Box 4054
Santa Barbara
CA 93103, USA
Are you familiar with this address?
I've had several pen pals through this program called 'Big Blue Marble'. One special pal was Julie Wigington, originally from Lincoln, Nebraska. We wrote from 1985 up until 1991. We've lost contact after she got married to a military personnel by the name of Lance. I've also lost her full address so I don't really know how else to contact her. I've tried googling her but the results were negative. I didn't know there are so many 'Julie Wigingtons' in the US!
Another pen pal (not via Blue Marble) was a Canadian guy by the name of Stephane Paquin. If only I knew the proper channel, I know I'd be able to find Ms Wigington. I remember those days it took weeks for a letter to reach you, the wait was unbearable at times. And I would read and savor each word written in the letters... not to mention reading it over and over :D Nothing really compares to a handwritten letter... of course with the internet, you'll get instant replies.
If anyone of you happens to know Julie Wigington, please let me know ya.
Julie Wigington (1986). Where art thou Julie?Update
Since I received quite a number of response to this topic (Big Blue Marble), I decided to add the video of the TV show. It sure brings back memories... oh, to feel young and carefree again....
The Earth's a Big Blue Marble when you see it from out there...
- Closer, getting closer
- perspectives start to change
- things look a little strange
- as we get closer
- Closer, growing closer
- no need to be afraid
- our troubles start to fade
- as we get closer
- Together is a word we must learn to understand
- if we ever want to get to know each other better
- Together is a word that holds tomorrow in its hand
- tomorrow's just another day to get together
- and...
- Get closer, closer, closer, closer...
Big Blue Marble was a half-hour children's television series that ran from 1974-1983 in syndication. Distinctive content included stories about children around the world and a pen-pal club that encouraged inter-cultural communication. The show was a very early example of gentle multiculturalism.
There was a weekly segment in which a singing globe invited viewers to write letters to the show, often requests for pen pals (the predecessor of the modern-day e-mail). The address to send the letters was in Santa Barbara, California.
Production personnel included creator Harry Fownes, producer Rick Berman (later of Star Trek fame), writers Lynn Rogoff and Robert Wiemer, and directors Joseph Consentino and Peter Hammer.
Source ~ Reference.com
Don't know if this is the same person, but I knew a Julie Wigington back in Nebraska in the mid/late 1980s. She was originally from Schuler, Neb., and had lived in Fremont, before moving to Lincoln. She was a tall, beautiful blonde. I haven't heard from her in years, but it's nice to know that she's happily (?) married...
ReplyDeleteHi there! Sori it took a long time to reply cos I only checked my older posts today. I don't know her height but I know she's a blonde & very bright in school, she was a valedictorian or something. Maybe I should try and find her old photos and post it here... hope she doesn't mind if I do that. Thanks anonymous, whoever you are:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reply. The Julie I recall had long hair and was very smart and pretty athletic. I met her when she was a teller at a bank. We dated off and on for several months, until she moved to Lincoln. I think she was divorced at the time we dated. She was a great gal. Nobody ever disappears with Google...
ReplyDeleteHi again Anonymous:) Thanks for dropping by. You said she was divorced? May I know what year was that? If I'm not mistaken she married sometime in 1989. I've tried 'googling' her but the results were negative:( But I'll try again anyway.
ReplyDeleteWe must have started dating in summer of 1984 and dated through the spring of '85. (I remember taking her to her bank Christmas party. I think she moved to Lincoln sometime in 1985, because I visited her there once.
ReplyDeleteI recall her telling me at the time that she was divorced and had been for a year or two. If so, she must have gotten married fairly young. I never met an ex though, so maybe she was spinning a tale.
Maybe you should just Google "Julie" and start wading through the hits :-)
Hmmm... you might be talking about a different Julie, I'm not too sure though. She told me in one of her letters that she was marrying her childhood sweetheart. I don't recall she ever worked for a bank but I could be wrong. Yeah, I'll do that, hopefully I'd get relevant hits:) BTW, do you have a picture of her?
