I had the pleasure this week of hanging out with several of my favorite kind of people–genealogists. If you are reading this you already know they are among the most dedicated people in the world and certainly among the nicest.
First and foremost, I just got off the phone with my dear friend Glenna. She and I have been talking genealogy since the day we met some 43 years ago. You see, my husband, David, and Glenna’s husband, Dick, were childhood friends. Dick met Glenna, David met me, then Glenna and I met each other–and we’ve had one of those perfect friendships ever since. Miles and time mean nothing to us. Distance and decades separated us in our 30’s and 40’s, but we just picked our conversation right back up where we left off when we met again in our 50’s. And we haven’t stopped talking since.
Glenna is one of those persons every genealogist wants to be. She’s worked on her own family history for over 40 years. She’s been Williamstown, NY Town Historian for more than 30 years. She’s researched countless lines for countless people. She, with the assistance of Dick and a merry band of helpers, has written at least 10 local history books. She is every genealogist’s and historian’s hero. And I just talked to her today! I am one lucky gal.
Secondly, yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Millie and Company at the Richland town offices in Pulaski, NY. Here’s the scoop. I was looking for death information on an ancestor who passed away in Pulaski in 1914. I called the clerk’s office to see if the records might be there. Town Clerk Millie checked right away. I could tell by her voice when she came back to the phone that she was just as delighted as I at finding the record. I drove right over and when I got there, Millie had the death record copied and sitting right on her desk for me–and at no charge to boot! Then we talked genealogy–and the thrill of the hunt–for a minute or two. And you know how fun that is.
Thirdly, with the information Millie found for me, I headed next to Sandy Creek, NY where I met Sandy Creek Town Historian Charlene Cole and her helpers. What a great bunch of people! They were warm, welcoming, and happy to pull folders, make copies, and make their patrons feel at home. I can’t think of any nicer historians than those at Sandy Creek. Those ladies (and a gentleman too) are treasures!
Lastly, on Thursday evening I attended a presentation by Jean Wilcox Hibben organized by Jefferson County NY Genealogical Society. Jean showed us how to focus on and follow the clues to an individual family member’s information. Her presentation was informative, lively, humorous, and warm. It couldn’t have been better! Best of all, I attended the presentation with Mary Leta, the original ilovemysissie gal. Truly, I was surrounded by the nicest people in the world.