Growing up on Blackamore Avenue, Linda and Reggie were the cool young couple. Before they had children of their own, they had "us", their "practice family". While you may think we taught Linda, it was quite the opposite. Linda May was about 15 years our senior and 15 years my parents junior, so she connected with all of us, gaining our admiration, and charming my parents. She was the only person who could get away with calling them "Katie Girl and Joey Baby." Linda bridged the age gap, arranging spontaneous evening rides to Five Mile River in Connecticut, equipped with a blanket, a picnic basket of KFC for the kids, and wine for the adults, (stemware included). One minute she would be sitting with the adults, and the next , she would jump into the river with the kids, instantly becoming one of us. Linda showed us how to have an underwater conversation, how to click 2 rocks together underwater and be amazed at how loud it sounded.
Linda never lost the joy of childhood fun, and eagerly shared with all of us the "happiest memories of her own childhood." From her I learned to look for 4 leaf clovers, play "Huckle Buckle Beanstalk", to stand on my head. I learned to appreciate the long glide of a rope swing ride while singing the "Father William" poem. I experienced the joy of taffy pulls and the beauty of her cake decorating class final projects, (which we ate willingly). From Linda we learned to draw faces on our chins, and talk upside down. We played school in her basement with the neighborhood kids, and drew straws to see what "fun" household chore we would get in the raffle, because if it wasn't fun, it probably wasn't worth doing. Linda taught us all that the chores would always be there, but an opportunity for fun should never pass us by. We learned the lesson that life is short, and the most important thing we can share with one another is joy.
Patty (Horn) Rock
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