matriarch of the family for over 35 years in the US, and we love you for it. HAPPY BIRTHDAY and many more.

Three down, 1 More to Go

This year, Dmetria A. graduated from Junior High School. She is now headed to High School in the Bronx. She has already been drafted to the varsity basketball team and hopes to bring prominence to the squad. Good Luck D.

Gone Fishing

In more years than I’ll like to count, I had forsaken ever going fishing again (I caught poison Ivy my first time out). However, I was given a second chance at enjoying a sport Big John P. loves so much. Little John N. & I was taken to a surreal spot in the Connetquot (co-net-kwat) River State Park Reserve for fly fishing. It was hot, a couple of flies buzzing around, but was truly a great day of fun sitting and chewing the rags with two of my best friends. I caught a 12” and John N. caught a whopping 21”, (However, without John P's experience and tatics, John N. would never have caught the monster "which took over 30 minutes"). unfortunately John P. didn’t catch anything himself, but it was the companionship I think most of us enjoyed that day.
Even though it was a spectacular day for gelling with your friends, we could not end it without getting a little drunk before coming home with our catch. We stopped at the Beer Garden to throw back a few and talk our tall tales of fighting the big catch and how he got away. LOL. I look forward to doing this again and maybe John P. and I will outdo John N. with our catches next time.

Let The Family Plan Your Next Vacation/Trip

Hello everyone, a family member is bringing something to the table for ALL

Introducing "Thongs Travel Service"

Traveling these days is hectic, expensive, and can be time consuming looking for that discount. Samuel can save that time and effort in bringing the best prices for us. Do your research and then turn to Samuel’s Travel Services and you’ll find the speed and commitment in offering an even better deal. Let’s support our family in his endeavor and grow as a unified unit. You can contact Samuel’s travel company at www.ytbtravel.com/thongs or connect to it directly on my links Page (located on the right). Keep it in the family as they say!

Connecting with Family

Samuel and Lystra T.
During the past weekend of the 4th of July, the family (Pam, Erica, Dmiteria, Prince, & I) visited our cousin Lystra and her husband Samuel in PA. It was great seeing Lystra after donkey years (more than 30) and the warmth of her family, I vaguely remembered her, being so young, but it was great to see family all the same. The mountains offered a breath of fresh air away from the city and just living in nature, and at night, it was so dark you could not see your hands in front of you. We were treated as honored guest, as we partook of Mauby, and a first day’s breakfast consisting of bake and salt fish (Mmmmm). I did not know what to make of Samuel upon first hearing about him, but after meeting him, I felt as though I was catching with my big brother who just lost touch for a while. Samuel and Lystra are God’s children and revere themselves in the word/work or God, they are truly inspirational. Lystra, being a typical great wife completes him and they are committed to one another. They are both entrepreneurs, as you will learn later on when Samuel gets his traveling company in order and Lystra gets back into selling her famous pepper sauce; “It’s all about the taste.” We (adults) traveled around town and did some minor sightseeing and somehow ended up in a video game room. Needless to say, Samuel and myself found ourselves on a motorcycle riding game (he never bothered to tell me rode motorcycles for a number of years, thus officially whooping my butt good) Lol. On Sunday we visited their place of worship, Shawnee Tabernacle, where a sermon on reverence (fear of God and Church) was preached. I hope the kids were listening carefully because it talked of the complacency in society today where we praise/look past behavior not in conjunction with scripture. I for one am guilty of some transgressions, but one day, I hope to be in that number. This first meeting was just the start of many and we hope to visit them again as they will be welcomed into our home here in the city. See the family timeline on website and see where Lystra and Samuel are. (This website was designed in mind to have immediate family only, but I feel that Samuel is part of the family as he is working on his own historical lineage site. So look out for his family genealogy also coming soon)
I also wanted to mention Ken and Joyce, Samuel and Lystra's neighbors. These guys are funny! a great addition to an already splendid weekend.

Getting the Word Out

This is an exciting time for me. I sent out letters to the family asking for updates and pictures, and I just got a major response from cousin Lystra and her husband Samuel. We are looking forward to joining them on the 4th of July in their home in PA. I am certainly looking forward to meeting the family because we (Lystra and myself) have not seen each other in donkey years. Next you hear from me, you will be treated to great stories of our meeting and time together. Talk to you soon Fam.

Letter from Tanty Mildred

Hi Family, just received a letter from Tanty Mildred. She received the letter I sent with the pictures of her nephews and great nieces. Julian, Merlin, Cherrie Ann, Eric, Shaniqua, Jaclyn, Dmitria, and Prince. She’s making a visit to England for the next 4 weeks, and I hope she enjoys herself and have a great time. For those who don’t know who Tanty Mildred is, she is the last sibling from my father, Hugo Abbott. Daddy died at a time when we were not privy to his past and his family. Thus, Tanty Mildred holds a great deal of information that would benefit all of us. Here is her letter to me. Enjoy.

