The Blue Lady

There's a lady who lives in my neighborhood. She walks every day, and she always, always, without fail, wears something blue. I know it must be her favorite color, but just once, I'd love to see her in a different color. I don't know why, I just would. She wears blue of various shades, but it's always blue. Sometimes a shirt has some white or red stripes in it, too, but the basic color is blue. She doesn't seem blue, or depressed. In fact, she seems friendly, and always says hello. But, maybe she is a little depressed, because her husband died about a year ago. She lives alone, but she keeps busy walking the neighborhood. I've lived here about 10 years, and she has walked every day that I know of, and she always wears blue. So, a few years ago, I started to call her The Blue Lady. What kind of a neighbor am I? I don't even know her name.

Aunt Harriet

Here are some thoughts on a wonderful Aunt. Not everyone is close to an aunt. I grew up with Harriet, visiting her on summer vacations at her home in Iowa. Occasionally she and her family would visit us, too. My life has been filled with times with Harriet and her family. My mother would often call me Harriet, and she would call Harriet my name. For some reason, in her mind, we were the same. But, I was really nothing like Harriet. She was easy-going, soft spoken, patient, and I am more difficult, higher maintenance, with a more temperamental disposition.
Anyway, Harriet died a week ago today. I just got home from her funeral. I'll never be inside her house again. I'm very sad, and in future days, I'll write more about her. One thing that stands out in my mind now is her wonderful voice, and musical laugh. I'll miss that alot.