Digging in the neighbor's yard

Hi neighbors. I had a great time Monday. My friend Joanne and I went to Bolivar, Missouri to look for some obits to add to my genealogy database.

Joanne said she had no one to look up in Bolivar, but would go to keep me company and to visit with my aunt who is in the hospital in Bolivar with pneumonia.

They had gone to school together for a few years when my grandparents lived in Nevada and hadn't seen each other for some time.

We both hoped to visit with a mutual relative, Eulala. Unfortunately we didn't get in touch with her.

Although I had never been to the Bolivar Genealogy Library on the square, I had been in e-mail contact with several members of that group. As a matter of fact, I have discovered I'm related to at least four of them! The Genealogy Library is the building that used to house the public library. We didn't have any trouble finding it and luckily found parking in the lot behind the building.

Like Nevada, Bolivar has a two hour parking limit around the square. I knew once I got to chatting, I'd lose track of time and probably get a ticket parked on the street.

My second cousin once removed, Gayla, joined us after her work-out at the YMCA.

Joanne had just found a book with some of her family in it. I had finished running off 21 pages of obituaries from their card file when Gayla showed up.

Of course it was noon by then so we all decided to go eat at a Mexican cuisine cafe just a couple of blocks off of the square.

We didn't want to "undo" Gayla's morning exercise so we walked all the way! As with most family get-togethers, it took longer to decide where and what to eat than it did to actually finish off the food.

Although we represented three generations, (and about 200 years between us) we all three enjoyed admiring the very handsome waiter. Guess some things DO run in families! We had to tease him about putting only two bowls for dipping sauce on the table and three people being there.

He good-naturedly brought us another bowl and even poured the sauce. Guess he thought that ought to keep us quiet and out of his hair for awhile.

The food, the prices and the conversation were great. When we got ready to leave, we realized the way to the cafe had been all downhill. The way back to the library would be all uphill -- with full stomachs! Joanne, who had complained about the distance of the walk on the way to the cafe, quickly outdistanced Gayla and I on the way back. Must have been all that spicy chip sauce that put a lilt in her step I guess. Whatever the reason, she left we younger gals in the dust in nothing flat.

Back at the library, Joanne wanted to start doing some serious research, but couldn't find what she wanted in the book she had been so hopeful about. Unfortunately that's how genealogy research trips turn out more often than not.

Knowing my cousin Gayla was going to be there, I had taken a photo album and some research notes with me.

We started going through them and as we talked, the others in the room who had been holding an informal business meeting, started gathering around.

As it turns out, many of them were related to some of my relatives! "Wow, how did you get all these photos?" Joyce B. said excitedly. "That's my grandmother!" Gayla added, "Yes, she has more photos of my family than I do, but it figures because her ancestors were the women in the family. Mine were the men and they aren't as good about saving photos, at least mine weren't."

Anyway, we had a good visit, and exchanged photos and information. It was an impromptu family reunion as far as I was concerned.

It only got better when we went to the hospital to visit my aunt Juanita. While there, we ran into my other aunt Mary Tom and her son James. Mary Tom and Juanita had both attended school with Joanne so they had a exhilarated chat as well.

The day ended with a safe ride home.

Until the next time friends remember, good times with good friends and relatives are the best way to spend a day off.