This story was sent to me by Rick White, Wendy's son-in-law...

The first time Wendy visited us at Lost Valley Education Center was less than outstanding   She wasn’t happy about us being there, living on a “Hippie Commune in the woods”.   Most of this visit she didn’t venture out of our cabin.  This was possibly due to the fear of meeting a marauding naked hippie running through the woods, or maybe just so she could really soak in that we were a family of five, living in a 750 sqft cabin, with no bathroom or kitchen.  She was forced to join the community during meal times though, and appeared bent on letting everyone know that she wasn’t happy about being there.  During meals, several of the community tried to strike up a conversation with her but were met with crossed arms (her favorite position it seemed), and one word answers.  Needless to say, we didn’t think another visit would soon follow.  

The next visited was the one I remember most about Wendy.  For whatever reason, this time she seemed to be making an effort to at least see what the place was all about.  I’d like to think that in some way, Lost Valley had a softening effect on her.   I was cooking the community dinner with Charlie Tilt.  I say “cooking” in a loose sense, because Charlie was the cook, and I his willing helper.  Charlie is a lovely, gentle man.  Being that Charlie and I were a regular cooking team, we had had several conversations about Wendy and our relationship.  Surprising both Charlie and I, Wendy walked in and assumed her cross-armed position on one side of the island.  Her gaze left little doubt that she assumed our poorly equipped community kitchen was the original source of most of the food-borne illnesses that plagued the world. 

But Charlie was amazing.  He kept engaging her in conversation, often asking her for advice on preparing the evening meal, even though he was one of the best cooks at Lost Valley.  Before long, Wendy had donned one of our stained aprons and was pitching in helping to prepare the community dinner.  She smiled and even laughed a few times. 

During our pre-meal circle, we held hands and sang a song together.  At least in my mind, it was probably the nicest time she and I ever spent together.

My mother joined my family on a DC summer vacation and we had such a wonderful time. She posed for this outside the zoo entrance prior to entry. We did get to see the pandas, going potty, which made us laugh.