The 5th Annual Cotillion - "A Victorian Valentine"

On the evening of February 14, 2009, I was at the Smyrna Opera House in a black evening gown. The particular event was the Annual Cotillion fundraiser. I've always wanted to go to the formal event, but the ticket price of $90 was a bit steep for me. Instead, I was asked to volunteer on the committee where I could help and still be part of the evening.

I've performed in and attended many different types of shows at the opera house. It is part of our town's history and was built in the 1880s. It has become part of me, Jim and Matthew. I've made good friends, met acquaintances, connected with lots of folks from town, and first time visitors from the surrounding area. However, this opportunity gave me a chance to spend hours with board members and trustees that I see or greet in only in passing.

The evening started at 6pm and ended at 12 am with cocktails and beautiful tasty gourmet hors d' oeuvres. There was a silent auction of tabled items, along with a live auction. The live auction was fun, and fast-paced. Items included: lunch for 4 with Delaware's Governor, Dover Downs Monster Mile (a chance to drive in a race car a few times round the track), Flyers, Eagles, and Ravens tickets, a sailboat trip for 6 including lunch on the Chesapeake. We also had a drawings for an assortment of wine or chocolate baskets, and an Irish porcelain tea set and coffee assortment on a tea table, and a week for 6 in Nags Head, NC.

After the live auction, the music began. Before the event, I created a pamphlet of the bands musical selections for each attendee where for $10 a song, the band would announce their song dedication to "the one they love". During the last half hour, I was able to join a few couples and dance to music from the Funsters music. Everyone was impressed with their showmanship. The 10 piece band are great musicians who share a pride in each other's musical abilities, and they are also friends. This spirit and camaraderie on stage is what sets The Funsters apart from other bands offering the same type of musical entertainment.

At the end of the evening, we cleared the tables and cleaned up. While I had the opportunity to lockup the building, it was fun getting to know more about the band members. I enjoyed spending time chatting with them and watching them wrap up their equipment and instruments. I'm officially a band groupie! Can't wait to see them perform again.

Next year, I'm buying a ticket and attending! What a blast! We're having a "wrap-up" meeting and dinner this Monday to discuss next years plans (Marti Gras) and review comments from attendees! Will keep you posted!

Finding the Bigelow-Lynds Family Line

Most of my friends and family know that have been working on the Bigelow Geneology. I was lucky to find that my grandfather was already posted on the Bigelow Society Webpage . My grandmother, Muriel Elizabeth Ashley had already traced her family and documented it back to the Mayflower. My Bigelow Line goes back to King Edward II, who had a daughter (not from the queen). He had her married to Baguley who was promptly knighted. Many years later, an ancestor, Elizabeth Bigelow, second wife of Deacon Richard Butler came over on boat from the Winthrop Fleet (ships after the Mayflower. A young cousin traveling with her was not recorded on the ships log. However, this young man, recorded later as John Biglo (b. 1616) was the 2nd on record to marry in Watertown, Mass. and had 13 children. He lived from 1617 to 1703...and so I'm am the 11th generation.

This past two years, I've been impressed or I like to believe that I've been spiritually guided to follow-up on the Lynds family branch. I found a family photo of both Mary Ann, a group photo of her father (Peter), brother (Joseph E.), nephew (Edward S.) taken in Cloquet, Minnesota, marked as August 1894. I have a leather wallet belonging to her father Peter Lynds. I have her (or a young female relative companion) round the world travel journal. Two weeks ago, I again was prompted to just check on the Lynds name. I would take the pictures out from time to time and study them for clues. I learned more about her family.

Peter (1854) and Mary Ann were born in Sterling, Mass. Both Peter and Joseph E (son) were in the lumber business and moved from Massachusetts to Cloquet, MN. In late 1880s JE was married to Cordelia Shaw. They had a son born in 1888 named Edward Shaw Lynds (picture). The town was incorporated as a village in 1884 and became a city, with a mayor and city council, in 1904. The area was the site of the 1918 Cloquet Fire, which destroyed much of the town and killed approximately 500 people. Luckily, they lived and then relocated to Los Angeles, California by 1920. JE was 65 in 1920. I found a Wikipedia article about J.E. Lynds and the Cloquet, Minn library. Could it be the same Lynds family? Yes. Ancestry.com confirmed through several historical records (census, NY passenger departures, birth, passports) that I found the family line.

On the left, a 1933 (45 years old) passport picture of Edward Shaw Lynds. In 1918, Edward registered for World War I and worked for the Rust Parker Co. lumber outfit and had a wife and child with one on the way. In 1919 they had their last child, a daughter just before the fire. At 45, he sailed on the "Baltic" to Liverpool, England with his mother, father, and wife Rose S. She was born in Two Harbors, MN. They had three children, Edward (1916) Elizabeth (1919) and Robert (1920). He died on in 1962. His son Edward died in May May 25, 2004 in Los Angeles, CA.

