For the next few weeks I’m
posting letters I wrote to family and friends. About ten years ago a publisher proposed
a series of books. I wrote a dozen or more letters—the project never
materialized. Today I thought, why not share them here. They are sunshine and
smiles. Enjoy the read and share with your friends. Kat, Still Lionhearted
Letter for my Aunt Betty
Viola Leaton Demarest
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| Photo by Kat June 2010 at Mom's birthday party in Elmira OR |
Dear Aunt Betty,
Do
you remember the times in your small car jammed full of giggling girls and groaning
boys? They are some of my ‘funnest’ childhood
memories.
About
two years before those fun rides, you gave me a story book doll that touched my
heart forever. I’m pretty sure you gave all the nieces dolls back then. My doll
came dressed in a hand crocheted yellow dress. I’ll never forget how pretty she
looked with a black bow tied around her waist. That doll is the one prized
possession I remember from my childhood in Goshen, Oregon.
Maybe
you don’t remember the year, but I do. That’s the year our family lived in a
tri-plex that burned. My doll and all
the family possessions went up in smoke.
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| See below for link to the pattern |
When
I started writing this letter, I thought more about how much you gave me
through VBS. Then I remembered how much that doll meant to me.
Two summers
after the fire you asked if Mom and Dad might let my sister, Karen and me attend
Vacation Bible School in North Bend. Mom laughed when I talked about this. She
said, “It didn’t take much for me to say yes.”
How
much do you remember about those VBS weeks each summer? I know the crafts were my favorite part of
each day. The music, drama and stories were great, too. I do remember one year when your daughter, Mary,
and another of your niece’s, my cousin, Gladys, Karen and I composed the story
of the Good Samaritan to the song, “Do Lord.” We giggled our way through the
music and never finished the story.
I
think I might have been eleven that year. (Oh and your friends Margaret and
Violet helped us with that music—they touched my heart for lifes--such fond
memories of them too.)
Of
course, the four of us girls had great times together. We played house, helped can pears, peeled
apples, and snapped green beans. All of
us girls enjoyed reading your Grace Livingston Hill books.
Best
of all, in my memory bank are the trips between home and church jammed three
deep in your little car. Just this week I described that funny foreign car, an Austin Healey to a friend. She had no
idea what an Austin Healey might be.
Do
you remember how all of we laughed when you raised the turn signals? Those
funny flapper thingies that popped out on either side when you wanted to turn
right or left?
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| I remember yours as gray and boxier? |
The
church and the house were not far apart. Maybe eight blocks if we walked down
Marion Street. All I remember is that you crammed Mary, Karen and me in the car
and made a run around the town to pick up other kids. I clearly remember one
day with thirteen kids in that little rig. We were three deep in giggles and groans.
The boys didn’t want to touch the girls and the girls loved having the boys
nearby.
Years
later, I blamed you when I made trips around our neighborhood to pickup kids
for VBS.
With the seat belt laws I couldn’t put thirteen kids in my car. Some
days I made three trips.
| VBS Sign |
You
taught me how to care about all those obnoxious giggling girls and grumbly groaning
boys. They needed Jesus just like me when I was a kid.
You
know, Aunt Betty, my least favorite color is yellow. However, if that doll with
the yellow crocheted dress was still around today it would have a place of
honor, yellow and all—a reminder of your love for me.
Thank
you for teaching me about Jesus and how to care for kids. “Jammed in for Jesus”
is a great motto I’m passing on to others.
Your niece,
Kat, the one you still call
Kathy
the doll photo is from Crocheted doll collection /the dress is close to what Aunt Betty crocheted for me--it doesn't have the black belt, but still beautiful.
The car photo is from somewhere between 19040-1960 from a sales photo--I can't find it again--oops.
