Getting To Know Me, Getting To Know The Cheek That Doth Not Fade

Getting To Know Me-1
I am a librarian, a grandfather, an Army brat, a fairly good photographer, and a rather undisciplined genealogist. I have very eclectic taste in music, but 60s style folk is my favorite.  I read adventure novels for relaxation. I collect old camera. I married my high school sweetheart 41 years ago and she is still my best friend and the love of my life. I have 6 children, 1 girl and 5 boys (aged 19 to 38) and 3 granddaughters (ages 14, 11, 9). I am a Vietnam veteran who is radical about peace. I was in the chorus at Lyric Theater in OKC in its very first year. Basketball was always my favorite game to play and football (both kinds) my favorite game to watch. We served as missionaries for the Southern Baptist Covention in Indonesia and Malaysia. I have been a seminary teacher and a college teacher. I have made five significant career changes. I guess it took me that long to find the right one because I absolutely love working in libraries. I was formerly director of the Guthrie Public Library in Guthrie, Oklahoma and am currently the Dean of Library Services at Oklahoma Baptist University. 

Getting To Know Me-2
My father was always interested in his family history but never had the opportunity to study it very much. So when I had to learn something about doing genealogy to help some of the patrons of my library, I immediately discovered a new avocation.  My greatest regret is that my father is no longer around to appreciate the fruits of my labor.  He would be pleased to know that we can trace the Cheek family back to the 1600s in Maryland and Virginia. He would be intrigued to discover that he had cousins living just a few miles away that he never knew anything about.  He would be sorry that the family story he always told turned out to be a myth.  After 15 years of working very hard on the all of our family lines, I had gotten a little burned out.  Especially, since the most common response I got from most of my family was, “Oh, that’s nice.”  Sharing with the rest of you genea-bloggers has rekindled my interest and I thank you for that.  Now I’m waiting for it to cool off a little so I can get back out into the cemeteries.

Getting To Know The Cheek That Doth Not Fade
Cheek is one of those unique names that has multiple meanings and shows up in some of the most interesting places.  The title of the blog actually comes from the Keat’s poem, Fancy. The full poem can be found at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cheekfamok/johnkeats.html

O sweet Fancy! let her loose;
Every thing is spoilt by use:
Where ‘s the cheek that doth not fade,
Too much gazed at?

I actually began to blog in order to publish family information, comment on contemporary issues, and respond to the culture around us.  So the content will always cover a wide variety of subjects.

The Bright, Breezy, and Beautiful
 I have never been a very good rule follower so I will not go with the superlatives, but with three articles that at least fit the categories.

The Bright
A Frightening Observation 23 February 2008
https://cheekfam.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/a-frightening-observation/
A comparison of two books about two remarkable women which warns about the dangers of absolutism and represents my interest in literature, religion, and popular culture.

The Breezy
My Favorite Photograph 10 August 2008
https://cheekfam.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/my-favorite-photograph/
After doing three weddings in two years humor is definitely where you find it and this is the best of the memories.

The Beautiful
Leavin’ On A Jet Plane. . .3 August 2007
https://cheekfam.wordpress.com/2007/08/03/leavin-on-a-jet-plain/
With apologies to Dickens, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times and needs no other comment.

My only advice would be to write what you care about, write what means something to you.  That way the task is its own reward and if someone else appreciates what you have done, it’s a bonus.