To My Cousin, Edith on her 50th Wedding Anniversary - by Dora Hunsaker Helsing

To My Cousin, Edith on her 50th Wedding Anniversary - by Dora Hunsaker Helsing

To my Cousin, Edith on her 50th Wedding Anniversary

I first remember Edith on a Thanksgiving early in the thirties, probably about 1932. We as a family had traveled to American Fork from Elwood for Thanksgiving at Grandma and Grandpa Abels’ home. What a great place to be with cousins! I remember Grandma needed some cream for a pie, so Edith and I walked over the High School hill to a little house east of there to get the cream. We had such a good time!!!

Not long after that, Uncle Thomas (her father) bought a farm in Elwood and the Thomas Abel family moved there, right in our little community. I was so excited, because now I had a best friend. My other girl cousins who already lived in Elwood were 1 to 2 years older than I. Edith and I both had “double promotions” (skipped two grades in school) and when we were in the fifth grade, we caused Mr. Roskelley, our teacher, so much pain and suffering. We weren’t bad by today’s standards, but we did a lot of giggling, etc. One day, he told us he didn’t think we were old enough to be in the fifth grade, judging us by our behavior, so after recess we “demoted” ourselves to the 4th grade. Our classroom held 3 grades – 2 rows of 3rd grade, 2 of 4th grade and 2 of 5th grade. We just simply moved over to the fourth- grade rows. This really made him mad, so after that I think we tried to be more serious. We spent the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in Mr. Leonard’s room. This room was arranged much like the previous room.

We played together at school, but mostly on weekends. Our homes were nearly two miles apart, but we would walk that far just to be together. We talked and shared our dreams. I always thought Edith was beautiful. I so envied her beautiful curly blond hair. When I was allowed to eat with her family, I was always impressed with the way they jumped up, cleared the table, and did the dishes. I determined then and there I would do that in my family when I got married.

On March 15, 1936 we were to go to a Shirley Temple movie. My Dad was to take us, but he went to the CrossRoads to get gas and never returned … so we missed out on Shirley Temple.

One year, during the depression, I talked my mother into having a birthday party for my birthday. She said I could have it only on the condition that I could not receive gifts. I told each little girl I invited that they were not to bring gifts and they didn’t, that is all except Edith. She brought me a necklace. I thought it was so beautiful but I tried to return it, as I knew that my Mother would never let me keep it. Well, my mom interceded and told me that I could keep it because it wasn’t bought at the store. Edith had made it. I treasured it for a long time … perhaps that is when she started being so creative. We all know of her talents and the many “objects d’art” she is responsible for. We moved away from Elwood in 1937 here to American Fork, but my “best friend” has been in my thoughts many times over the years.

Cousin Dora Hunsaker Helsing

With love and congratulations, Dora