Culpeper Times | March 14-20 by InsideNoVa

Culpeper Times • March 14-20, 2019

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HISTORY A tribute to lollygagging ZANN’S PLACE Zann Nelson

Note: I posted this story in 2015 and thought it would be fun to remind myself and you of the importance of lollygagging.

Every now and again, it is a boon to my psyche to simply reflect on interesting tidbits of my daily routine rather than contemplating the next great adventure. That is if you can call what I do daily a routine! I am not complaining, by any means, but sometimes it is nice to engage in the folly of lollygagging. Don’t you love that word, despite its more common use as a less than flattering description? If there is time, we can revisit what it is to lollygag. For now, let me tell you about a recent

excursion to New York City (NYC). Choosing the train as my preferred mode of travel, I knew there would lots of time for preparing for the mission in NYC as well as some welcomed lollygagging. I could read, nap, work, and eat; I had at least six hours with no appointments or responsibilities! Desiring a bottle of water to accompany my packed lunch I headed for the snack car. Not wishing to dine in the somewhat cramped quarters of my seat, I asked a nice looking lady if I might share the other side of her table with the promise to not disturb her. She graciously said, “Of course.” Mid way through my PB & J sandwich we began to talk and she informed me that she had been in Charlottesville, “I have been exploring my roots.” Uh, oh!!!! Yes, I know I am incorrigible, but what can I do? I had my laptop handy and

we spent the next several hours looking for her ancestors on the Internet. Just as we were nearing Penn Station in the city we found her grandfather’s death certificate. Certificates of record: death, birth and marriage can supply what is considered to be documentable proof of such important data as birthdate, place of birth, parents names (if a marriage certificate often there are names of both parties’ parents), date, cause and place of death, survivors and place of burial. In addition, there can be other facts that if present can serve as clues such as the names of the doctor, funeral home or undertaker. When the train rolled into the station, I was pretty sure I saw tears in her eyes; it was indeed an extraordinary moment! We traded email addresses and I wondered if our paths would cross again. It did not matter: what a train ride!

After a few days my NYC mission was finished and I hopped the south bound train heading home to Reva. Last week I received this note: “My family is very appreciative for what you did for me on our journey to New York on the Amtrak train. {With that certificate} I searched to 1799 and found the tombstone in Burlington, New Jersey of my great, great, great, grandfather and grandmother.” It just does not get any better than this! Until next week, be well and don’t forget to engage in a little lollygagging! Zann Nelson is a researcher specializing in historical investigations, public speaker and award -winning freelance writer and columnist. She can be reached through the Culpeper Times, at M16439@aol.com or www. facebook.com/ZannsPlace.

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