I have many dear memories of Aunt Gene, and since Linda’s phone call on January 5, I’ve been bringing back as many of those pictures in my mind as I can. For three or four golden summers starting when I was about nine years old, Mimi and I would board a train in Tulsa and, some hours later, would arrive in Amarillo where we were welcomed by our amazing Aunt Gene. By dinnertime when Uncle John joined us, the picture was complete, and for the next couple of weeks Mimi and I were not only in Borger, we were in heaven! The kindness, generosity, fun and adventure we experienced in our time there made a very positive impact on me… and later on for my expectations for my life. Of course, I didn’t realize it at the time, but I’m quite sure that is true.
Mimi and I first visited Gene and John before you were born, Linda. We were given full attention…the royal treatment. Coming from our modest (to say the least) circumstances in Tulsa, to us those treats were the equivalent of children in today’s society being taken to Europe! Aunt Gene made us feel right at home in that first little home of theirs. She toured us around town. She played the piano for us. She introduced us to a neighbor girl we could play with. We enjoyed the two Yows dogs, Stinky and his friend, whose name escapes me. We visited the Borger country club often where we swam and could order snacks or lunch. Uncle John drove us out to feed his horses where we could always expect to see rattlesnakes in the barn, or at the least be cautioned to watch for them. Such adventure! As an aspiring cowgirl, getting to take hay to three horses thrilled me to my boots. The horses were not gentle enough for a beginner to ride, but I could pet their noses and take in that great smell of horsehair and sweat.
I remember the everyday events, too. Quite rightly, we were expected to set the dinner table and help wash dishes. We had to wash our hands every time we touched anything besides the dishes or the towel we dried with, e.g., our hair or face or each other. (To this day, when my grandchildren are in my kitchen, they hear “wash those hands again.”) When huge net petticoats were in fashion under skirts in the 50’s, Aunt Gene let us choose fabric that she then sewed for us while we all listened to the baseball game on the radio. Sometimes while riding in the car Mimi and I would shout out “There’s an ABE truck!” Of course, that’s “Amarillo Borger Express” which was Uncle John’s (and his brother’s?) trucking company.
I remember the visit when we were told that a baby was on the way. We visited “the new house” under construction and were blown away by its huge size compared to our small home and the second set of light switches being installed at child’s level in “the baby’s room.” What luxury, we thought!
Our last visit must have been when I was about 13. Mimi would have been 16 and soon our summers would be filled with Tulsa friends and events. But that beautiful baby, Linda, was nearly two years old and clearly was the center of everyone’s attention. Okay, we were a bit jealous of precious Linda, but we couldn’t help but enjoy her, too. Aunt Gene told us that one day she found her ivy plant that decorated the coffee table was surrounded by most of its leaves, picked off by tiny fingers. When she showed this to Linda and asked what had happened, baby Linda held up both arms for a hug from her mom and with a trembling voice said, “Looove?” Gene loved that story.
How fortunate I was to have those summers with the excellent example and influence of Aunt Gene and Uncle John in my life! She was so spunky and fun-loving. He was a true gentleman…a gentle man… whose kindness was ever present. Sadly I don’t have photos to share, but I treasure my memories from those special days and will forever feel so much love for both of them.
Faye
