A Few of Reecie's Memories

I always thought Uncle Wallace was a good looking older man. When I was young, I thought I'd want my husband to look as nice and Uncle Wallace did when he got old. He has always looked exactly the same to me. Very few people can pass twenty some years without changing a bit, but I think Uncle Wallace did. He truly grew old gracefully.

Some of my favorite memories of Uncle Wallace came about because of his granddaughter Kanoe. She and I were the same age and one summer she came to stay with Grandma Mammo. She and I palled around a lot that summer. I stayed many a night in his living room watching old favorites like "My Fair Lady" and admiring his artistic ability. I always wanted to be an artist but was blessed with no talent. When Kanoe's family came, we had big Hawaii style meals and I learned from Mammo that you don't have to grate your cheese before you freeze it, because it crumbles by itself when you defrost it. I'm not sure why this has always stuck out to me, but I use that little morsel of information often.

One of the most fun things we did was go to the Fourth Ward Camping Trip. I remember Kanoe and I riding in Uncle Wallace's big fifth wheel and playing cards on the way up to the old Whiting Homestead. We had walkie talkie's to communicate with him and Mammo. We girls thought we were in heaven having that whole trailer to ourselves while we were driving down the road! That was probably the most fun camping trip I ever spent. Uncle Wallace and Mammo made great substitute grandparents for me that summer while Kanoe stayed with them. I will always remember their kindness to me.

On one of those overnight expeditions with Kanoe, I somehow talked Uncle Wallace into painting a painting for me. I had studied enough art in High School to know that he had a unique impressionistic style and I really liked it. I wanted one of his originals more than I was willing to express. I periodically reminded him of his promise, but he was a busy man. I secretly hoped for high school graduation that I'd get a painting, and I wasn't disappointed. He had painted me a beautiful pastel impressionistic horse. Off I went to college with my original painting from Uncle Wallace. It hung on five college apartment walls before I got married and put it in my nursery. I think that maybe I'll get a girl someday who will get this beautiful original when I die. I am grateful every time I see that painting, that I meant enough to Uncle Wallace that he took time to paint something for me. It is especially sentimental to me now. It stands as a reminder of all the kindness he has shown me in my life.