ReplyDeleteThat would be amazing if your pen pal had dated this Anonymous! I have seen blogs where people ask if anyone knows or seen a long lost friend! I never knew if any actually tracked down their old buddies? Whatever happened? Have you found her?
ReplyDeleteYeah, amazing indeed if they did! I haven't found her yet. But I'm determined to. I have her photos back home, so I'll post them once I have those photos. I should be able to get more response then:) Keeping my fingers' crossed.
ReplyDeleteThe earth's a big blue marble..when you see it from out there....
ReplyDeleteI had several penpals from "Dear PenPal". I watched Big Blue Marble in the mid 70's...I didn't realized t was on TV into the 80's. I had many foreign penpals and unfortunately I lost contact with all of them...which is sad as I kept up a voluminous reply with several of them. Thanks for the memories.
Hi Tony! Thanks for dropping by:) I've lost contact with my pen-pals too...I've even lost all their letters:(
ReplyDeleteSorry it's taken me so long to reply -- work seems to get in the way of life. I'm guessing you haven't found her? (I'd be surprised if you did, as the world is still a pretty big place.)I'm sorry to say that I don't have a picture.
ReplyDeleteI don't really have much else to say on this thread. I was just sitting here one weekend thinking of 'days gone by' and her name popped into my head. Just wondering if she was out there in cyberspace....
BTW, you have a nice web site. I've been invited by several people to start a blog, but seem to lack the typically American "look at me" gene. I enjoy occasionally snooping in on people who have that gene though...
Hello again Mr Anonymous! Why don't you use your name or maybe an alias?
ReplyDeleteYou're right, not much luck finding her:( Soon as I get her pic, hope I'll get some response.
I started blogging out of curiosity. I didn't know I would even blog... look at me now! It's fun. You could even earn $ out of it:)
Even if no one reads, it's OK by me:) Perhaps you should give it a try... Thanks for taking the time to drop by, have a great week:)
I had just Googled Big Blue Marble and came across your blog. My parents just found my original postcard from when I got my pen pal in July 1979 and believe it or not we're still writing to each other. She lives in Nevada and I'm in Massachusetts. She was 10 and I was 9 when we started writing. And we are pathetic because we have still not met in person. We've talked numerous times about visiting each other but it just hasn't happened. We're both married with kids and life has just kept us busy. Our letters are now mostly done via email which is great and so immediate. Thanks for the trip down memory lane. It was great to read about others who had pen pals from the Big Blue Marble too.
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous!
ReplyDeleteAww... that's so sweet. You guys are pen pals for almost 30 years, wow! I envy you.
I still haven't got any lead in finding my long lost pen pal. I really should get her photo soon. Hopefully I'll get more response from people who knows her.
Thanks for dropping by :)
Hi all, I married my penpal from Dear PenPal back in 1984, and we lasted a whopping 13 years...she was from Trinidad/Tobago. We wrote to each other for 7 years and then I decided to board an American Aielines flight and see who she really was...ya see me man, me aint able....she waas a good person, like the show says get closer...closer...closer
ReplyDeleteHi Randy! Welcome to Mumblings :)
ReplyDelete13 years is a long time, some people can't even last a year :) With the internet, I guess it's much easier ya, no need to board a plane to 'see' the person... provided they gave you their real picture.
Thanks for dropping by!
Hi everyone, I had a pen pal named Susan McCaw, must be from New York. Im Sam Vakeesan from Sri Lanka. If any one happen to know her, please mail me. Thank You. samvakeesan@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteSamvakeesan ~ Hi! Sorry I didn't notice your comment earlier.
ReplyDeleteI hope you'll find your pen pal. Good luck to you :)
hello everyone
ReplyDeleteI am wafa age 46
when I was 16 I was watching TV and an ad for Dear Pen Pal came on.
I wrote a letter and got a pen pal.
this song almost makes me want to cry...
