I talked with Ann's mom at some function at Westminster Presbyterian Church, some time after Ann's death. I had not known about her death and learned of it from Mrs. Moody in response to  my asking how she was. I replied with concern and said I had always liked Ann, and she nodded, as her eyes filled. It is always sad, and an affront to the natural order of things, when parents outlive children.

I remember Hensley Dabner well, partly because I also knew his mom and stepfather. His mother did our laundry for a while. My mom had fallen down our basement steps and reinjured an old chest wound from TB, resulting in a hospital stay of 1 1/2 years! When she did get back home, she was too fragile to do the laundry so we outsourced it to Mrs. Dabner.

Hensley had a good sense of humor, but at this late date (he died many years ago) I cannot recall specifics. I can bring him to mind and remember what he looked like, so he's still in the sasha.

Anne and I went out occasionally in HS, including prom, but I did not really know what "out" was, so it was desultory. We then reconnected at the Reagan Library when I had a speaking engagement nearby.. We had fun assessing its accuracy and testing our memories about grades 6 to 12 in Decatur, IL. Anne was thinking of writing about J.A. Sanders, our teacher for 6th grade. I wonder if she did. I regret her passing.

Posted on: Jan 14, 2015 at 4:47 PM