Monday, April 25, 2016
Just want to take a moment and notice a very dear neighbor from Ashford Drive in Bridgeport who passed away on Saturday, Mrs. Helen Smith. She and her husband Jim, who passed away three years ago, were lovely, kind and quick with a smile and a wave. They moved onto Ashford when I was a little girl and while they had no children of their own, they always greeted me happily when I'd slooooowly wander past their house and crane my neck around to see if they were outside with their Basset Hound, Rocky. They lived in a blue house with a beautiful front yard and even more beautiful back yard, which was filled with all kinds of plants and flowers they gardened themselves. Mrs. Smith always made me feel welcome. She showed me all the new flowers in their yard and tried to explain what they were in simple terms I could understand. "See Britt, if you turn this purple flower upside down, it looks like a hula skirt." We would wander through her garden and she would pick a beautiful bouquet for me to take home. I remember saying to her one time, "Mrs. Smith, that's too many roses. I'll just take the four in your hand." And she replied, "You can never have an even number of flowers, only odd. That way, it's balanced." As I grew older I didn't wander up to the Smiths house as often, but they stopped by my house during my high school graduation party and brought me a book of flowers with Lily of the Valley pressed inside. It's my favorite. And after I moved away, Mrs. Smith would inquire with my mom or dad how I was doing and if I liked Pittsburgh. She would even write to me from time to time and we shared a couple of phone calls not so many years ago. She was so kind to me and I will always remember her that way. I'm so glad I knew her and so happy I still have the book and the memories. Rest in peace, Mrs. Smith.
