Don’t you get tired of the proverbial “Where do we come from?” Seems like a tired line, that is until you get excited about finding the answers….and that’s where I find myself now tracing my roots…so the question no longer seems that boring to me.
A few years ago at my father’s funeral, I met this whole new family that I had never known. My father was not in my life growing up and we only connected in the last few years of his life. When we did, I wasn’t bitter, I was actually grateful to find out more about where I came from and who I was. One of my new cousins has become a good friend and turned me on to our families genealogy. I found out we have a rich Scotish heritage…members of a Highland clan with what’s left of a castle on the Isle of Mull, so far we’ve traced one ancestor all the way back to 1710 in Scotland and the first one to come over in 1768 fought in the Revolutionary War. Hence I am now a card carrying member of the Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie and Daughters of the American Revolution!
While soaking in all this new found history I started connecting with members of Clan Maclaine all across the world, including the Clan Chief and I’ve been invited to what they call a gathering this summer in Scotland (big fans of Outlander, like me, will know what I mean). I couldn’t be more excited! I will actually get to walk the same
ground my family has walked since 1360. The McCormick’s became a Sept of Clan Maclaine in 1539, at the time, a sign was carved over a doorway that said “Biadh is deoch do MhacGormai” meaning “Food and Drink for MacCormicks” – meant to signify that anyone who bore this name would always be welcomed at Moy Castle. Not gonna lie, I can’t wait to hear someone say the Celtic version in a think accent!
Clan members who have gone across the pond to the old country tell me when I get off the plane and set foot on the ground in Scotland, I will immediately know that I’m home. What a feeling that must be. You can bet they’ll be a blog coming after my literal and figurative journey. I look forward to sharing it with you….but if I do get a chance to pass through the stones, I might just take it!
Follow me on Twitter @MarleeMcCormick
