Before she was MaMaw or Mother, she was Aunt Nonie. Evidently Maeva was there for Mother's first official vacation as well as her vacation the longest distance so I asked if she would share some memories:
"Aunt Nonie" was my best attempt at pronouncing Norma on our first vacation with her to Nashville in 1954. I had just turned two, and she was one of my very favorite people, then and now. While I don't remember the trip, I remember very well the stories of her writing letters to Uncle Jack (from Delaine: I think I've heard she had to ask how to spell Lyle) and later, the excitement over her wedding that would take place the next December. When she got her blue car, I temporarily changed her name to "Blue Car Nonie."
When Uncle Jack and Aunt Norma married, their home became one of my favorite places to visit. The thing was, I really didn't feel like I was "visiting". She made me feel so at home. When she had the preachers for a revival meal, I could count on lemon icebox or chocolate pie. I think I usually ate a slice of each.
The time would never be sufficient to tell all the memories of time spent in Uncle Jack and Aunt Norma's home. But my favorite pastime was playing "house", which for Ava, Lynn, and I, meant caring for dolls, and having "school" and "church" for them. Going on vacation meant extending this imaginary world from the house and yard to the car and motels. The dolls always went with us wherever we went.
And so, when the summer of 1962 arrived, and Daddy had bought a new Pontiac, the plans were laid for Uncle Jack and Aunt Norma, Daddy and Mama, and Ava, age 6, Lynn, age 2 and a half, and me, age 10, to take a trip to South Dakota. Ava and I packed all that we felt the dolls would need for the trip. Poor Lynn; we felt we knew what she needed, too.
Since there were no interstates at the time, our trip north through Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota, involved driving through towns, small and large, and through the countryside, which Uncle Jack thoroughly enjoyed, given the corn fields and cattle.
Ava, Lynn, and I played and planned what we would do at the next motel. We spent a lot of time reminding Daddy and Uncle Jack that it was absolutely necessary for the motels to have swimming pools. I think Lynn had more courage than Ava and I combined in water because one night she decided to walk into the swimming pool into water over her head. Uncle Jack rescued her quickly, clothes and all. When we reached South Dakota it appeared for a little while that there were not any vacant motel rooms, and we might have to spend the night in the car. Thankfully, we finally found a motel with available rooms.
Throughout all the fun and the mishaps, Aunt Norma was and is the picture of calm. My visual memory of her is camera in hand, smile intact, taking care of us every step of the way. Aunt Norma can say so much in very few words. I learned very young that when she speaks, it is very much worth listening.
Three short years later, I said good-bye to Aunt Norma to go to Uruguay. I missed her before we ever left shore. But it would only be two short years before she gathered her courage, which in her case is faith as pure as I have ever known, and flew south with Ava and Lynn to visit us. While this trip doesn't technically qualify as a "vacation with Aunt Norma", I have to share it because it remains one of my most treasured memories of her.
Her acceptance and love for the people in the mission work was so evident. We visited interesting places, and she absorbed everything she possibly could to tell Granny back home. But my best and deepest memory of her in Uruguay is one I depend on to this day. I remember getting up at morning and going into the living room of our apartment while Aunt Norma was there. She would be sitting up on the cot we had given her and Lynn to sleep on, Bible open, reading scripture and praying. I remember this so clearly that I can describe even the bedspread that her Bible was laying on. It made a deep and lasting impression; I knew beyond any doubt I could count on her prayers. To this day, Aunt Norma is a prayer warrior for all of us. The only time I ever remember being disappointed with her was the time I was hoping so much that Delaine would be born before I had to move back to college for my sophomore year. Delaine was about two days late; at least this guaranteed I would be coming home for the weekend.
Happy, Happy Birthday, Aunt Norma, and Happy Vacation to New York!
Lots of Love,
Maeva
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