Caring for Aunt Mary

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 05:00:00

Caring for Aunt Mary

Mary Bonamo >>More

Lots of people are caring for aging relatives and their own children. There's even a name for the caregivers: the sandwich generation. On a visit to Florida to visit her dad and his sister, Sue Perna realized her 98-year-old aunt needed more daily help, and that her dad couldn't look after her anymore. Sue's father asked her to take care of Aunt Mary, and sent her a check to build a bedroom onto her Vermont home. Two days after the check arrived, Sue's dad died, and the mother of four took in her 98-year-old aunt. Seven years later, Aunt Mary is 105 and still thriving. Sue talks with Dick about how that decision affected her family's life - the challenges and the unexpected benefits.

Music in this story: Young at Heart. One version performed by Dean Martin, one performed by Jonathan Miles Freeman for the album Journey to Piano Land.

The Pumpkin Chase

The Hutchins Family - larger >>

Zach and Alana Hutchins were brought together by a pumpkin.

It started days before Halloween of his freshman year in college, when Zach and some friends broke the rules and serenaded a girl after visiting hours. It was an adrenaline-pumping experience, and for some reason, when Zach was running off with his friends, he stole a pumpkin from the girls' dorm hallway.

The pumpkin belonged to Alana, who wasn't pleased when Zach returned it later, already carved. The two tell Dick their unlikely Halloween love story.

Music in this story: Great Pumpkin Waltz performed by Vince Guaraldi for the album Oh Good Grief

- Caring for Aunt Mary

Caring for Aunt Mary

Caring for Aunt Mary

The Pumpkin Chase