There's a lot of responsibility when you're the head of THE FAMILY. Sure....I didn't really set out to do this. Just wanted to hang with the family, but when Don Vito Corleone went down, I got the call......as
THE GODFATHER....OF "THE FAMILY."
I will tell you that I never thought that Facebook would do this to me, but, now, I'm growing into this role and frankly, it's quite hard to shake.
Let me take you back a year or so.....
I decided that since I don't have a common name like Johnson, Smith or Jones, we needed a place on Facebook to really just bond. The history of our family isn't fully known, but most of us Bettags know a lot on our history. I created a facebook page called:
BETTAG FROM AROUND THE W
ORLD
I violated Facebook's rule on friending only those who you know and started friending, then inviting Bettags to join "Bettag from Around the World" (except my dad told me about a Bettag that had been arrested for armed robbery (no invite there)). There are now almost 80 members in the group who correspond weekly. A lot in the U.S. and, of course, a lot from Germany.
Why is this so cool?
- I've developed a lot of real relationships with Bettags from Around the World;
- I've discovered so much more of my family heritage;
- I've been contacted by Tom Bettag, the producer on ABC News who wanted to help with DNA tracing in our family heritage (I found out that he and I are 6th cousins);
- I've communicated with a lot of Bettags in Germany and correspond a lot through Google Translator;
- I've had phon
e calls with Bettags whom I would never have met before;
I did this for non income generating fun. It's not a overwhelming passion of mine, but it is a passion nontheless.
I love, really just love, connecting with family. It has actually created some income OPPORTUNITY for me in that people have reached out for mortgage as well as legal help. I haven't charged anyone yet, b/c they're family, but, since I'm acting as the head of the family right now...you never know.
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