We stood there in the chill of November, huddled against the cruel, gray air that whipped our coats and scarves, heads bowed as the Pastor said the final prayers for the grieving family and friends of Anna Swenson. When it was over, Tanya"s son, Tylwyth, and I supported her back to the waiting rental automobile.
It wasn"t devastating grief for her adopted mother"s passing that immobilized Tanya. It was those idiotic high heeled, shoes she"d insisted on wearing to the cemetery. Now I, Elvie (short for Elvira) Fedderman, wore a sturdy pair of walking shoes. Southwestern Iowa terrain is noted for its treachery when coated with ice. The sky looked none too promising with billowing grey and black shaded clouds.
“Elvie, this is goodbye.”
“But, the reception at your mother"s house. They"ll exp
