When I Go, Will You Come?

Before leaving Indianapolis in June, Howard and I stopped by to say "Good bye" to our dear friend Aletha Hutchinson. We sat on her soft brocade couch as she took us on a speed trip down Memory Lane. Her life began in the middle of Kansas just like the little gal with the red slippers.

She would hardly take a breath for fear she would waste a moment in telling her story. We were fascinated by her interesting life which had brought her to Indianapolis in the 30's. This is where she met her first husband who died only thirty-three years later. Her girlfriend also passed, which left her and her friend's husband, Jerry Hutchinson. They consoled each other through the months, and, after a while ended up marrying. He was a wonderful and devoted husband. We had the privilege of knowing him.

Aletha reminded us, as we were visiting, that she was getting older. Since she was so young at heart, it was difficult to think of her as approaching her late 90's. She never sat still. Nothing happened in the retirement home that she was not apart of. She reminded you of a hummingbird......darting from one flower to another.

She wanted to turn over every stone before we left. That meant talking about her "arrangements". We all knew what that meant. She wanted to know if, when the time came that she was to go, would Howard be willing to come? The answer was, "Yes...I would be honored", he said.

Today at 2:00 pm, he kept that promise. The service was short and sweet just like Aletha. She only measured a little over five feet and was one of the sweetest people we had ever met.

This photo was taken when she was 23 years old. She was 97 in the next one!