My early 60th birthday gift to myself is to spend some time and a little cash on researching our family tree. As usual, I expect it to be a noodle-shaped journey. There is a particular lack of info about the Hungarian side. I knew dad’s parents emigrated from Hungary, at separate times, to New York, where they met. I didn’t know much more. I never met these grandparents.

Now I’ve just learned that she went in about 1905, at about age 16, by ship, probably/possibly alone.

Alone!?

And this would not have been any kind of luxury trip, far from it.

A few years later, she was married to a Kardos, and this photo is several kids later.

Have a look. It seems she was made of strong stuff.