My Best Friends Mom The wonderful thing about great childhood memories is that they never seem to lose their magic. Growing up and having Janet Pigg as my best friend meant I got to hang out at her home. I have some wonderful memories thanks to Helen and Lyle`s hospitality. (That`s a fancy way of saying they put up with me) Helen Pigg taught me many things and she was never my school teacher. Helen was my best friends mom. Here are just a few of those lessons. Cherry pie tastes better when you pick your own cherries, pit the cherries, two at a time until the bowl was full and your fingers were stained red. The metal contraption that was attached to the picnic table seemed a slow process. The lesson was patience. The bonus was I got to have a piece of her homemade cherry pie and I learned to spit like a boy thanks to all those cherry pits that were left over. Helen taught me that you don`t need height or a fancy title to be respected. You must however, have integrity, honesty, steadfast convictions and a good work ethic. Helen also taught me it doesn`t hurt to have a pin cushion attached to your wrist, straight pins on your blouse and a few more tucked between your lips. Never mess with a seamstress. At age 9 I observed firsthand how planning a day had less to do with what you wanted to do and more to do with what had to be done. Helen had a chalk board in the kitchen listing the kids chores. To me, Janet’s list always seemed longer than Robin`s. Play time came after chores. I guess I should be grateful my name wasn`t on that board with a list of chores. I certainly would have qualified based on the number of hours I hung out in her home. While Janet did her chores I would spend time in front of Helens long mirror in the area she did her sewing. I loved that mirror. I practiced my kissing with that mirror and I imagined being a famous rock singer as I belted out a few tunes holding onto an empty toilet paper roll. Helen taught me that if you want to get the kids to take their belongings upstairs to their rooms that you place the items the stairs. When they headed up to their rooms they would have to grab the items or step over them. My own children grew up with this practice and it helped me stay sane as a mother of three. I will never forget how Helen and Lyle showed their love in playful and affectionate ways. Lyle was a tease and he could make Helen smile no matter what the day was like. Two more in love people I have never known. Helen was a fearless woman with boundless love and a belief in possibilities. I always loved stopping by to say hello to Helen and Lyle when I visited Atlantic. Helen had a way of listening with an open heart and careful attention. She was genuinely sincere during our conversations. When Helen wished me well I always felt I had been blessed. I will miss Helen and the feel of her hug when she would greet me. I will remember and put into practice the lessons she has taught me. With Deep Gratitude and Love, Patty Worthington Power