June 13: Everybody's Aunt and Uncle

Today's post is a reminder that every leaf on every branch of a family tree is dependent on the others. I am co-authoring today with my cousin, Kurt, whose shared pictures and story are gifts I will always treasure! 

I'll start with my Aunt Anne, fifth born, in my Dad's family who grew up to be my Dad's teacher in the one-room schoolhouse on their farm. At one point my dad and a friend tried to skip school for fishing. Clearly that does not work out when your teacher is at the dinner table asking how you are! Yet, I cannot tell the story of Aunt Anne without Uncle Bill as they were iconic in Montgomery, NY.  In addition to being a teacher in a one room schoolhouse and later in the local public school, she was for many years in between, the Postmaster!  As the only family branch that stayed local, their home, always open to everyone. was the the site of frequent family visitors! 

I cannot talk about Aunt Anne without talking about Uncle Bill, one of a kind. He could fix anything (I mean anything) and knew, was related to, or was owed money by many people in the area and was as honest as they day was long! One time, he showed up at our trailer home with an early television he had repaired. It was about 3'X3' and our living/eating area was 6'X8' but my dad was so excited, our first television stayed with its 8" diameter screen to offer the Yankees and Howdy Doody Time.

Aunt Anne and Uncle Bill were Godparents to a bevy of nieces and nephews (including me) and friends in part because everybody knew they were the kind of people who loved with their whole hearts. They were everybody's generous and kind aunt and uncle. (pictures with cousin Kurt's children)

Kurt shared this wonderful story that really sums up the gregarious and generous people they were. One time, my grandmother came to visit and was up early making coffee when there was a knock on the door. She assumed it was a friend of her grandson, Billy, and asked the stranger if she wanted coffee and then they shared breakfast while everyone else was still upstairs! When Uncle Bill came downstairs, Grandma got him coffee and our Uncle Bill, who could talk to anyone about anything, assumed the girl was the granddaughter of one of Grandma's friends. They, too, had a nice breakfast together before he headed off to the barn while the young girl headed into the kitchen to do dishes. As she was heading downstairs, Aunt Anne heard Uncle Bill say, "Have a nice day," and could smell the fresh pot of coffee available to her! She assumed the you lady was a relative of Uncle Bill and they shared coffee. Billy came down and assumed his mother knew the girl and headed off to basketball practice! Mid-morning, the girl indicated she had things to do and thanked grandma for breakfast.

During dinner, Billy asked about the girl who had made him breakfast and they realized they all treated the perfect stranger as if she were a friend. Friendly, open, gracious pretty much sums up this family which is a reminder, to me, to live and serve with an open heart.

(Aunt Anne and Uncle Bill on the left at my cousin Kurt's wedding)

                                                                                         (With a smoke!)