Wafa ~ Hi there! Thanks for sharing your memories with us :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, I get goosebumps and always get teary eyed whenever I hear this song... I instantly see myself being 12 again, which was a mighty long time ago.
I got a penpal address from Dear Pen Pal in 1976 and we're still in contact. Does anybody know if D.P.P. still exists?
ReplyDeleteElisabetta
ankh@email.it
Elisabetta ~ Hi! :) Wow, that's awesome. I've lost contact with all my DPP pals... unfortunately. I have no idea, tried to Google it but none came out positive.
ReplyDeleteHey Nessa,
ReplyDeleteWell, you found me. Can't believe you still have that picture! I know I have your letters stored somewhere. My cousin found your Blog and let me know about it. It would be great to get in touch with you again. How do I email you? Hope to hear from you soon.
Julie (Wigington) Kreifels
Julie ~ OMG! OMG! Is this really you Julie?? *faints* LOL!
ReplyDeleteThis is so freaking awesome! Excuse me cos I just can't contain my excitement. Thanks to your cousin for finding my blog and informing you of my search. This is totally unexpected... I wrote this post 2 years ago and I never expected anything fruitful but I was hopeful.
Do email me at ajinumis@yahoo.com. We've so much to catch up on :D (((Hugs)))
Hallo Dear Pen Pal, I'm Vivian from Greece and many... many (almost 30) years a go, I find my pen friend (greatings to Jill Ling from Malaysia) from you. I'm realy happy to see that you allways have the same address. Je retrouve mon enfance! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Vivian! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to know everyone shares the same happy memories with Dear Pen Pal.
Thanks for dropping by.
im loooking for myy pen pal i use to write to for years she was from grecce athens her name was fontain alexdrea i would love to find her agian we wrote for years and spoke for long time but i lost her addy many years ago please help me find her i got her as pen pal off the tv show big marble she can reaach me at littlrunningfawn@yahoo.com (tonyia Ramirez)
ReplyDeleteHi Tonyia!
ReplyDeleteThanks for writing. I hope you'll be able to find her. Try Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.
If you have a blog, write about her and include her photos, if you have. Chances are her family and relatives might read about it and let her know, as in my case. Good luck to you :)
I read the comments and HOW FREAKING COOL to see Julie write you here! YAY! Ihad a pen pal on Big Blue Marle. Her name was Anie (Kiel, or Keil) I just recall she lived on Water Ave or Street. I think.. Anyways, lost contact with her years ago. I wonder from time to time how her life turned out :) Cheers! -- Liana
ReplyDeleteHope this blog is still live.. I imagine all of us who got penpals through Dear Pen Pal are like me, in our 40's.. anyway, I'm in Canada, I got 5 through the address, 4 from the US and one from Jamaica. I've been lucky to have met two - the first one (we lost touch for a bit but I tracked her down, and we've never lost it since - 30 years and counting thanks to Facebook :) ), and I met the Jamaican girl once, strangely when we were both working in New York City 12 years ago (lost touch now..). I found one more, he owns a winery so it was easy. But as for the other two, sigh. Let's hope everyone reconnects with their lost ones through this blog! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Liana Banana!
ReplyDeleteIt was like a dream come true when Julie left me a comment. You should've seen my face... I think my face lit up like a Christmas tree that day! LOL!
I wonder why a wonderful program like Big Blue Marble stopped. There's something different & special about getting real letters, being able to touch and smell and read the other person's handwriting. And you'd get beautiful stamps too :)
I'm sure your friend Anie is somewhere out there :) Hope you'll find her one day.
Hi Darcy! Yes, this blog is still up and running :)
ReplyDeleteI think FaceBook is a better place to look for long lost friends... everyone I know is on it, well, almost everyone :) You're so fortunate to have met some of your pen-pals from BBM.
I'm actually amazed a lot of people stumble on this post re. Dear Pen Pal. But I'm happy if I can help others find their long lost DPP friends.
Thanks for your comment. Have a great day, Darcy :)
Are you familiar with this name and address?
