Chico's Historic Bidwell Mansion Fire

Dear Sillies,

How are you? 

While I'm grateful to feel well loved and supported, I'm shocked and heart-achy. You might've seen on the news that Chico's Historic Bidwell Mansion went up in flames in the early morning hours of 12/11/24. (Even my friend in Australia, Anthony J. Langford, saw this news.) The Mansion was our city's heart, 150+ years old, visited by folks the world over, and housed mostly authentic artifacts -- nearly all ravaged. 

One of my biggest honors has been portraying Annie Bidwell at community events for the past eight years. Thus, this tragedy punctures my heart as it does for so many. Nobody was hurt, and we'll persevere. What's lost is beyond precious. 

What we retain, though, even more precious, especially now.

me as Annie in the Mansion, 12/2017

one of many 

Xmases 

with 

the 

Bidwells

12/11/24

Please stay safe and be well, my loves.

Acting as Annie Bidwell: Dude Three and How Can I Miss You If You Won't Ever Leave?

Dear Sillies,

  May this find you well and taking good care of yourselves.   

  Through no fault of my own, except that I chose another loser, Dude Three’s presence in my life poses an ongoing challenge. I know, right? I ended that relationship four months ago!

   Please stick with me, as we embark upon a seemingly unrelated, related story about my hometown.

   Chico, CA was founded by heroic trailblazer and statesman John Bidwell. John courted and married Annie Kennedy (not related to the famed Kennedy family) - Civil War era. This remarkable duo graced and saved countless lives –including those of Native Indians, on whose land we reside—brought trees from across the world onto our formerly desolate region, and much more.

     Annie and I were similar in a few ways: We were both the second of four children, both June babies passionate about social justice, and we abstain(ed) from drinking. Most strikingly, Annie was exactly my height – 4’8”. (John was at least 6’ tall. I have yet to meet anyone my exact height.)

     Annie Kennedy Bidwell (6/30/1839-3/9/1918)

  

   Let’s start to connect the dots: Approximately 6 weeks after the breakup, a neighbor, we’ll call her . . . let's see, "Skanky," messaged me. “We need someone short to play Annie Bidwell in the Christmas show. Are you up for it?”

   This involved welcoming guests into Bidwell Mansion (where the couple resided) and performing a skit with Skanky.  Skanky and I were friends, and she'd been in the skit for several years. Their usual Annie was out of the country.

   In short (pun intended), I couldn't turn it down. 

   Here’s me as Annie Bidwell.

ee

It was a big, little honor and loads of fun. 

Little (no pun intended this time) did I know what was going on behind the scenes…to be continued.