From Marleen (Niece)

Hi Aunt Shawna!!!

The whistle game, balogna sandwiches, wheat pancakes, and cake with Newsies are fun memories I have with you!  

First, we were visiting at your home and it was one if your kids' birthday parties. We were down in your basement playing birthday party games and you taught us how to play this game where you had a whistle tied to the back of your pants. You'd back up to someone in the circle and that person would blow the whistle and the person in the center (who didn't know that you had the whistle tied to you) had to figure out who had the whistle.  Then you'd quickly move around in the circle so the kid in the middle couldn't figure out that you had the whistle.  Maybe the name of the game was, "Who blew (has) the whistle!".  We were teenagers and you were so excited about this game that none of us wanted to dampen your excitement with two glaring problems with this game!   First, we were sharing spit (germs) with each other via the whistle, and the second became very clear by the expression on one of the cute boy's faces when you backed up to him and he realized he'd have to stick his face up to your bum in order to blow the whistle!  Hahaha!  It was hilarious!  I laughed so hard!  Maybe the name of the game was, "Who can smell my rear and swap spit!"

Second, we came for another visit in Snowflake and you fed us balogna sandwiches with sliced tomatoes from your garden.  When I first found out that we were having balogna I was not thrilled.  I've never really liked balogna, but I was so hungry and this was all there was to eat, so I went for it and man!  Your balogna sandwiches were delicious!  I couldn't believe it!  Another time you fed us wheat pancakes with heated honey for syrup.  I was floored when I looked down at my pancakes.  I'd never seen wheat pancakes before and I'd never heard of using melted honey for syrup!  It did not sound very appetizing, but I was hungry and that's all that was being offered.  I was pleasantly surprised!  It was quite good and very filling!  Who would have thought!

Last, one night we were all watching "Newsies" upstairs in your Front Room (which was a treat because I don't ever remember watching shows in your home before or after that night) and you surprised us with a cake you had helped one of my cousins bake from a cake mix.  It was so yummy!  For some reason that cake was extra tasty.  Or maybe, food just tastes better in your house!

I love you Aunt Shawna!  You are so funny!  You crack me up with your excitement for life!

Love you,

Marleen