ReplyDeleteMAy name is Massoud, I've had pen pals through 'Big Blue Marble'. One special pal was Janet Mary DOLVA, originally from HAWLEY, MN, USA. I wrote my first mail to her in Feb/1984, when she was 15 and I was 17! :) any way she was so lovely and I lost her becouse of my friend mistake and so mine!!!But I never forgot her. Any way after internet start programing in all arround the world, I tried to find here but I couldn't. Now I wish you and all people see this weblog help me to find here, my email : saeedim@yahoo.com, Thank you.
Hi Massoud :)
ReplyDeleteSorry, I haven't heard of Janet Mary Dolva of Hawley before. Try social networking sites. Chances are she might be registered with Facebook or MySpace. Don't give up. If you have a picture of her, that will help a lot. Thanks for sharing your 'Dear Pen Pal' story with us. Good luck!
Nessa: Nice to see that Julie touched base with you. I'm not sure she's the same Julie Wigington that I knew back in Nebraska. She looks familiar in the picture, but that image was taken more than a few years before I knew her in Fremont.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous ~ Yes, I still can't believe we managed to get in touch :) Thanks to her relative who stumbled upon my blog and told her!
ReplyDeleteWe have exchanged a few emails. We are busy but I know we still think of each other... I pray for her and her family and hope to meet with her one day. *fingers' crossed*
Fremont, is it in Nebraska?
Thanks for dropping by and leaving your comment :)
Yes, Fremont is in Nebraska -- It's about 40 minutes northwest of Omaha and an hour (or so) north of Lincoln. When you chat with Julie, ask if she ever lived there. That'll confirm whether your Julie and the girl I knew are one in the same. Nice blog, BTW.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep that in mind :) Thank you. Do you blog?
ReplyDeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI have been looking for my lost Dear Pen Pal friend Elisabeth (Alexis) Been for so many years now. We used to write way way back in the late seventies and early eighties. Lisa then went to Cornell, Ithaca and we lost touch just after that. What I do know is she went to Glen Ridge high school and used to play the oboe and her father was in the leather business. Have tried facebook and unsuccessful so far as she changed her name to Alexis and may be married now so, I really don't know how to find her! I even wrote to her old address asking if anyone knew her wereabouts but no response, also tried her alumni, also no go........... Anyway, Lisa, if you are out there somewhere,i miss you and please email me at dsaras555@yahoo.com....Thanks everyone...........:))
Hi Saras,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story. I hope your friend Elisabeth/Alexis or perhaps her friends/relatives read this and eventually get in touch with you. Don't give up your search. She is out there! :D
I also was a Big Blue Marble pen pal. I have only kept in contact with one, Susan. Over 30 years now. We wrote with breaks but thanks to the internet and Facebook she is my oldest and dearest friend. :) Hope you find yours :0)
ReplyDeleteHi Diana :)
ReplyDeleteJust read your comment today hence the late reply. With Social Media anything is possible nowadays. I'm happy to announce that I have found my pen pal (Julie). I had another entry about her but forgot to put the link in this post.
I was truly ecstatic to be 'reunited' with her. She has beautiful kids. It was truly surreal to finally be able to exchange emails with her compared to the snail mails of yester years :)
I met Winnifred Teo through "Big Blue Marble" TV show "Dear Pen Pal" segment. We were both teens when we began corresponding. She lived in Singapore and I in the U.S. Tragically, Winnifred died May 22, 1985. She had been raped and stabbed to death. She was only 18 a year older than me. Her assailant(s) have not been found but I pray that the long arm of the law catches up with them. I created a memorial to her on www.findagrave.com. Winnifred "Winnie" Teo. Thank you for your friendship Winnifred. I miss you and have never forgot you. Rest in peace my friend. Janet Dolva.
ReplyDeleteHi Janet! I'm so sorry to hear about your pen-pal, such a tragic story :'(
ReplyDeleteThe murderer/s will never, ever live in peace for such a heinous crime!
