Saturday, July 12, 2008
Dear Mary Anne, Donna and Stephen: I was sorry to hear about the passing of your mom and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I wouldn't imagine that you would remember me, however, since your mom had taught me to water-ski so many many years ago, I have thought about her every so often over the past 30 years or so. My family had rented a cottage for a few weeks over the summer from your parents at Westbrook - from around 1973 to 1975. At the time, the cottage was a gold color as I recall, and I was there with my parents Vic and Lillian Tudan and my little sister Patricia, who has down syndrome and at the time she was about 10 years old. Although my dad passed away in 1983, my mom, Lillian is still a fiesty 82 year old and seems to be doing fairly well for this age. I have 5 other siblings who are all doing well and Patty is now 43 and living in a group home and loving it. I remember the day your mom taught me to water-ski. She told me that she would give me 3 chances to make it up on the skis. Well, needless to say that my first attempt bombed, and the second attempt pulled me up for about two seconds. She said, this is your third and final shot, you can do it, and wouldn't you know it, on my third attempt I got up and stayed up for a few hundred yards. During our two week stay for those few summers, your mom continued to take me out skiing. I know this is going to sound strange, but the weekend before she passed away - the holiday weekend - I had been watching an old movie with a young girl water-skiing and I actually thought about your mom. I thought about the time my family and I spent in Westbrook all those summers ago - and how nice your mom was to take me out on the boat. She was a terrific lady with a tremendous smile and spirit. When I think back on my teenage years, my time in Westbrook is always remembered fondly. I wish you and your family all of the very best and it wouldn't surprise me in the least to think that your mom is teaching a whole new set of youngsters up in heaven to ski! Fond Regards, MaryEllen Tudan Mix West Hartford, CT
