My Aunt Geraldine had a reputation for being dominant and domineering and bossy and with a hot temper to boot. A couple of my cousins called her “The Commander”. She was my father’s oldest sister. As I have been reaching into boxes and bags and letters come out to a young soldier overseas, I have noticed that they are often signed “Love, Geraldine”.  And this birthday card? She made certain to get it mailed a whole month before my dad’s birthday on November 12th. I guess there was a softer side to her . . .

Of course, it is very possible that I might not have found these letters because at some point my dad and his sisters were going through a lot of old stuff and Geraldine lit a fire in a barrel out back.  As I understand it, one entire afternoon Aunt Geraldine was tossing things in the ‘to burn’ pile and my dad was pulling them out.

(I think Bill Alexander must be the brother of Al Alexander, who was married to my Aunt Evelyn. )