Who says these are nesting buckets? They are obviously hats!

When we lived in Charlottesville, Va, we cherished holiday visits from Tory and Bill. Even now, Lindsay remembers Bill as being her best childhood storyteller. Bill  read books to her using unique voices for each character making the stories come alive.  

I met Bill in the fall of 1971 at the Residential College (U-M).  He quickly became like a member of my family.  To my Mom, Bill was another son.  He was a frequent guest.

Michigan went to the 1972 Rose Bowl.  His family quickly became hosts to eight college guys: his roommate Stan and three of his friends, and me and friends.  One story that struck Bill's fancy was the day his Mom was baking a ham for all of us.  She was very slowly trying to remove the cloves with tongs.  I 'volunteered' to help and removed them by hand.  If you could have seen his Mother's face!  I told her, "Don't worry, any germs will be baked off."

I was a frequent guest during Bill's early New York years and my Mom would also visit New York once a year to catch up with Bill.  One of those times, when Bill lived on East 91st Street, I remember he requested my Mom make spanish rice.  I don't remember any special reason, but he wanted some of Ma Whittum's cooking.

If I remember correctly, that was the same visit where Bill had an 'appointment.'  It really was a date with Tory, but he wasn't ready to introduce us yet.

When he announced he was getting married, my Mom made a quilt especially from him and Tory.  After all, what better gift than something handmade for one of your sons (and his wife).

We had a lot of good times.