Tuesday, November 28, 2006
This is for my mother, Helen Montana Johnson, who is Ruth Montana Polenski's sister, and my first cousins, her children, Louise, Nancy, Paul, Ida Marie, Mary, and Jack. I am here in Bangor, thinking of you all, and so sorry that I can not be there to gather around with you and talk, and remember my Aunt Ruthie. I know my Mom and Dad, and my cousin Louise and my sister Kathie enjoyed a lunch today, and told Montana family stories and looked at Montana family photos. That must have been very comforting, especially since my Mom is such a great cook! Mostly I remember all of us Montana cousins getting into trouble playing in the haymow at our grandparents farm in Oppenheim. My parents, and brothers and sister and I usually made Sunday afternoon visits to the farm, and Aunt Ruth and my cousins were usually there as well. We kids were always slamming the screen door as we ran in and out to play, and my Aunt Ruthie was always easy going and laughing and seemed to enjoy all of the activity. She was an Aquarius, like me, and she had the most beautiful, luminous eyes and lovely smile. And she was very kind. I don't get back to NY as often as I would like, but I think of you all often, and remember those days running through the fields in the warm sun. There was always something interesting going on there. Sometimes the cows busted out of the pasture, or the excitement of annual haying event in which we all took part, or an apple fight in the orchard in which someone got a black eye, or building forts in the haymow and getting chased out by our grandfather, or riding the cows(not me, of course), even the milking. My Aunt Ruth was always an integral part of the farm and life there with my grandparents Newell and Ida. I think often of Ruth, and my Aunt Gladys and Uncle Bucky, my Uncle James and Aunt Toddy and my Uncle Clayton and Aunt Betty and my 21 Montana first cousins. We must have been a handful when we were all together! I will be thinking of you all and my Aunt Ruth with love, especially on Thursday's service and will say my own prayers as you send her spirit off in love and peace to God, and to those that we also remember with love who are waiting for her with open arms. Love always, Deborah
