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Dear Joanie,
And so we begin this third volume of letters to you as you move into your second, really active year so far.
I am 10 or perhaps 12 in the picture above. It's a school picture, and I remember the dress really well. I believe my Aunt Zetta, my mother's sister bought it for me as she did most of my school clothes. The dress is a dark brown and the lighter, shaded trim is what we called shrimp color, but possibly more accurately, salmon--cooked salmon, that is. The background for the trim is beige, but with a yellow tint to it. The sleeves are what we called "puffed sleeves, " quite the fashion. The waist has a sash that ties in a bow in the back (although I have to be frank: it often came untied, no matter how my mother tried, and more likely than not the one strip of the sash would get torn off within a few weeks). The skirt is gathered and is hemmed just below my knees. I am quite sure that I have on saddle shoes, or at least a cheap imitation, and white socks, which would ride down below my heel when I was running around on the playground. I felt good all day long when I wore that dress.
It is a rainy afternoon as I look at the window from our 6th floor apartment in Boulder. Nature is a real trickster, and loves to pull a joke on us human beings.
Yesterday, our high temperature was close to 100 degrees. Today was supposed to be in the 90s, but not so high as yesterday. No rain in the forecast. I thought it felt a little cool in our apartment and looked outside to see wet sidewalks and birds and butterflies flitting back and forth. It is early summer in Colorado, the lilacs have come and gone, but day lilies have taken their place. Roses are blooming in Boulder, and the climbing rose bush in our mountain house is loaded with buds. The aspen are in full leaf and irises are blooming deep purple, yellow, and white. Boulder Creek is flowing fast and furious from snow runoff, and people are diving into the water, tubing, biking, skating, walking, running. Dougie, Shelby, and I often sit on a bench by the creek and take in all the activities.
It's one of those days where all seems right in this troubled world of ours, and we will takes it as it comes.
Love,
GG Katie
