Wednesday, May 25, 2022
Dear Cousins,
I never, ever heard your Mom say a harsh word about anyone. Ever. And I'm not sure who else I can say that about. She was just the most positive person to be around. Any time all of us cousins would go outside and play a game... or go sledding (a favorite for us Florida girls), SHE was the one who was over the moon about how much fun it would be. I thought of her as the quintessential Leave-It-To-Beaver Mom... calling us all in for "pop" when she noticed we were hot and tired, a mounded plate of sandwiches at lunch time. And then, one time, Terry and I overheard her talking with your Dad about his work. There was such mutual respect between them, it was like she was his business consultant; he clearly valued her input and she wore those consultant shoes with comfort and confidence. So we found out that she was not only cheerful, encouraging and enthusiastic. She was smart.
I always thought of Aunt Barbie as having a charmed life, starting with my Mom's story of your Dad, the handsome eligible bachelor, driving into her life in his fancy convertible to sweep her off her feet. But of course... what else? Followed by you guys; the stair-step set of beautiful blonde kids. Tough things did happen, but she always found a way to keep her chin up. And it just seemed to unfold like that; a life as bright and colorful as the lovely flower paintings she produced.
She wouldn't have it any other way.
