My beloved sister-in-law, Melinda Kay Grimes, lost her battle with cancer and left us.  I knew Melinda from the time I was about 4 years old.  She is as much a part of me as any other person I have ever loved.  More so really, for we shared so much in our respective love of the arts.  We both loved ballet and loved taking classes in any kind of dance.  She once told me she loved that feeling you get in your leg muscles the day after class, for the soreness meant you were working hard and developing tone and skill.  I didn’t agree, because I don’t like the soreness.  But, whenever I have a sore muscle from dancing, I think of Melinda. But we loved all of the fine arts: music, horticulture, geology, painting, theater.  You name it, we both loved it.

Melinda married my brother Richard Jones in 1963 and I was their 10 year-old-flower girl at the old Episcopal Church on Capitol Avenue in Pierre, SD.  Here is my happy family on that fantastic August Saturday afternoon.  I was too shy to drop many petals down the aisle, but we redid it after everybody left the church and had a lot of laughs.

I’ll miss you every day for the rest of my life, Melinda.  I shall never forget you. How could I?  I adored you and you are part of me. It was my privilege to know you for 55 years and to call you sister. Love. Thank you for letting me be your flower girl.  It was the highlight of my childhood.