Many years ago I realized how important it is to know where you come from and  I started digging around in my family "forest."  I know that I come from many  different types of trees and I wanted to find out what kinds of trees those  were.  So far I have found roots in England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany,  Switzerland, Austria, and right here in North America.

I think that Alex Hayey said it best: "In all of us there is a hunger, marrow- deep, to know our heritage - to know who we are and where we have come from.  Without this enriching knowledge, there is a hollow yearning. No matter what  our attainments in life, there is still a vacuum. An emptiness. And the most  disquieting loneliness."

And remember, while you are searching for your roots, 
 "Genealogy begins as an interest,
 Becomes a hobby;
 Continues as an avocation,
 Takes over as an obsession,
 And in its last stages,
 Is an incurable disease."
 ~author unknown