Ever So Close

Our basketball team this season, Fung Wa, made it all the way to the finals, but in the end we faltered and ended up taking second. But, don't feel bad for us, I think we did a spectacular job during the game, we may not have gotten the win but when a team wins graciously and celebrates in that win, we have to look at the other side go out with that same flair as losers. Wanted to post this to let the boys in green know we played one hell of a game, (left to right) Romo, Eric, Lurd, Nick, Neil, and The Konk. See you guys next season.

Grow UP!

This year has not been pleasant for my nieces. But then again, they haven’t had good years since 1999. Both have put themselves in situations that though most young adults find themselves in, but theirs are worst. The questions are the same, what did we do wrong, where did we go wrong, why have they faltered so late in their lives rather in their teenage years????? The answer is always the same though, we don’t know! No childhood is ever easy and the kids of these days teachers’ are no longer a parent’s lifelong wisdom, but their small in-experienced world, rather putting their hands on the stove and getting burned than asking if it’s hot. They have both reached a crossroad in their lives and fallen off the paved path of life. They think life is easy and will always be able to get off with a smile or sly remark, but reality will hit them one day to the fact that nothing is free in life and everything comes at a cost. Not always bad, but a cost none the less. At present, it looks like they are heading for a steep fall, but hopefully one day, it will all come together for them. Will we be there to give them that helping hand again, maybe-maybe not, (our parents were not because of their untimely death) so whatever was instilled in their younger age, I hope they attribute to their adult life. Me, I have my own ways of dealing with things and refuse to worry myself to death with their problems. I can only speak for myself, but what more can anyone do? In the end, I want to live to a ripe old age, and hope they fulfill all their desires and wants, but not at the family’s mental health expense. I’ve always preached that they never come back and say we never went the extra mile to give them every thing they needed. So, now that it’s in writing, never let it be said otherwise that Merlin, Cherrie Ann, & Pam did not.

China, the Forbidden City & Beyond

The vacation that Pam and I took to China was one of a great and majestic journey. But with the devastating earthquake that claimed so many lives, it seems a shame to say we’ve probably had the best time of our lives. The city was vast, the people, curious to say the least, the food; incredibly tasty and cheap, and well worth the price of each morsel. Words cannot readily describe or explain everything we had experienced, the people we met, and the places we visited. I hope the pictures and videos will give you a bird’s eye view of what we experienced. Follow the link at: http://picasaweb.google.com/ehabbott1

Mournful News

This message is not a post I look forward to doing on a regular basis, but I have to announce we lost a beloved family member this month; Camella C. Lewis (aka Bunny) Tanty Bunny was instrumental in getting most of the information you see on this site and website. Her knowledge of the family history led me to discover more than 50 new family members I would have never known. She will be missed as an intricate part of this family, but we can rejoice that she has gone to join her daughter Maureen, and husband Winston. We’ll miss you Tanty.

I would also like to mention that Pam’s family also lost a close and dear friend to them, Kevin. He was reported missing in the woods for approximately 2 weeks now during a hiking excursion and now considered deceased. Unfortunately, closure can never come to the family without a body, so our sincerest condolences.

Reaching out to Tanty Mildred

Hi Fam, reached out to Tanty Mildred in Barbados(see family "historical timeline"), and she sounded wonderful. Tanty Mildred is the last family member from daddy’s side and I hope to get to see her sometime this summer. We, Pam and I, are going to China in April of this year, and when I return, I hope to make plans to go see her. She sounds great and we hope she can fill in a lot of gaps in daddy’s life.

Hanging with Big Brother in the Bronx

Yesterday was a great day, I met with Julian at his job in the Bronx, and we had a nice talk about our lives and how we came to this point. He looked great (still looking like Cherrie Ann), but emulating Daddy to the fullest when he spoke. We are not going to resort to any more calling once a month and seeing each other even less, we intend to keep in touch like family should and have Shaniqua, Jaclyn, Erica, Mikey, Dmiteria, and Prince all meet and get to know each other, as well as Althea and her daughters.
Though it should not have taken this long for us to converse in this manner, it’s a start to getting alone as of now. We both left happy in the fact that we have so many questions to ask each other regarding our family and the anticipation to the answers.

Jaclyn's 20th Birthday Blowout!

Happy B, day Jaclyn. Earlier, Jaclyn was asleep so we couldn’t do anything with the family during the day, but when she woke up, we had a little get together. I know her big sis Shaniqua baked a cake, so we’ll post it at a later time. But here’s Jaclyn’s big night, Happy Birthday Jaclyn.

Pam lighting up the cake>>>>>>>

Jaclyn's Getting ready to blow out the candles. (each one representing 5 years)

We love you, and pray you have many more!!

