I recently received from a cousin the census and baptismal records of our grandfather who was born in Ireland. I learned that that our grandfather lived in the same house with his father, our great grandfather, and that our great-great grandfather, too, lived with them and was listed as the head of that household at the age of 78! As I reviewed these records, I got to thinking that we inherit from our ancestors gifts so often taken for granted. Each of us contains this inheritance of soul. We are links between the ages, containing past and present expectations, sacred memories and future promise. I also thought about the richness of our family’s ancestry and the fact that I don’t spend enough time being thankful for the family that I have. How many calls have I not made, how many emails have I not sent? I guess we are all guilty of not paying attention to those of us who are still here, yet, it’s ironic,we look back and share records of our common ancestry almost wistfully. I wonder how those folks who lived so long ago would feel about their descendents not keeping in touch with each other? I have some emails and phone calls to make………….
The Ties That Bind
Published by Ed Kowalski
Ed Kowalski is a Pleasant Valley resident, media voice, and policy-focused professional whose work sits at the intersection of law, public policy, and community life. Ed has spent his career working in senior leadership roles across human resources, compliance, and operations, helping organizations navigate complex legal and regulatory environments. His work has focused on accountability, risk management, workforce issues, and translating policy and law into practical outcomes that affect people’s jobs, livelihoods, and communities. Ed is also a familiar voice in the Hudson Valley media landscape. He most recently served as the morning host of Hudson Valley This Morning on WKIP and is currently a frequent contributor to Hudson Valley Focus with Tom Sipos on Pamal Broadcasting. In addition, Ed is the creator of The Valley Viewpoint, a commentary and narrative platform focused on law, justice, government accountability, and the real-world impact of public policy. Across broadcast and written media, Ed’s work emphasizes transparency, access to justice, institutional integrity, and public trust. Ed is a graduate of Xavier High School, Fordham University, and Georgetown University, holding a Certificate in Business Leadership from Georgetown. His Jesuit education shaped his belief that ideas carry obligations—and that leadership requires both discipline and moral clarity. He lives in Pleasant Valley. View more posts
The Valley Viewpoint 
This is so true…I think of this quite often. There’s such a romanticism connected to what is old and yet to be discovered, makes it difficult coming back to reality and the idea of dealing with real live people and the expectation attached can be overwhelming.
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