An article I just read said submissions went into high gear a while back (about the time Ancestry did the TV commercial about the lederhosen and the kilt), but have now fallen off a bit. People were mostly interested in their geographical origins, less in full-on genealogy. You probably don't care about this, but it talked about Ancestry being the last one to use a particular testing technology, and they'll be switching to another, soon.

I belong to a site called DNA Detectives, a site for adoptees looking for birth family, and vice versa. For the past months, they've been touting Ancestry because, since the blitz of TV commercials, they've become the company with the largest data base. Each testing company has their own pros and cons, and I enjoy them all. Adoptees are really looking hard, and they often test with several companies, finding family through each. They call it "fishing in every pond."

I would really like to zero in on my brother-in-law's family. He's getting on in years, and his story is amazing, the kind bestsellers are made of: careless love, betrayal, hatred, lies, a story worthy of King Solomon about who should keep the child. Luckily, the best won out.

My girlfriend's story has a little less drama and intrigue, but still has great elements, i.e., a young woman in the British army during World War II who has an affair with an American soldier.

And I'm so glad it all happened as it did! I have a special brother-in-law and a good friend because of it!