Anonymous
Auntie Helen, that was what I remember her as. Not Aunt Helen which is too formal. I remember Christmas in Tacoma most of all. Getting up early and worrying that it might snow and we’d not be able to drive from N. Seattle to Tacoma. It took hours back then. Going past the Piggley Wiggley meant we were close. The house in lights would greet us. In through the breezeway to the kitchen where Helen would be cooking, with her mother in the early years, or she would be upstairs changing if we came late. Then remembering the food, mashed potatoes and molded mint ice cream. But it was the aprons I mostly associate with Helen. Pretty frilly Christmas aprons. She gave them as gifts and wore them every time I was there. Laughter was a huge part of Christmas. And a second meal for the road before we left late at night. Falling asleep in the car and waking up the next morning in bed at home.
Boating with the Happy Hooligans was my first experience on a boat. Again the food and laughter are the memories. Tim swimming to the boat was a big one too.
One of the last times I saw Helen was when Paul was in the hospital. I took her out to lunch that day. She talked about Jason and I shared that we’d recently adopted a boy from Belarus. She was supportive, loving and accepting for which I’ll always be grateful.##imported-begin##Wendy Perdue Wartes##imported-end##