Dear Me Sudz: The Life and Times of Addie May. K.W. Attle Jr.

our situation.”

      “Very well,” he replied. “Meanwhile think about what I proposed. I have no business partner and don’t want to hire someone to stand around in an empty store. With you here, it assures all the income is ours. Think it over.”

      Addie’s younger sister, Gertrude, graduate of Potsdam Normal School was teaching in New York City. She was there about two years when she became very sick. The doctor gave her some medicine which seemed to help. She improved enough to board a train and return to Potsdam. Before leaving, she sent Addie a telegram asking her to meet her at the Rutland Railroad Station in Potsdam.

      “Oh, Addie,” she gasped struggling to breath, “don’t get too close. I think I’m sick with influenza. It’s a plague going through the city. I had to get out of there for some fresh air. I’m sure am glad to see you.”

      “I’m really glad to see you too. This place isn’t the same since you’ve been gone, and I don’t care how sick you are,” Addie replied as she hugged her sister. “Will and I will take you to Mother’s. She has a spare bedroom all made up for you. We will both nurse you back to health.” Gertrude did improve, but it was short-lived. On April 2, 1917, she passed away. She was thirty-two years old.8

      In less than a month, Addie had come face-to-face with death for the second time. It shook her faith. She said some years later when relating the story, “For the first time in my life, I actually wondered where God was. It took me a long time to realize it wasn’t God’s doing, but Satan’s in hopes I would blame God. It’s like I’m reliving the Biblical story of Job.”

      Death engulfed Addie again later that summer. Her mother’s sister Abigail died August 1. “All I’m doing is burying my family,” Addie cried, “is there no relief? I am reliving Job, and I am not as strong as he was.” Will did his best to comfort her. He wanted to remind her what she had said to him about Job earlier but wisely chose to be silent. She thanked him profusely for trying to comfort her adding, “Will, I have to do this on my own. I’ll be all right.”

      Business increased more than expected over the next few years. It required more inventory and supplies and were now delivered on a daily basis. Addie agreed to cover the counter, keeping busy restocking shelves as Ralph roamed the store. Will was covered up with installations, forcing him to schedule work, something not done previously.

      In July of 1918, Addie gave birth to a healthy baby boy which she named Keith Wesley. The Wesley came from her father’s middle name. “See,” she said to Will, “God has blessed us just like I told you.” Will said nothing. He wasn’t convinced God had anything to do with what came naturally. He agreed, however, in a few years the new baby would be a great playmate for Ralph.

      When Will returned from Malone a couple weeks later, he brought some new products for the store. “Addie, come here,” he shouted through the open door of the store, “I have something for you to see.” Addie, in the stockroom, came through the door wiping her hands on her apron.

      “Whatever do you want, I’m busy cleaning up after a shelf broke.” She sighed.

      “Come see what I bought, it’s really fine,” said Will. “I know you’ll love it.” Outside at the curb was a motor car, a shiny black motor car.

      “What in tarnation is this?” Addie asked. “And who does it belong to?”

      “Why it’s a Chevrolet Automobile, a 1917 model, the first automobile in Potsdam, and it belongs to us, you and I.” It wasn’t the first automobile to pass through Potsdam, but Will was certain it was the first permanent one in town.

      “Now, Addie, please help me unload the supplies. I will be here the rest of the day helping stock all this stuff,” Will said as he picked up two of the heavier boxes. “And having this automobile will cut down the amount of time it takes to get items quickly without waiting for them to be shipped.”

      Addie and Will became instant celebrities as they drove around the town, especially when Will dropped her, Ralph, and the baby off at church Sunday morning, causing some members to be late for the service. Ironically, as fearless as Addie seemed to be, she never learned to drive.

      In 1920 Gretchen Lorene was born, a healthy normal baby girl filling the gap left by the loss of Florence. Addie needed this, although she would never admit to the grief bound up inside her. Gretchen was quick to learn and progressed faster than the boys had. This pleased Addie. She often wondered if Florence had lived how she would have reacted to the bright and bubbly Gretchen. Just before she was about to start school, polio struck. She was six years old. It knotted her legs, crippling her. Her breathing became laboring. Addie rubbed her chest with liniment and applied hot and cold compresses on her. Within a short period of time, her breathing normalized.