Life’s lessons for one of our own

Yesterday, the family had to assist Jaclyn in getting away from an event she has been experiencing in her life, that will hopefully change her for the better. Jaclyn was the victim of youthful inexperience. Inexperience that had her family not been there, her lifestyle would have led to her being a statistic on our economical and medical services. She placed herself in a situation that unfortunately, she had to learn the hard way to get out of. What was the lesson? It was the lessons of relationships, commitments, love, hate, and the usual voyages most of us take in life towards adulthood. At her age, her inexperience led her to make decisions as all young adults usually make, “the mistake of thinking they know what they’re doing in their Youthful Exuberance of excitement.”
Today is another beginning of the beginning for her; she now has a place of solitude and peace in our home. The environmental elements that warped her mind must be exorcised and reconditioned to help her meet the challenges of the world. We hope and pray Jaclyn makes this transition, and as the day have worn on, she seems to be headed in that direction.

My visit to Tanty Eva and Bunnie's house

I was lucky to get to see Tanty Eva and Tanty Bunnie this last weekend. We spent the whole day together going over the family’s historical past again. It was important to me that I hear it again and again. It’s not everyday someone can know mostly everything about their family and live to tell about it. From my father’s side, Hugo C. A., they have become mirrors in which we can look back and see not who, but how it all came together.
For those that are not familiar with Eva, she is renowned by the Brooklyn community as an outstanding resident for over 58 years at the same address, and an exclusive write up in Crane, The New York Times, and rent Stabilization Newspaper. This last stage of her celebrity status came out of an infamous case with a tenant who did not pay rent for over 8 years. She was also a famous designer and business woman with many designs under her belt.
I have a date with Robin A., the nurse at my job who may also be family, and shed some light in the wake of all this family up heaving. This picture was taken at Tanty Eva’s 80th birthday party in Brooklyn, 2007, with Tanty Bunnie. We also amassed a group of pictures to be collaged at a later time, which I will let everyone know when and where to access the photos.

And the beat goes on, with all new discoveries!

Well, it’s been 5 days now and I’ve received a lot of feed back from family and friends. One was the spelling of names on the site which I took care of, and the other was the picture gallery’s captions. My good friend John (a far but close relative) said the caption would do better on the bottom of the picture frames, and he was absolutely right, now it can be viewed seamlessly. Cherrie Ann may have also discovered some family by chance through her friend Annette, so I have to call and get all her information soon. I also contacted Tanty Eva and we’re planning to get together in the upcoming weeks to go over in details the history of Daddy’s family. Tanty Eva is so funny, we spoke on a subject (can’t mention now) that had me laughing all night. I will also like to thank Melissa from “tourdeforks” and all the assistance she provided in getting me this far.
No on is going to believe this, as I was writing this blog, I was called away to do a job in our nursing station. For the longest time a nurse looks like Cherrie Ann, and I just decided to ask her if she has any Clarke in her family, and she said YES, unbelievable. This women has such a strong resemblance to Cherrie I would not be suprised if she is related. What a discovery, she even recognizes some of the names on the site under Hugo’s lineage. More to come……

Signing up using own account

Family, when I first tried to invite everyone to the site under their own login, it did not work. With everyone accessing with the "abbottfamily" with password "abbottlineage" you may want your own. Send me your email and I will try to invite you again. Hopefully it will work this time.

Web site up and Ready for you

Here we go. After some Action Scripting, Java Configuration, and XML meta tags (I don’t know what I’m talking about, LOL) but Pam did her thing and made my final hurdle in getting the web site up a breeze. Go to www.abbottlineage.com and you will be introduced to the beginning of the beginning of our documented history. Enjoy.

Where did the "Abbott" name come from?

Personally, I have always wondered where our sir name originated from. I know it means “Priest”, like the Abotts(spelled correctly) we see in Buddhist monasteries. I also thought it was only me that had this question, but with Cherrie Ann looking over the website’s "historical timeline," this was the first questions she called to ask me. Although we know nothing of daddy’s father, I surmise there can only be one answer.
Hugo’s mother was named Alberta Clarke, daughter of our great grandparents, Edward and Martha Ward Clarke. On Hugo’s birth certificate, his sir name is listed as Clarke, but growing up with his father in Trinidad and Tobago; we can only assume he took his father’s name of Abbott. Hugo has one living sibling, Mildred, who I found out is living somewhere in Barbados. Tanty Eva and Bunny have some information on her, that when found, she will fill in a lot of gaps in questions we have. I hope to visit or correspond with her soon to find out if she knew Hugo’s father, and where his family is. This venture is opening so many doors into our historical past that I know this site will never be completed in my life time. I can only hope someone carries on the legacy of documentation of our history.

