Our last person to visit on the trip was Audrey. John had been in phone contact with her for the last few years, but this was the first time he had seen her since they graduated from high school 60 years ago. I knew she had been a refugee, but I heard more of the story. She came from Estonia and probably does not remember her father. He was in a war camp and died of TB. She remembers seeing a statue from the ship, which her mother told her was the Statue of Liberty. She was eight years old. Their sponsor did not know they had arrived, so someone took them to the Waldorf Astoria for the night. I cannot imagine life from the mother’s point of view. She must have struggled for many years to care for her daughter. Audrey went to school, not knowing a word of English. She spent half the day in second grade and half the day in third. It seems the language began to click when she took piano lessons. Audrey and John were in the first graduating class of Our Savior, a Christian school in the Bronx. From there she went to two-year Concordia College, eventually married her college sweetheart, got a BS in nursing, and later a master’s degree. She and Frank had two sons. The couple had a good life together, making it to their 50th wedding anniversary before Frank died.
The present-day Audrey smiled a lot and gave us a warm welcome. Several times she said how good this country had been for her. I agreed with someone who said Audrey was a blessing to the United States. She worked in the Veteran’s Hospital, and after retirement, volunteered there.
There was one amusing incident. I knew Audrey was not hearing me well, so I said as loudly as I could, “You don’t speak with an accent! How did you do it?”
Audrey replied, “I cooked the pasta and meat together in the oven.”
Imagine a big-eyed cartoon of me, sitting there wondering exactly what she thought I’d said. John picked up on it, and he repeated my conversation for her.
In Kentucky we went through horse country and hilly landscapes before getting to East Tennessee, near home. It was marvelous to drive in and find hugs waiting for us. After other trips, we walked into an empty house, needing to unpack the car and buy groceries before being fully functional. Not this time! Rose made a statement that I ought to work with needlepoint, frame, and put on the wall. She said, “We cleaned so that you wouldn’t have to.”
Son John $pencer said, “We’re going to cook breakfast for you tomorrow. We found vegetarian sausage that Rose can eat, so we’ll have biscuits and sausage, bacon, and eggs.”
What a homecoming! When David came home from work, we had another warm welcome and more visiting. I didn’t know returning from a trip could be so exceptional.
Mehrling Muse 
Evan after a wonderful trip which you hvd had it is always good to be home again..Blessings for a safe trip.
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Thank you for the blessings. They worked.
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“Hog the photo!!🤣 I get it! I love your humor, and I’m sorry I have waited so long to tell you how very, very much I enjoy your blogs. I read every word, enlarge the photos with my fingers, and laugh with you almost every time. I am also gaining lots of knowledge about so much that I never knew. Thank you, and keep the blogs coming!! Love, Margie
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Margie! How lovely to hear from you! Thank you for reading my blog and commenting here. I always enjoyed seeing you over the years. and once in a while Janet mentioned you in connection with a family reunion. Wish we could see you again!
Anne
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I just realized, you might not know my married name. Margie Lamos Boudreau, Steve’s sister.
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I read the other comment first, and I did know who you are. That’s not to say I’d know how to pronounce Boudreau. There are only three consonants in your married name!!!!
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No place like home as I said before … loved this: “The bacon is missing. It didn’t want to hog the photo.” 🙂
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Son John LOVES bacon, and he cooked a full plate of it this morning. It might have been more impressive than the gravy.
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I thought maybe you reached home to explain why there were no further posts after the Springfield one. It was great that John could meet Audrey 60 years after they went to school together. An amazing story of grit and strength and positivity. Glad to hear the gratitude in Audrey’s words. I think people who live with gratitude live with the blessing of “wonder” and hence they do not take anything for granted. Everything is good and surprising to them. How did you manage your laundry on the trip, Anne ? Glad David, and Rose and $ were all there to welcome you back home. There is nothing like good friends and great family.
Susie
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John does the laundry at home, and he did it on the trip, too. He washed twice, once in a public laundromat and once in a motel. I really appreciated his doing it, because I would have dreaded it.
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😀
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Welcome Home. I was looking for the bacon now the photos are done but I can’t find it. Must have gone for a walk. Rose and John’s welcome home gift was great and I knew David would be thrilled to see you. I’m glad you’ve had such a wonderful time but I hope it’s god to be home.
Mammoth Hugs
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Indeed, it is lovely to be home. The huge plate of bacon was on the table, but I was looking at Rose and $ when I took the picture and didn’t include it. Too late now!!!
xxx Huge Hog Hugs xxx
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Ha ha!
We had two sisters in our school who had escaped east Berlin in a tin can boat their parent’s and friends had made by hand. I don’t know how long it took them to make or how many had escaped in it but they used tin food cans they’d cut up and flattened out. Can you imagine how many cans they would have to go through to do that?. They were 14 & 15. I wish I could remember the details. Their English was poor and they were held back a grade or two but as I recall they were both very bright.
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There are many amazing stories we’ve never heard.
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I’m sure that is so true. For me it makes me appreciate even more what we have.
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Pleased to hear you arrived home safe and sound. How nice to have someone waiting for you with food etc. I loved following along on your travels. Road trips can be wonderful!!
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Thanks for joining us on our trip. We had a marvelous time.
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What a lovely trip you have taken and thanks for sharing it! So many happy memories you have created! As someone once said, “No matter how far you roam there is no place like home.” Glad you had safe travels!
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Thanks for going along with us.
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Imagine, getting to see a classmate from 60 years ago. I wonder what she thought you said as well.
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If Audrey is as forgetful as I am, it won’t matter what she thought I said.
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What a wonderful trip and a great homecoming. There is something to be said about having someone at home to great you. We have the cats but they don’t cook breakfast.
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LOL! I can’t imagine cats in the kitchen trying to cook.
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LOL…thats a great story and visit. Glad you had a great trip.
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