Hello to everyone from Florida. I’m down here in this hot and humid weather to spend some time with my family. I’m staying at my sister’s house and popping over to visit my parents every day. It is always a treat to have some one-on-one time with my sister. One nephew is here, the other is competing in a national swim meet out in California and will be returning home with his Dad on Saturday. And my favorite nephew-dog, Max, is giving me lots of loving. Max is crazy about me; he goes nuts when he sees me again. Of course I am a dog lover and he knows it, but my theory is that I am of the same gene pool as his mother and that makes me extra-special to him.

I thought I’d share a precious treasure from my sister’s home. I’ve written before of my great-aunt Rhoda, my maternal grandmother’s youngest sister. Rhoda and her sister Margaret died in the flu epidemic of 1918. Imagine: there were 5 children in the family and in about 10 days there were only 3 left. Rhoda was the baby of the family, just a teenager when she died. Grandma never got over her death or Maggie’s. Both Meredith and I have some things of Rhoda’s. I have letters she wrote to my Grandmother when Gram was away from home in nursing school, Rhoda’s copy of Alice in Wonderland, and some locks of her hair. Meredith has her doll, Dinah.

Dinah is lovely and in very good condition. Meredith keeps her in a glass case. Rhoda held her and loved her and every time I see Dinah I am so moved. Her face is beautiful. Like my Tressa doll, she has an issue with her feet: they are reversed. That makes her more precious. My Grandmother made all her clothes.

I’ve read many of Rhoda’s letters to my grandmother and she was sweet, funny and full of life. Grandma went home to nurse the family through the terrible epidemic and she almost lost her own life. I know she mourned Maggie deeply but the loss of her adored younger sister was especially devastating. And she lovingly held on to Rhoda’s treasures for all those years then passed them on to us.

If you’re interested in reading any of my previous posts on Rhoda, just type in “Rhoda” in the search box at the top of the blog.

Today, I plan to spend some time with my Mom when my Dad is at his Doctor’s appointment. I need to know how she is really feeling.

Tonight, Meredith, my nephew Jake, his friend and I are going to watch the Tampa Bay Rays play. I love me some baseball! Let’s not mention that the Rays are doing better in the standings than my beloved Red Sox. I will be happily cheering for the Rays because they must beat the Yankees.

I’m trying to read everyone’s posts in my spare time, but I’m afraid I don’t have time to comment as yet. I’ll do my best during the coming week.