Audrey and End of Trip

Uncategorized 2 Minutes

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.

Audrey, husband Frank in photo, and John

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.

John, Rose and our welcome home breakfast. The bacon is missing. It didn’t want to hog the photo.

Published by Anne Mehrling

I'm a retiree who loves to write about life in the mountains of North Carolina.

Published

25 thoughts on “Audrey and End of Trip”

  2. “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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. 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

      Like

      Reply

    1. 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!!!!

      Like

      Reply

  5. 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

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. 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

    Like

    Reply

  8. 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.

    Like

    Reply

  9. 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!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Do you have a comment? I'd love to hear from you.