AlphaBetties

The first Betty I ever remember meeting was my Aunt Betty, my mom's younger sister.  My mom grew up in a family of five girls.  She is next to oldest and Aunt Betty was just below her in all the family photos and of course, in birth order.  Aunt Betty didn't have children of her own so she was one of those aunts that absolutely loved all the nieces and nephews - my cousins.  You know how those people are without kids, they are always in fun mode with the children.  I now realize why - they're never tired from the daily demands of being a full time mom.  So, going to Mamaw and Papaw's and getting to see Aunt Betty when she was also there was always fun.  Christmas gifts from Aunt Betty were the best.  My mom's large family would all be crowded in my grandparent's teeny living room on Christmas Eve waiting to open presents.  Of course while we (my sister and I) were always grateful for the sweater or socks or underwear given by others (that was what was expected in our house), I was always most excited about what Aunt Betty had wrapped for me under the tree.  Her gifts were never practical but always fun.  I remember the AM/FM radio she once gave me.  Wow - a radio of my very own!  Sounds crazy in today's world of technology, but at the time...

Several years ago, I started taking photos of alphabet letters - images that stuck out to me in architecture, signs, or objects.  For absolutely no reason, when I look at these alphabet letters, in my head pops the word "AlphaBettie."  At first I started taking these photos just for fun - remember, I do love words and letters; but now it's something I also do to give a unique gift to another person.  Just like my Aunt Betty.  It's not at all practical.  It's been an interesting hobby.  The process requires that I look at the pieces and parts of the whole, which really is a lesson we can all learn and apply.  I look at the many children I work with everyday, and honestly, sometimes looking at the whole isn't pleasant.  But if I stop to look at the pieces and parts, I might find a treasure - an AlphaBettie, my first Betty.