Ruth and Harvey Nelson lived next door to me when I was growing up. We called them Aunt Ruth and Uncle Harvey even though they were not blood relations. Ruth was a homemaker and Harvey was a graphic artist for a local nursery that had a catalog business. I remember thinking that their home was so beautiful. The TV room had a couch that curved in the corner and behind it was a wall of sheer curtains in shades of blue and green. Harvey also did mosaics as a hobby and I remember thinking that the pictures and designs which emerged on the table tops he made were so magical! Both of them were gardeners (of course!) and their gardens never seemed to have an unwanted plant anywhere. There was a little fish pond in the back yard and the story goes that when I was two, I was so taken in by the fish swimming around in it that I fell right in! Thankfully Harvey was right by my side and plucked me out of the water before I knew what was happening but apparently I never went too close to the edge after that. Live and learn! But my favorite thing to do at Ruth and Harvey's was to spend time in Harvey's studio while he was working. He would put together little books for me to work on while he drafted the catalog pages. He would make a little spot for me, spread out colored pencils and pens and let me create while he worked. I wrote story after story! The little books even found their way on to the shelves of my school's library when the librarian discovered how many I'd written. It was very exciting to see my books being checked out of the library.
Gifts arrived with artistic flare- dolls in fairy castles, a record player in a speckled gold formica cabinet, Cleopatra costumes for Halloween with "jewels" all around the collar and black leotards to wear underneath. And one Christmas I got to pick out my own sweater- a lavender one with a fur collar!
Sadly, life was not as perfect for Ruth and Harvey as it would seem. Being that I was only a child, I did not realize the struggles they faced; Ruth in particular. She battled depression and became a victim of its downward, life sucking spiral. One day I arrived home from school to some shocking and confusing news. Ruth had taken her own life. And life was never the same after that. We moved and Harvey withdrew from our lives. Eventually he remarried. It was strange to bump into him many years later, just after I had married Jeff. He acted as if I was a very distant memory that he barely recognized. But maybe I was- after all I was part of his life when I was much, much, younger and marriage was a very distant thing in my future. After an awkward hello, brief conversation and even more awkward good bye we went our separate ways and I never saw him again.
However, I believe my life would be less colorful and hold fewer blessings without Harvey and Ruth, so I treasure the impact they had on me and hope that in some way they felt the same about me. This shot was taken in the summer of 1960 in Ruth and Harvey's backyard. It looks like Ruth and I were splashing in my kiddie pool on a sunny afternoon. My dad probably took the shot. I added the "negative" effect for the nostalgia factor.
Love the photo but really love the memories shared. I think a lot of us have people who played formative roles in our lives that we don't understand fully til many years later. Lucky to have aunts & uncles who come into our family by choice rather than genetics. I hope someday to have people think so fondly of their "aunt" Janice!
@jplovescotton Thanks Janice- I'm sure they will. You love what you do and enjoy sharing it so I'm sure that will be something that is remembered about you. And then there is the fact that you just enjoy life and have fun living it- who wouldn't want that to be a part of their life? (o:
What a great photo and a very nice write up. Thank you so much for sharing some of your childhood memories. It sounds like you were quite fond of Ruth and Harvey and that you still love them today. I don't think that ever fades, even if you don't see them anymore. Once you make someone part of your life, it's quite difficult to forget them. It was heartbreaking to read about Ruth, but I can relate to that very well. I'm sure that she and Harvey will always be in your heart and in your memory.
@nicolecampbell Thanks Nicole- I'll check that out and tag it. @twr Thanks Timothy! @prttblues Thanks Bev! It's very true what you say- and I'm so glad I also have pictures of both of them and me.
Thank you Laraine, Kerri and Dione!
@twr Thanks Timothy!
@prttblues Thanks Bev! It's very true what you say- and I'm so glad I also have pictures of both of them and me.