Barbara Jane Bigelow (That's me)
Robert Ashley Bigelow m. Susan Addicott 1964
Robert Sickman Bigelow m. Muriel Ashley 1933
James Herbert Bigelow m. Bertha Sickman 1906
James M. Bigelow m. Mary Ann LYNDS 1880.

James Herbert BIGELOW, son of James M. 7 ( James 6, Ephraim 5 , Joseph 4,Ephraim 3, Daniel 2, John1) and Mary Ann (LYNDS) BIGELOW, was born 25 January 1881 Holliston, Middlesex, MA. We do not have his death date, but he married on 06 June 1906 Bertha May Sickman. She was born 06 May 1881.

Memories of Winter in Maine

This year Delaware has received its share of cold weather, but I miss the snow. We had a inch or two in January, and I was wondering why I get so excited. I get really get butterflies in my stomach as soon as I step outside. When the flakes are falling, I still stick out my tongue. I think to myself....oh, I better get up extra early before work, even with the two hour delay to school or whatever calls for it....to scrape the car, and the neighbors too just to make sure I got all the snow off. Next the sidewalks until my gloves and hair are wet! Gotta go inside to put the gloves on the heating vents to dry before going back outside. I'm looking for a playmate, but nobody wants to go outside .......and then I immediately think of my sister and how much fun we had in the snow!

New Year After In-Debt Party

I haven't been to a grown-up party "Party" in a long-long time! One of my in house customers and Environmental Protection Officer gives a New Year After In-Debt Party and invites friends, family, coworkers, you name it to his home. I only knew a handful of people that were going, but last year I didn't attend. Why not, I thought. What is it like to "hang out" outside of work, not involved with music, cubscouts, theatre, church, etc....besides he insisted I come. He lives in Lower Slower Delaware and is about an hour and 15 minutes away from my house. I had a fun time seeing the other officers, and coworkers there. I stayed until midnight. I almost thought I'd turn into a pumpkin. I was probably one of five people in the house that didn't drink. Boy, has my life changed! 10 years ago, I would have felt left out if not invited, and if I attended would have probably been embarrassed by my behavior. I found myself surprised that I don't miss my partying days. I feel so blessed that my life is filled with everything that I love: music, family, music, church, music, scouts, and good friends that also happen to love music. Did I mention that I like music, too?

Winter Snow!

It's February and I missed posting a blog for January. I blinked and now am involved in many new projects; a valentines day fundraising event at the Smyrna Opera House, high school spring musical rehearsals, a new night for choir practice, and of course cub scouts!

Matt and I were invited to join a group of my coworkers to go snow skiing two weeks ago! We got a free lesson and ski equipment rental along with the cost of only a lift ticket. It was Matt's first time, and I hadn't been skiing since I was 17 years old.

The ski resort is called Blue Mountain and located in the mountains of PA. I'm glad we took a lesson. I'd almost forgot how to safely ski! Luckily, I only fell two times (once forward using the tow lift, and secondly off the lift. The chairs sit low and my skis slide out from under me.

Matt was happy and having lots of fun on the lesson hill, until I thought we were ready to give the bunny slope a try. (Pause) I don't remember the bunny slope being so long and steep? He started off with arms and legs and a big fall. I was so intent on not falling and keeping my eyes forward, I got to the bottom because I couldn't stop! I look back and Matt managed to somehow find his skis and poles. I couldn't get to him and he was mad and frustrated. I was so out of control and feeling foolishly old - - the fresh air hit me and I couldn't stop laughing. I was happy to be alive and in the snow. We finally made it to the ski lift, promptly fell off and landed face first in the snow. We agreed we needed to review and get back to the lesson hill. I started down first hoping to help him down. He got stuck in a bank of snow.

Frustrated, tired, hungry and cold, the ski patrol put him on the back of their snow mobile. I met him at the lodge. We turned in our equipment for the day. He voiced "NEVER AGAIN" and I put my arm around him. I was so proud that he faced his fears and tried his best! It was 1:30pm and got lunch. We ate lunch and watched the snowboards and skiers as they wiped out one by one. Suddenly Matt wanted to try again. However, our group were just coming in for the day. Next year!

At 43, I was really sore for almost 3 days. I didn't know I had muscles inside my elbows. My legs are fine, except for my shins from the tight boots. After I fell the second time, I almost couldn't get my knee working after it was frozen from the fall. Matt has no bumps, bruises or discomfort. He is excited to try again next year! I didn't realize how much I miss skiing - the air, the smell of the snow, the exhilaration of the sport, but mostly the beauty of the mountains! All of my young childhood winter memories of Maine: skiing with Grammy Bigelow, in the ski mobile with Grampy Bigelow, and sledding with my sister came flooding back in one run down the bunny slope!.......and now Matt's first time on skis. I will always treasure the memories!