Humble Beginnings

Helen Louise Aery--6 months old

Today seems a fitting day to describe, to the best of my knowledge, the basic facts of Mema's early life. I have tried and tried to think of a way to NOT make this blog sound like an obituary.  The only thing I can think of is to take my time, and not try to write about too many things at once.   I want to write about some of the early people and events because they helped to shape her life.  Just think of this entry as some background information.

Helen Louise Aery was born July 19, 1929, in Stigler, Oklahoma, to  Cleo D. Aery and Versie (Russell) Aery.  She was the second child, and the oldest daughter born to the couple.  As was the case with many families of the time, they didn't have a lot of material wealth, but the Lord blessed them with a lot of children. Four boys: Chuck, Robert, Raymond, and Kenneth, and three girls: Helen, Marie, and Cleola.  Now, you can imagine that there are many stories that have filtered down from growing up with so many siblings...We'll save those for another time. 

(L to R)--Helen, Marie, Chuck holding Kenneth.  In front:  Cleola and Robert

 Look at that bunch of kids!  Marie, Robert, and Kenneth are still with us.  The rest of Mema's siblings and her parents have already passed.  Her mom, my Grandma Versie, was a graceful woman who weathered the difficulties of her life with strength and faith in the Lord.  I hope the readers of this blog will see that when I let you further inside the history. 

Today, let me tell you about Raymond.  He is the only Aery sibling absent from this picture.  I visited his grave today, and dusted the dirt and grass away from the stone.  He was only ten years old when he died. 

The family home caught on fire. I believe a stove or an oven blew up???  Anyway, the family exited the house, and in the confusion, Raymond thought that his mother, Versie, was still in the house.  He ran back in, determined to save her.  But Versie was already outside, and Raymond was lost. 

This is all I know about Raymond:  First, he was a brave ten-year-old that loved his mother.  Second, he loved the American Flag.  That's it.  Grandma Versie always wanted to make sure that his grave was decorated on Memorial Day with the American Flag.  When she died, my cousin Robin promised to continue the tradition.  So, every year Robin decorates the grave of an uncle she never knew.  She does this for Versie. 

Versie's and Helen's gravesites are corner-to-corner touching right next to Raymond's.  But they aren't there.  Today, they're having a birthday party in Heaven. 

Happy Birthday, MEMA!!!!

Today would have been Mema's 53rd anniversary of her 29th birthday.  Mema always said she was 29.  I remember when my mom turned 30, I told Mema that she needed to turn at least 30.  She told me, "Your mom can be 30 if she wants to, but I am 29!"  Yes, ma'am!

So, this morning Mom, Emily, Papa and I loaded up in the car. We went to breakfast and then took some flowers to the cemetery.  I made sure the bouquet had big lilies in it because that is what Mom and Mema would send me on my birthday sometimes.  It was nice to honor her with a short visit (before the 100+ heat set in for the day).  It was mom's first time to visit the grave since the funeral.  We were all glad we went.

Then, in honor of Mema, we took Papa shopping.  Yes, shopping!  We took him to Hobby Lobby because he's a little bored these days and it's too hot to putter around in the garden.  He got a balsa wood airplane to build.  After that excursion, we stopped at QuikTrip for drinks, and a miracle happened.  While Mema was going through treatment, she wore very little jewelery.  But there was one bracelet she always had on her wrist.  It was one of those magnetic bracelets that is supposed to help with joint pain.  She swore it made her feel better, so she kept it on all she could.  A few weeks before she passed, the bracelet was lost.  We all looked everywhere for it.  Where could it be?  She never went anywhere but to church and the doctor.  We took her chairs apart, looked all around the bed, searched the church, asked at the doctor, looked all over the car--no bracelet.  Today, while I was in QT, Papa was sitting in the back seat of the car, looked down, and saw the bracelet under the seat.  It made us all tear up and smile at the same time. 

So, Happy Birthday Mema!  I know you are having your best one yet!

Mema on her birthday in 2008--the 50th anniversary of her 29th birthday. ;)