Prudence

Prudence age two.  Picture taken by Joe S.

Prudence was born a week after her due date. It's the last time she was ever late for anything. She was the kind of kid any parent would be glad to raise. As a matter of fact, after age four she probably didn't need parents at all. I have no doubt she could have raised herself without any interference from adults.

She was born on Father's Day. Since she was the largest baby born that day, weighing in at 8 pounds 1 oz., the Cow Belles, a group of  agricultural women, presented us with an 8 lb 1 oz roast.

Prudence 3. Portrait taken at Jim Darcy School

Early on, I thought Prudence would be an athlete because her eye-hand coordination was so incredibly good.  Her dance teacher was sure she would end up being a gymnast.  Prudence did  like gymnastics.  She wanted gymnastics to be a sport she participated in for fun.  The gymnastics club had trouble coming to terms with that, but it was a good decision for a nine year old when Prudence decided not to be on the team.  None of us would have been happy with three practices a week and meets all weekend taking away our family time. (Besides the idiocy of committing a nine year old to that schedule.)  Prudence's good eye-hand coordination was used to be a fine pianist and musician.  Her band teacher once commented, "She was playing the flute.  Then I needed an oboe, so she picked up the oboe and started playing. She is one talented gal."

Petunia and Prudence.  Taken at Grandma and Grandpa R's.

Prudence was never the kind of person to look around and see what others were doing.  She just didn't care.  She was absorbed in her own pursuits and wanted to excel in them.  What others were doing was irrelevant to her.  I remember the day in 5th or 6th grade when she mentioned, "I think I'll get straight A's."  Already, Prudence  was a very good student.  Straight A's at our school meant achieving 94 % and above.  And she did it, apparently without fuss, muss, or bother.

Prudence had a knack of finding good people in High School and making good friends.  I never worried about what she was doing. I could always trust her.  Because she learned to play the oboe, an unusual instrument, she was in the band, drafted into the orchestra festival, and played in the orchestra for the big theatrical production.  She seemed to enjoy doing all these things.  

Later, Prudence discovered exceptional talent for languages.  Her French teacher, realizing the curriculum didn't come close to being enough for Prudence, allotted time to speak French with Prudence outside of class.  Later, Prudence enrolled in Spanish and was advanced from 1st year to 2nd year after a week.

About the only thing that ruffled Prudence's feathers was unfair behavior from adults and friends that let her down.   I remember Prudence being devastated when she learned that her best friend from first grand until 8th grade tried alcohol in the parking lot after an 8th grade dance.  Prudence was not at the dance, but she was sooo disappointed when all the kids told her about their "adventure."

       In Junior High Prudence had the rare treat of dealing with a girl who was consumed with jealousy.  I was disgusted with this girl's nasty behavior.  It was particularly distressing because Prudence was just minding her own business and did nothing to warrant the girl's malicious comments.  While Prudence was hurt and baffled by the girl's behavior, she did not have ill will toward the jealous little twerp.   Like her father, Prudence does not hold grudges.

Sometimes you work hard and your children turn out well.  Other times, you're blessed to have that child in your life.  Prudence was a blessing.