52 Weeks of Abundant Genealogy Week 43: Memorable Genealogy Moment

Think back to when you first started researching your family history. Is there a memorable early genealogy moment that stands out in your mind? Describe this event or discovery and how it impacted your research going forward.

The memorable genealogy moment I recall is the one which gave me the greatest sense of "I can do this!"

Everyone in my family had told me that I would never be able to find my great-grandfather (John Samuel EDGCOMBE)'s birthdate, as he had changed his age and run away to sea.  Annoyingly, the date written in the family bible was obscured by a large crack between the spine and the page. 

But I found it! And how did I do it?  Well, the polite way of describing it would be by "thinking laterally", but actually it was just a dogged determination not to be foiled.  In fact, one of the best ways of getting me to do anything is to say "you won't be able to"; I work best when reverse psychology is involved!  And I am sure I was helped by John Samuel, long since beyond the veil.

I felt so infused with success, I could have solved any genealogical brickwalls there on the spot! *embarrassed cough*

From this I learned two things:
a) I can do this (however long it takes to solve a problem)
b) If it looks impossible to find, think laterally and refuse to give up