The Hatfields-McCoys and Me

It is interesting that the History Channel's interpretation of the Hatfield-McCoy Feud has captured the interest of so many people.

The story is legendary and there are more legends and lies than real history. However, history is written by the survivors and get to tell their side – no matter what really happened.

Set your thinking to the correct description of these folk. They were not southerners and they were not hillbillies. They were Appalachian Americans. They had settled in some of the toughest land in the United States, had learned to subsist and procreate and they knew how to fight.

The real origin of the feud is lost to history. Some say the fight began over a pig, some say a mountain version of Romeo and Juliet started it all and it may have been plain meanness.

It does not take much to start an argument and forgiving and forgetting was preached but hardly well-practiced.

Then, there's me. I am one of those people related to both families. I guess any inner conflict or mixed emotions can be traced back to that lineage. The only modifiers I have are the predominant German genes that excuse any of my contrary ways.

There's more McCoy blood in me than Hatfield, but many of the McCoys I knew were pretty tough birds.

I have walked many mountain cemeteries where the Hatfields and McCoys lay together. Sometimes they were segregated and sometimes the headstones had both names on them.

It is interesting that there is a Hatfield-McCoy Festival. I might go or I might not. In any case, I won't be taking a pig or packing a weapom. © tim www.timjohnsonphoto.com

A Social Media Will - Won't You?

Over the years I have helped many people prepare their legal and living wills. These are important and here is something elese to consider ... a Social Media Will.
I get newsletters from the government and this is available on their website:
from www.usa.gov
Write a Social Media Will
Social media is a part of daily life, so what happens to the online content that you created once you die? If you are active online you should consider creating a statement of how you would like your online identity to be handled, like a social media will. You should appoint someone you trust as an online executor. This person will be responsible for the closure of your email addresses, social media profiles, and blogs after you are deceased. Take these steps to help you write a social media will:
Review the privacy policies and the terms and conditions of each website where you have a presence.
State how you would like your profiles to be handled. You may want to completely cancel your profile or keep it up for friends and family to visit. Some sites allow users to create a memorial profile where other users can still see your profile but can’t post anything new.
Give the social media executor a document that lists all the websites where you have a profile, along with your usernames and passwords.
Stipulate in your will that the online executor should have a copy of your death certificate. The online executor may need this as proof in order for websites to take any actions on your behalf.