Greetings from Salem, Mass.

We are on a much needed mini-vacation in Salem, Mass., home of the Salem Witch Trials. I have always wanted to visit here because it's, yes, family history.

Ann Putnam was part of the circle of girls whose accusations of witchcraft sparked the trials and the deaths of 20. She was 12 at the time when she and a group of other girls around her age were diagnosed as victims of witchcraft. They then began pointing fingers at those who they claimed were the witches. Years later, Ann apologized, acknowledging that she was swept up in the hysteria.

Ann was a cousin once removed from Gen. Israel Putnam, a general in the American Revolution who commanded the troops at Bunker Hill. We believe my father is a seventh generation decendant of Israel. (One of the many things on my list of things to do is to prove this with birth and death certificates and try to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.)

On Sunday, we toured the Salem Witch Museum, learning about the trials. We also strolled the pedestrian-friendly downtown and ate fresh seafood at a restaurant along Salem Harbor.

We also watched the Bears defeat the Colts in a surprise upset!!!! GO BEARS!!!!!!!

Today, we are headed to Danvers, formerly part of Salem, to visit the Putnam House, where Israel was born and where twelve generations of Putnams have lived. The house is now owned by the Danvers Historical Society. We also plan to tour Nathaniel Hawthorne's House of the Seven Gables.

We hope to post photos later today.