Bette’s The Best
August 5th, 2008. Filed under: Tuesday's Tempting Reads.That’s my aunt, Bette Killion. She’s the best aunt a person could want. Please don’t tell the whole world, but she’s always been my favorite. Aunt Bette’s house was a magical place to be. For one thing my favorite cousin, along with her brothers and sisters lived there. I lived out in the country on one acre, but Aunt Bette had the whole outdoors at her house, including a creek and woods out back. One year I got to spend the summer at Aunt Bette’s. Nancy Jeanne and I spent hours playing out in the woods and the stream with nothing but each other and our imaginations. Inside the house was magical, too. There was a piano and I got to “play” it. I’ve always loved pianos and still want to learn to play. I finally took lessons while in Bible College, but that’s another story.
One of the most precious gifts Aunt Bette gave me was the love of writing. She talked to me like I was a grown up person instead of a kid who wasn’t even close to being a teen yet. She talked to me about her writing and encouraged me to become a creative person. Aunt Bette was writing and selling stories to magazines at the time. She progressed to a newspaper column of her own. Then on to writing stories and poetry for children. Today she is an author of children’s books. I have three of her books here in front of me, Treasury of Fairy Tales, Just Think! and The Same Wind. That’s what was available at my local library. Check out your library and see part of why she’s so special.
Aunt Bette and I both have writing roots in the Brazil High School newspaper, The Student. I’m working at it, Aunt Bette. Some day, God willing, I’ll be published. You started me out a long time ago, and you’re still my inspiration. I’m so lucky to have Aunt Bette in my life. Do any of you have an Aunt Bette in your life? Share her with us.