Grace, Genes, and a Glass or Two of Wine 🍷👑

By Cecelia “Cece” Redmond

It started with a little Facebook mischief — you know the kind. “What Did You Look Like 100 Years Ago?” it asked, promising a vintage version of me paired with a dramatic life summary. Naturally, I clicked. Naturally, I laughed.

Facebook’s prediction: I lived to 99, loved wine, and looked like Grace Kelly. Sounds about right! 🍷✨

According to the app, 100 years ago I was:

Born in Paris 🥐
Lived to a grand old 99
Died of — wait for it — a wine overdose 🍷
And apparently… my identical twin was none other than Grace Kelly.

Yes. That Grace Kelly. Princess of Monaco. Hollywood royalty. Timeless icon of class and cheekbones. At first, I took it as harmless fun. Just digital confetti from the algorithm gods. But then I remembered something: A while back, AncestryDNA had flagged Grace Patricia Kelly as possibly my 8th cousin 2x removed.

Grace Kelly — possibly my 8th cousin 2x removed 👑

I had saved the match, squinted at the screen, and thought, Huh… wouldn’t that be something? Turns out, maybe it is something. I’ve traced lines that wind through Irish stone cottages, French nobility, and Alabama porches. I’ve danced with the shadows of pirates, preachers, healers, and exiles. My ancestors have crossed oceans, spun stories, and stirred the pot (both literally and genealogically). So really… is it that far-fetched that one of those bloodlines would spill into the same stream as Grace Kelly’s? Probably not. In fact, I think she’d get a kick out of it.

🧬 What I’ve Learned (Besides That Wine May Be My Downfall)

Genealogy isn’t just dusty records and stuffy trees. It’s story magic. It’s about how a Parisian princess and a Gulf Coast storyteller might share more than just a fondness for pearls and dramatic exits. It’s about laughing at Facebook filters while quietly honoring the pulse of those who came before. And it’s about embracing every outrageous, glamorous, messy, mystical part of who we are — because it’s all in the blood.

So here’s to Grace,

To genes, To a good glass of wine, And to living long enough that our descendants get to laugh at apps that say we were the icons all along. 🍷👑✨

🖋️ Written by Cece Redmond, lover of legacy, laughter, and a perfectly poured glass of wine. Descendant of pirates, cousins to princesses, and fearless seeker of stories.