Lennie, what a woman

I have a couple entries about family members, got one on Shirl to be sprung soon.  But today it is Lennie. The most outspoken of any of the Children of Wiley and Susie Harris. Protector of the young brood of siblings with fists or rocks.

(Lennie with her dad, Johnny’s favorite picture.)

Sherry says that when they were young, Lennie and Collette (the quiet one) would turn on the Victrola and dance, they could really cut a rug in their socks.

(Lennie and her dad later years)

(Susie Harris the Mama rabbit of the clan)

One memorable statement by Lennie to Elmer, after one of their friends had left his wife. “Buddy, you listen to me, if you  ever plan on leaving me, you had better tell me, because I am going with you!”

(I courted Sherry on that same porch, that must be Moochie the dog at the steps)

(Wiley (daddy) Vernon,Lennie, Colette, Sherry, Lefty,Johnny (missing Mama Susie and Tommy)

I remember once she was upset at a member of the in-law family. I told her, “just to be patient and when you get older you can just slip your cane out in her path and trip the old hag!”  She remembered that for years.

(Colette, Lennie, Johnny, Elmer and Sherry at one of Lennie’s Bean days)

After their mama died, Lennie made it a practice to have beans and corn bread at her house every Wednesday. That day Colette would clean their daddy’s house and take him to get groceries, then come to Lennie's. Sherry loved it when she could be there, the Harris’s were a close family.

Johnny, the youngest, is up in Ypsilanti, MI. But every time he came home Lennie had a bed for him. Lennie’s house became the mama’s house of the clan.

(Elmer, Lennie and Janet, when Lennie was ill.)

By this time Lennie (who had worked in the winder room of a cotton mill) was a stay at home woman, helping Elmer who ran a ‘Roach Coach’. Lennie made 14-18 gallons of tea a day, 5 days a week. On ‘Wednesdays when Elmer came in around 1:30, he brought in the out of date sandwiches and cakes. Adding to the pinto bean feast. Lennie’s house was the home of most of the family get togethers.

The one thing Lennie always regretted was she had left her home in Belmont and moved to Mt. Holly, just about 5 miles, but she always wanted to be back in Belmont.

When Lennie got sick, Elmer came to me and wanted me to build them a house in Belmont. Which I did, but Lennie never got to really enjoy it. She moved there but that was about all.

(Lennie’s new home in Belmont, I am a Belmont Girl again)

 

(Colette, Tommy, Johnhy, Lennie, Vernon and Sherry.  Lennie was very sick here, this was in her new house.)

 

(Lennie, Brenda, Mark and Elmer, the family)

(Sherry, Lennie and Colette, the  Three musketeers. Sisters forever)

 

(another get together at Lennie’s house. Colette, Johnny and Lennie)

As a practice in the later years the three sisters: Lennie, Colette & Sherry, with their husbands would take a trip after Christmas. Those have been some of the highlights of our lives. Besides, Lennie thought I was a great driver.(Even when I got lost)

(Lennie, Elmer and Sherry at Ben & Jerry’s)

(Even being a Democrat, She loved seeing Kennebunkport, home of the Bushes. She kept a rock from here until her death)

(We took Elmer and Lennie to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on their 50 wedding anniversary I think)

You cannot wrap someone’s life up in 600 words, but this was thoughts of Lennie.

 

RIP Lennie. Feb 7, 1928-Oct 17,2000

You know, there are people you will never forget.

Nite Shipslog

PS:

Advice is what we ask for when we already know the answer but wish we didn’t.

—Erica Jong

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Elmer and Lennie had the Rambler, then he switched to Lincolns and the Lincoln remained their car)