Fond Memories Of Collecting With Auntie Helen

Back when I was a kid, in the 60s, my father's sister Helen, my Auntie Helen, would spend an occasional night at our house.
You see, she was a nurses aid. The nursing home was located only a few blocks walking distance from our house. She lived a few miles away, at the top of a hill. Come winter driving was treacherous. In order to be able to care for her patients it became the custom for her to stay with us.
Well, party time for me! I got to give up my comfy bed and to sleep on the couch.
On those occasions when the visit was planned and not an emergency she would remember to bring her penny folders and the two of us would sit and compare notes about our progress.
Years later, many years, the occasion of her 90th birthday
was reason for a family reunion. By then I had the legendary 1909-S VDB in my possession and I thought that she might like to actually hold the example in her hands.
When the time came, I told her the story of how it came to me and I handed it to her along with a magnifying glass.
She didn't say much.
And when the time for her to give it back to me she hesitated.
She just smiled.
I knew that she knew that this was a special moment.
For both of us.

Matthew