I tried to find her memorial on the site you gave but I couldn't find it. Anyway, it is a wonderful tribute to Winnifred, she may be gone but will never be forgotten. May she rest in peace. Thank you for sharing your DPP story with us.
Hi Nessa, Thank you for your condolences in the passing of my late pen pal Winnifred "Winnie" Teo of Singapore. The memorial I created for her at www.findagrave.com is found by typing in her first and last name Winnifred Teo. Leave the middle name part of the search blank. "Winnie" was a nickname. I should have been more clear. Sorry about that. :) Take care. Janet Dolva.
ReplyDeleteI have reconnected with an old pen pal of "Big Blue Marble" named Massoud who posted on this site earlier looking for my whereabouts. We've picked up our correspondence as of yesterday 11/6/12 some twenty-five years later after losing contact. Janet Dolva
ReplyDeleteHi Janet:) Yes, I managed to find Winnie's memorial , thanks for writing back to explain. That was beautifully written.
ReplyDeleteWow! I'm amazed that you guys reconnected... of all places, on this site?? I'm thrilled, super duper happy for both you and Massoud. ((Hugs)) Searching for a long, lost pen pal is like looking for a needle in a haystack, ... it's not impossible but you need patience, with a bit of luck too.
Thanks for letting me know. This is great news. Really made my day. Truly happy for you both! :)
Thank you Nessa. Yes, searching for a long lost pen pal is like looking for a needle in a haystack true. I've also reconnected with a pen pal I knew who is from Trinidad. Janet Dolva.
ReplyDeleteYou're most welcome, Janet. Glad that you also have reconnected with your other pen pal from Trinidad :)
ReplyDeleteHi all
ReplyDeleteI am about to move and was going through my old letters and cards and found cards and letters from my pen pals from DPP. I am looking for Daniela Acquati, form Florence, Ole Josten Lefstad from Norway, Ramesh Day from Bombay (now Mumbai). I have a few others I used to write to but I am still going through my old stuff. I started writing to them when I was less than 10 years old and living in Trinidad. I would so love to reconnect with them. Finding this blog is so special to me right now. Thank you, Johanne
Sorry, that's Ramesh Baid, not Ramesh Day
ReplyDeleteHi Johanne!
ReplyDeleteI hope I still have readers for this particular post to help you find your long, lost pen pals from DPP.
But you never know, right. I found my pen pal after looking for her for years and a reader miraculously found her pen pal from a poster in this thread. Amazing... sometimes miracles happen when we least expect it so keep your hopes high and don't give up.
So, if anyone of you happens to know Daniela Acquati, Ole Josten Lefstad and Ramesh Baid please get back to us and help Ms. Johanne reconnect with her pen pals. Thanking everyone in advance :)
Hi everyone, I had a pen pal named Susan McCaw, must be from New York. Im Sam Vakeesan from Sri Lanka. If any one happen to know her, please mail me. Thank You. samvakeesan@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi everyone, I had a pen pal named Susan McCaw, must be from New York. Im Sam Vakeesan from Sri Lanka. If any one happen to know her, please mail me. Thank You. samvakeesan@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteHi Sam! Sorry for the late reply. I haven't been actively blogging this year but I do try to reply to all comments received for this post. I noticed that you have left an earlier comment regarding Ms. Susan McCaw. I'm glad that you are still looking out for her. Don't give up. It would help tremendously if you have a photo of her.
ReplyDeleteTo anyone who reads this post and knows Ms. Susan McCaw from New York, please email Sam Vakeesan (samvakeesan@gmail.com)from Sri Lanka. Thank you!
Hi Everyone, I had a pen pal named Heidi and I can't remember what state she was, but we were pen pals from the TV show. My name is Suzanne from Miramar FL. : )
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne! I hope Heidi or any of her friends and families sees this (fingers' crossed) and contacts you :) How long ago was that, if you don't mind me asking? Perhaps you could share with us some bits of your friendship since we don't have her surname/state. Thanks for commenting.
Delete