ALBERSON AND PAQUETTE

ALBERSON AND PAQUETTE

Good morning all. Greetings from my studio in Tennessee!

My sister, Robin stopped by this morning. During our time together something came up to remind us of our childhood years in South Dakota. Here is one of my funnier memories: Our family drove into the tiny town of Newell, weekly to visit grandparents, aunts, uncles or to get groceries. There was a curve we had to slow down for as we were driving into town. It became a point of anticipation to be surprised by the smiling face of a boy who hid in the ditch just waiting for the next car to slow and chase. His grin was as large as his ears were. Leonard just loved to chase cars! He would run out of the ditch and race with all his might to cruise with us as we drove the last moments into Newell. I was probably 4 years old when I knew to expect this race. For 3 or 4 more years Leonard was a constant companion as we turned that curve. My dad was always more than happy to see him. We loved him. Waving and laughing at how funny it all was, we never could figure out just exactly why he did it. When I was 7, we moved into town and were not on that curve as much. My dad told me once no one had seen Leonard for a year or so and he knew nothing of what had happened to make him stop.

A few years later, when I was in Jr. High, we were en route to Belle Fourche, S.D. where my Aunt Dolly, Uncle Pete, and their two children lived. Again, there was a curve to slow us down when suddenly the grinning face and ears of Leonard, the runner, appeared next to my window. I swear! I laughed so hard I nearly wet my pants! We were all more than happy to see him again. I guess his family carried him off to another town to continue his training as a runner. I wonder if he ever entered a marathon. Surely that’s what he was born to do. At any rate, he gave me lots of laughter and great memories to share with you.