Helen Stories October 31, 2007
Posted by Diane Bird in : 1. Helen Magnuson, All Posts , trackbackIn an earlier comment that was following a tangential thread to nowhere, I mentioned that Helen invited Mother and Teresa to stay with her after George died, and suggested that Teresa was probably the best one to tell that story. I am sure many of you knew Helen well and have lots of memories, so here is a place to share them. Please do!
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I spent a lot of time the other day (week) posting thoughts about what it was like living with Helen. For some reason, just as I was satisfied with what I said .. I inadvertently hit some key which erased everything, and in my wild rush and impatience to try to get it all back, I lost the opportunity to just “undo”. So I will try to recreate what I can remember. After Daddy died, Mother went back to teaching, which she knew best. (She taught many of my high school classmates inasmuch as she taught at both grade schools in Boise at that time .. St. Joseph’s and St. Mary’s. But that is a “Vi” story which I will save until later.)
When George died Helen was left with running Holman Sporting Goods in Oakland. She probably figured out that she could use help as well as some nurturing. Mother knew that teaching, particularly in parochial schools was not enough, both financially as well as for her own future independence. And, looking back, I knew even then that the decision for Mother and I to move in order to be with Helen was a good idea for us all. I know they talked about me in the process, because I felt truly loved and that my well-being was important to them (I was all of 13 then, a year younger than everyone else in the academic scheme of things).
I don’t remember the actual move, itself, so it had to have been rather uneventful (or it was so bad I put it out of my memory). But I doubt that it was bad at all, as I do distinctly recall that it was an adventure and I looked forward to changing schools and doing something fun and new. I realized that it was difficult for Mother to rent out our house, but that had to have been a well-thought-out decision; our renters were two businessmen who were either referred by our church or personal acquaintences. Diane reminded me that one of them was Mr. Parker, of Parker Photography; I knew that Vicki was working there when Daddy had his accident, and he also did all the local school photos so the nuns knew him. Was there a romantic interest, there with Mother? I seem to think it was either him or the insurance guy (or both) who were more than willing to spend time with Mother. Again, that’s another story; I was a real brat when it came to sharing MY Mother with anyone.
But I digress. Helen’s home was wonderful. Back then we could see both the Golden Gate and the Oakland Bay Bridge from her cul de sac. It was warm and comfortable and welcome in that house. I appreciated that my special Aunt and Mother felt close and that it was totally within reason for us to live together for a time. I never sensed that it was a ‘forever’ thing … they were sisters and very young widows and this was the time to pull together.
It is getting late. Let my memories rest. If anyone wants to add something I would be so happy to learn more about my Aunt Helen from different experiences they had with her. In fact, I have invited a good friend Linda to share some thoughts on this blog about Aunt Helen. She and I travelled together one summer and she so enjoyed meeting and spending time with Helen. I think it would be interesting to read from another adult who did not know Helen as a sister or niece or nephew.
I have asked Linda to fill in some pieces from that whirlwind trip when she and I spent some time with Aunt Helen. I hope that she will. When we were there, we all went out to lunch and my cousin King and nephew Jason joined us. My sister Vicki may have been there, but my recollection isn’t sound.