Aunt Bertha

I found the cutest child's apron at the antique mall on my way to visit my daughter this past Monday. It was quite yellowed with age. I found a product named Bluing Agent at the grocery store that seemed to be just the thing to try.

Filling my sink well with cold water, I perused the label. "Good for keeping white hair white." Oh my gosh! Aunt Bertha! She always talked about bluing her beautiful white hair.

Bertha was my father-in-law's oldest sister. She had married Eddie, a very handsome ne'er-do-well who was crazy about her but was more crazy about the bottle. Many was the night of family socializing that other newlywed in-laws would help put her husband to bed in the bathtub to "dry out".

Although Bertha was was from a large Catholic family, her home on the East side of Detroit was located doors down from a Baptist church whose tenants restrict any form of alcohol. An ultimatum was given to Eddie. "Either come to this church with me, or loose me and your two fine infant boys."

A favorite story recalled many times when our large family now gathers and our hearts are missing our loved ones passed. When we speak of Aunt Bertha, we always speak of the miracle of Uncle Eddie who after stepping foot over the threshold of God's house fell to his knees in prayer and never took another drink in his life.

Further down the label on my bluing agent in fine print, "Send for instructions on using this product to grow your own crystal garden." Oh, Aunt Bertha! Your faith in this product was as strong as your faith in God!