“Which way is the wind blowing?” That was always Mertis’ favorite question to ask me. “Which way is the wind blowing?”

Mertis LOVED that lake; Lake Carlos. She LOVED to know which way the wind was blowing so that she could imagine herself back at the cottage in the Minnesota summer. Mertis always said that if I could tell her which way the wind was blowing, she would know EXACTLY how the lake would look if she was there. She loved that place so very much. She missed being there even more…

I met Mertis in ‘79 when I was only 9 years old. My family had just moved to Alexandria, MN from the Twin Cities. Never in a million years would I have believed that this sharp, witty, intelligent, feisty, and fun-loving woman would become my adopted grandmother. The world’s best pen pal. And eventually, my best friend.

When I say Mertis was the world’s best pen pal, I MEAN IT! When I was teaching in Korea this past year, Mertis wrote to me all of the time. There was even one week that I remember receiving TWO letters from Mertis! That was pure sunshine to see in my lonely little postal box. Every letter was carefully typed out on her typewriter. She loved that typewriter! Mertis was the world’s best pen pal. She always made me feel remembered, special and loved. Very, very loved.

I saved every letter that Mertis sent to me. And when I visited her in Savannah only 2 weeks ago, I saw that she had saved every letter of mine. She asked if I wanted to take them home with me so I could read them after she passed. But we both decided that we should wait. We would keep my letters at Mert’s place. We weren’t ready to say goodbye.

I don’t know if I will ever have a love like I did with Mertis. She was my best friend. She wanted to celebrate in my joys and successes. She wanted to comfort me in my sorrows. Mertis would write to me in letters, “Let it all hang out, Baby Doll.” Mertis was a woman of great strength, great determination and great faith. She was a woman who believed in our Lord God. “Let Go– Let God” was a phrase she repeated many times to me. Mertis always knew that in God, everything will be made right.

I love you dear Mert.

Signed,
Forever your Baby Doll