Another human interest story from the farm...
A woman and her mom came to our roadside farm stand to buy some produce. Mom was elderly, used a walker, and took her time examining the produce that she wanted to buy. The daughter finished her shopping and while we were waiting for Mom to decide on just the right pepper and butternut squash, Daughter handed these hug coupons to me. Her church prints these cards and the congregants can take them to pass along.
I asked her where he church was. It's First Baptist Church in Downtown Dayton and she has attended church here since she was five years old. It's a beautiful old church, founded in 1824, and when T and I lived downtown, my dog and I frequently walked past it either on Monument Avenue or along the Riverwalk.
She also mentioned that in 1948 Orville Wright's funeral service was held at this church and Mrs. Deeds (another big name in Dayton history) played the organ.
Orville Wright's niece, Ivonette Wright Miller, described his funeral:
“His services were at the Baptist Church at 2:30 P.M. with Dr. Charles Lyon Seasholes conducting. V.I.P.’s from all parts of the country were there. There was a loud speaker system set up so that the overflow crowd could hear the services from other parts of the church. At the conclusion of the church service we went to our cars. As the funeral procession moved over the Dayton streets, four jet fighter planes from Wright Field flew overhead. Flags were at half staff and the schools were closed at noon. When the services were performed at the cemetery, the planes flew low and dipped their wings…”
Back to the hug coupons. It was so touching to see the daughter let her mom take all the time she wanted to do her shopping. It was a beautiful day to be outdoors, the produce was new, and Mom was enjoying this moment of independence to choose the veggies she wanted. Mom insisted on paying for her own purchase and counted each dollar and exact change that she owed.
It just seemed "Wright" to redeem a couple coupons for a hug from each of these lovely ladies.
Lot of hugs are needed in this world.
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