That I was here in BCC, before Charlotte Cook.

I remember the day she came our way;

There was ice on the streets, a chill wind from the bay,

A real cold reception, you better believe;

It’s a wonder she didn’t turn right round and leave!

But she loved this area, right from the start,

And has taken its beauty straight to her heart.

She said, ‘You have lakes near enough to walk to,

And each place I go has a beautiful view--

The island, the mountains, the beaches, the sea

Show God’s glorious creation, and it all thrills me.’

At Christian Endeavor, ‘Cookie’ we greeted.

Mrs. Mac said, ‘I want you all seated.

You will call her ‘Miss Cook,’  ‘Cookie’ never!’

So, of course, we didn’t, well hardly ever!

The guys in our group left to fight World War II.

We girls worked and waited for it to be through.

When Ken, Phil and Sam didn’t come home, we were sad;

But the others were safe and that made us glad.

Six of the fellows went into the ministry –

Ronald Carver, Joseph Mills, and Gerald Bradley,

Raymond Pendleton, John Blackman, and Robert Bell.

They all loved the Lord and have served Him well.

In earlier years she spent her Mondays with me;

We’ve always enjoyed each other’s company.

It was such a regular thing for her to be there

That if on occasion she went elsewhere

And hadn’t by noon come into sight,

My mother would say, ‘Did you and Charlotte have a fight?’

Once Shirlene, Doris and I were to sing

And we weren’t really doing a thing

To upset dear Charlotte, but we did, I fear,

For she turned from the piano, and said, ‘Oh, dear!’

She’s had a few problems over the years;

Some were funny, some brought us both to tears.

She says, ‘I come to you for tea and sympathy,

But all I ever get is tea.’

Years ago Charlotte fell and and broke her arm;

She bumped her head too, but that didn’t do much harm.

She stayed at our house while waiting to heal;

She was not in condition to even get a meal.

For six weeks she stayed at our house with us,

Our three kids, a huge dog – but she didn’t fuss.

She never complained, we we lost her hairpins;

Took three weeks to find them, but even then

Her only request was ‘Would I tie her shoes soon?’

Don’t know why she asked that, ‘twas only two in the afternoon.

One other time I was singing a solo

And at the end I felt real low;

I really felt I had messed up the song;

Then she said, ‘It wasn’t you, I played it wrong.’

I only allow her three mistakes a year.

1983 has been OK, up to here.

She knows if she goofs, she’ll hear ‘that’s one!’

Three in a row and her job is all done!

Cookie, Ken and I were in the office one day,

And you never know what Ken’s going to say.

He said, ‘You two have been friends for a long time, I hear.’

‘O yes,’ said Cookie, ‘ever since I came here.’

Then Kenneth, which I thought was a riot,

Turns to Cookie and says, ‘But you’re so quiet!’

Another thing Ken said, I don’t know where he got the notion;

I don’t think it’s true that she falls down in slow motion.

Forty short years; how time does fly by!

And, of course, you were always much older than I!

There’s more I could write, but you’d have a fit,

So I guess I won’t spoil a perfect friendship.

The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy and goodness,

Long suffering, peace, faith and meekness,

Self-control and gentleness are listed too,

There’s not even one that doesn’t fit you.

I’ve often said ‘patience’ is your middle name.

You really are special, and always the same.

I hope you have like what I’ve written above;

It really is ‘to Charlotte with Love.’

--Muriel Thurston

   January, 1983