Dear Reader:

I always loved it when Aunt Eva would come visit mom while she lived with us. The sisters were very entertaining and it was where I learned the most about the Wilson family history …and Eva and mother’s adventures growing up.

One time, I remember they were talking about the anticipation of circuit or tent ” Chautauquas.” I remember asking what in the world was a ” Chautauqua?”

I found out it was an annual arts/ cultural event for poor rural families who would never be able to travel and hear an opera or famous politician, musician, band, singer, actor or evangelist… so these traveling tent shows came to them!

It really was like a carnival/ circus also with rides and strange creatures on display.

One year mother was teasing Aunt Eva about a picture of her in the photo album-this was the picture.

It was so different from any picture of Aunt Eva that I had ever seen I asked her about it-mother smiled and told Eva to share the story behind it.

Aunt Eva, like her older twin brothers was a day student at Presbyterian College. Apparently, as part of some cultural exchange program a small replica of the Eiffel Tower was erected on campus and students taking French were eligible to participate in ‘ A Week in Paris ” enactment-they got to eat French cuisine, listen to French music and attend French plays.

Unfortunately these students could only speak French that week and an outdoor French play was performed. At the end of the week a male and female student was selected to be honored with the title of Honorary Ambassador-for dressing in French style clothes and participating in all the activities. Aunt Eva won in her category. She was given a bottle of French perfume that she saved for decades… for special occasions.

Eva Cate is named for her great great Aunt Eva and guess what? She is obsessed with Paris and the Eiffel Tower. A chip off the old block!

You might remember last Halloween she dressed up as the Eiffel Tower.

I have given her Eiffel Tower lego sets- she has drawings of Paris all around her room!

My hope is one day Eva Cate will get to Paris and while looking out over ” The City of Light” from the Eiffel Tower she will give a loud shout-out to Aunt Eva … ” We did it Aunt Eva!”

So until tomorrow… Let us pick up the torch from those who came before us and see their dreams come true through us!

” Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Shh! Mum’s the word-the mums are coming!