Colleen Forestire

I knew her as Grandma Colleen. I grew up thinking that she was somehow my biological grandma, but in actuality she was a close friend to my grandmother Irma. 

I can't remember when exactly she became my pen pal, but I have very early memories of pulling out my mother's old type writer to respond to a letter my grandma Colleen had written me.  Her letters were always typed up on two cards that came from the ASPCA.  She had an abundance of cards from them, because she donated to their organization. 

She would always send pictures of the things she was doing and people who came to visit.  Her letters were always very interesting and filled with details. 

She had a real passion for traveling and sent me a detailed account of a trip she took to the orient.  She sent me a beautiful necklace from Tibet that I treasure, because of the story behind it. I think she may have been an influencing factor in my desire to travel and see the world.

Now that I'm older I realize how spoiled I was by the lavish attention that she paid me.  I'm so grateful for that experience of writing her letters faithfully for years in my childhood.  The letters began to dwindle as I became a teenager, and got too busy with all my extra curricular activities. I'm sure I must have appeared ungrateful at that time, but I hope she knows I recognize the handprints she's left in my life.