Cheers and Jeers, It's now or never!

Well well, this is it, the final countdown to getting my web site up and running. I'm reviewing all my links, pictures, and making sure nooooo misspelled words. I've suffered along the way in trying to think about how everyone would want this to look and I think I've reached my limit. If I continued to work on this, I would never finish and I've come to truly understand how web designers/developers are the most patient and smartest persons. I have to thank everyone who viewed, gave criticism, and worked to get me on the right track. I hope everyone enjoys it.

A sista looking out for a sista

Is it her birthday, Christmas, Easter, or even New Years that gets CherrieAnn going? NO, it’s Income Tax Season. Like every other year, she’s the first on line to get her refund, first at H&R Block, and first at the bank to get that check cashed. Don’t get in her way! Trust me. But she did something this year that overshadowed all of the anxiety that drive people crazy; She gave, gave freely with poise and graciousness that many people have forgotten. It did not call for a special occasion, but a sista looked out for her elder sista. CherrieAnn, who have come a long way in life, a person who was out there for over 16 yrs, but able to come back with sheer will power is the poster girl for “believing in yourself” and saying she’s something in this world, while never forgetting her fam. Yeah, her brother is proud, more proud than when in 8th grade, she beat up the bully of the school, and the next day everyone knew me as “Cherrie’s little brother.” I thinks it's fom that day why I always with my chest high. Yeah, those were the days. LOL. Though many years have passed, I’m amazed at how we, Sista’s and Bro, have come together and never too shy to say I luv ya. But all in all, Sis came through for big Sis Merlin without a thought of hording it all to herself. Love ya Sis, and stay strong.

Family Get Together (42 years later)

Two weeks ago, I was privileged to meet family members from my father’s side who I never knew existed. This was the first time Merlin and I actually met someone outside the US that was acquainted with him. They arrived from London England, in the cold summer month of December (hot day) and shopped till they dropped, I’m talking about no others but Carol, Maria, Shanice & Tyrese (Carol’s grandmother [Hyachinth C.] and my grandmother [Alberta C.] were sisters. My cousin Phillip [Carol’s brother] was here also, but like most men, his stamina for shopping was sapped. We spoke of rich memories Carol shared knowing Hugo and something I did not even know, after barbering for over 27 years, he turned his profession to being a tailor. Merlin and myself was overjoyed to meet this missing link in our family chain, and Tanty Eva and Bunny filled in all the gaps with stories and some salt fish cakes[hmmm]. Our picture gallery to be displayed in the web site for the first month seems nothing compared to what Eva and Bunny is going to supply me within the coming weeks. With the exchange of address and fond goodbyes, this family was a wake up call to the many other adventures I’ve experienced in my endeavor to reach my goal.

Sweet Taste of Home

Looking out the plane as we descended on Tobago, it made me feel as though I’d never left home, the clear blue skies and the anticipation of the warm weather (November) made this trip a dream. With Pam at my side, we set out on a mission of finding family history. Along the way however, we sidestepped as one would think we were on vacation, instead of the fact finding mission we came for, we ate and ate and ate, and after we ate, we drank some and then ate again. We limed with Kenneth, Sol, Ezla, Patsy and other family member into the wee hours of night and during the day, we spent our time at the beach by Store Bay with Edgar and his wife. Eventually I did get around working and was privileged to have family members, Ursulla and Verne come by. Can I call the trip eventful, well, I went down knowing approximately 6 to 8 family members, and came back with over 60 names, WOW! Who knew!!

Eric, What's This All About?

24 years ago, Wilma and Hugo Abbott passed away (parents). It wasn’t until a couple of years ago I realized I knew nothing about Wilma’s side of the family except a handful who I grew up with, and absolutely none on Hugo’s side, except his sister, Irene. It was even more scary that our children did not know anything about there foreign family’s heritage. So, slowly but surely, I undertook the responsibility of finding, researching, and acquiring as much information as possible. I’ve tried to look into family tree programs, finding software on the internet, but none worked.
I realized if I wanted to know about my family, I would have to get out there and find them the hard way. Over the years, I have amassed the names of over 200 family members, and I’m sure I’m not even close to the actual number. In the upcoming months, years, I hope using this venue to become more knowledgeable of our family will pay off.
This is a secured site and no one outside of who I invite can access for any purposes. We are all worried about identity theft, so if you feel more comfortable using first name, last initial, let me know (I used Wilma and Hugo’s because there are deceased)
Presently, the web site is under construction. It seems every month I’m coming up with new family information and pictures, so even though I have all these additions to add, the site will be posted soon on the internet. You can sit back and enjoy the ride; I’ll do all the hard work. You can support this cause with updates and corrections if you see something that needs clarification. If you’re reading this, YOU’RE FAMILY, where you fit in? Ask, browse the web site, and you will learn!