After Addie May's funeral on Saturday a rainbow followed us home. I'm sure she is close by.
Addie was born in 1944. World War II was raging on two fronts. Our Dad was employed at the Borden Cheese Company in Plymouth as an accountant. Addie was the third child born into our family and the first Andrews girl in 3 generations. She was an instant celebrity. She was 6 months old when our Dad entered the Army and almost two when he returned home. Bucky's absense didn't matter too much because we lived at the City Club and we were surrounded by family. There were Great Grandparents and Grand Parents and of course our "fledgeling family". Perhaps that is where Addie developed the strong sense for the importance of family. Family seemed to define her.
Because Addie was the only girl in our family, she was doted upon by the female population in our family. She got her own bedroom while three brothers had to live together in one room. She got the only new two wheel bicycle ever purchased in family. We boys always got used bikes and then they were handed down to the younger siblings. You get the idea. She was special.
Addie May was named after her Great Grandmother, also Addie May Andrews. The tradition of using namesakes began to fade with after my generation. Great Grandma Addie died in 1943. One year later the "new" Addie May was born. Addie never seemed to like her name. Her second name "May" always bothered her and she changed the spelling on it several times. Personally, I knew the history of the name and I always thought it was unique. A special name for a special person. How many "Addies" do you know?
Growing up, Addie had to fight for her place in line. Her brother Jack and myself were always very involved in sports and my Dad coached many of our sports teams. Addie was left home with her younger brother Jerry.
I do remember that both Grandma Myrna and Alice wanted Addie to have long hair. You will see many pictures of Addie prior to her teen years in pigtails. If you look closely, the pigtails fall almost to her waist. So Alice (and sometimes Myrna) would braid Addie's hair every morning. It was a ritual. First you had to comb out all the "knots" in the long hair. It produced arguments and tears (and screams) as the comb would "catch" and the snarls would be forced out. Once the long hair was combed, the braiding process began. As I recall it was three major strands of hair each side entwined like a rope. It was finished off by rubber bands and on an important day, ribbons coverd the rubber bands. I don't know at what age the long hair was cut and Addie got something more popular. It was a major event.
The longer I journal about our family history, the more convinced I am the the City Club was a major source for imparting a sense of family. We were together in times of crisis and everybody "chipped in". Addie always had a healthy respect for human dignity and genuinely cared for other people. Words like classy, high integrity and hard worker come to mind.
In the end, her family meant everything. Her love was unconditional. She had eternal hope that each child would achieve happiness. And the Grandchildren represented the start of another chapter to be treasured and nutured. That is what families do.
It doesn't seem right that a younger sibling would die before me. My consolation is that I know she lived to see many of her goals achieved and she was surrounded by the family she so craved.
Her smile will always define her. A smile and laughter came easy. She was the only sister I will ever know. My little Sister will be missed!
Love,
Dad