I first met Aunt Ruth when I was five years old. Our family had just moved to Lakeport across the road from Aunt Ruth's camp. My parents called her Ruthie, my grandfather called her Beezie, and to my grandfather she was Shultzie. he came walking down our road one day with one miniature terrier under each arm and a wad of keys around her neck. I would do work for Aunt Ruth. Everything from weeding her rose garden to replacing the large gate closing her driveway. One of our favorite pasttimes was the annual cleaning of the sheds. This was to make room for the upcoming auction season's treasures. Mary Ann would always have that special smile on days like that. One day on Aunt Ruth's return from an auction, I received a call to come over and help her unload her car. As I walked over, I noticed her car sitting very 'low', much lower than usual. When I got to the car I saw the biggest piece of marble you could get in the car without cutting anything out. It was actually several pieces as she had purchased a complete marble fireplace! I had to recruit the help of my brother, father, and a few more friends to get it out of her car and into the camp. I chuckle every time I think of the Country Squire station wagon coming down the road dragging the back bumper knowing full well that I would be unloading the treasures (not knowing where we were going to put them). Aunt Ruth instilled in me my strong work ethic. One day while working in her yard, some kids rode by making fun. Aunt Ruth put her hand on my shoulder and said, 'Don't worry, some day you'll be laughing at them'. And she was right. A few years ago I saw her and Mary Ann at the Bridgeport field days and they didn't look any different than the last time I saw them years ago. Aunt Ruth glowed with love and Mary Ann had a smile that lit up the day. I would have been less a person had I not known Aunt Ruth. I consider myself very lucky to have grown up in the time and place that I did. Aunt Ruth made it that special time. A lady like Aunt Ruth comes along once in a lifetime and I'm so very glad she came along in mine.