A white Christmas has never been a
given in this part of the country, but it’s so much more fun if there’s snow on
the ground, isn’t it? So, let’s give our imaginary family some snow. Of course,
it makes travel more difficult, even treacherous, but this is the imaginary
past, so we don’t need to worry about that.
This morning when Sadie awoke in
Aunt Shirley’s room, she looked out to the south and saw a winter wonderland of
white. “It snowed!” she exclaimed. She would have awakened anyone who was
sleeping, but of course, the adults were already up. And then she remembered – today
she was going with Ernest to meet Aunt Lynn at the train station in Orofino. She scurried
downstairs where Ina and Ethel were busily preparing breakfast and hastily dressed
in the warm kitchen. 
After breakfast, Sadie could hear
her parents talking in hushed tones. “The grade might be slick. Maybe I should
leave Sadie here,” said Ernest. “. . . so looking forward to going,” countered
Ethel. “. . . not so much snow towards town.” And to Sadie’s delight, they
decided to let her go. Ethel helped her into her snowsuit – because kids in
those days had snowsuits (and wore them).
Yes, the grade was slick – snow and
then mud – but Ernest drove slowly and carefully so that they had no problems.
They crossed over the bridge into Orofino, turned left, and headed directly to
the station, arriving just as the train pulled in. The platform was bustling
with lots of happy holiday activity – many people arriving home for the
holidays – and then Ernest spotted Aunt Lynn, who greeted Sadie with a warm hug
and a “my, you’ve grown!” (Adults always say that to children they haven’t seen
in a while.) Ernest found Aunt Lynn’s suitcase and a big box she brought,
undoubtedly Christmas surprises, and loaded these into the car. Sadie now sat
in backseat for the ride up the grade. She wasn’t very interested in what Daddy
and Aunt Lynn were saying.
And then they arrived back at the
farmhouse, where the family warmly accepted Aunt Lynn into the fold. Gram had
prepared a wonderful mid-day meal, knowing that Aunt Lynn would be hungry and
tired after traveling all night from Portland.
Now that Myrtle was home, it really
seemed like Christmas to Ina. KW
3 comments:
I've always wondered why they called Myrtle Lynn?
It doesn't say in these letters, but as I recall, Daddy said that she didn't like Myrtle (and I can understand that) and so she chose "Lynn." I always called her "Aunt Lynn," but in later life she again requested to be called "Myrtle." I said, "Too late. She's Aunt Lynn."
Dan had an Aunt Tom (real name Wilma, but apparently a tom-boy and the name stuck), and an Aunt Jess (real name Jessie, but no one called her that). So, two aunts with boys names.
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