[jdviole2]

First off I want to mention the post from r3mdh about a picture book dedicated to Helena. I love writing the stories I tell here. It's wonderful remembering all the things about Helena as I compose them, but the memories are still pretty painful for me also. I'm don't think I could stand the work involved in writing a book. Not to mention the fact that I am totally unqualified to write anything more complex than a shopping list. So thanks for the thought but I don't see that ever happening. Besides her story will be here for people to read anywhere in the world, anytime they want. Couldn't get that type of coverage with a book. On to the topic for today. Popcorn and Butter. (sounds like the title and plot of a not very good porn film). One of Helena's favorite snack foods was popcorn. Popcorn dripping with butter. In the mid 90's Helena's dentist told her that she needed to get braces. She had wanted braces since she was a little girl. She had a diastema (space) between her two upper front teeth that she hated. Her parents didn't want to pay for braces so she didn't get them. Now her teeth had shifted and it was medically necessary to get them fixed. One of the forbidden foods when you have braces (all together now) is popcorn. She was very good for a year but something in her snapped one day at the movies. She ate popcorn. For the next three days she brushed, and flossed her teeth spending more time at that than at any other activity. I had to perform checks after every brushing to see if she had any trace of the forbidden snack in her mouth. I never could find anything and neither could she. Wednesday she had her appointment with the orthodontist. She went into the treatment room with the dental assistant leaving me in the waiting room with all the moms and dads who were waiting for their kids. Less than 30 seconds later I hear the assistant ask her if she had enjoyed her popcorn. Somehow we missed a hull. I got to laughing so hard I finally had to explain to the waiting parents what the joke was. When we left one of the moms stopped Helena and told her that popcorn was her favorite snack too. Helena was so embarassed. Like I said she loved her popcorn with tons of butter. One of our local theaters had just started allowing you to put your own butter on the popcorn. The Saturday after she got her braces off Helena informed me we were going to the movies. She got her popcorn and poured on the butter. (OK we both knew that the "butter" had never been aquainted with a cow and probably was a close relative of motor oil, but we made do) The movie was over at five. By seven Helena had started to develop a stomach ache. By eight thirty the last stage of the digestion process had started. She had the runs for three days. From then on anytime she wanted to overdo adding some kind of condiment to her food, all I had to do was ask her if she wanted any more butter on her popcorn. That would usually end the discussion. On to the pictures for today. The first picture today was taken by Helena's dad in 1971 two years before we met. The second picture was also taken by her dad in 1973 after I had returned to Naples. When I left she didn't have any new pictures to give me so had her dad take this one and she mailed it to me. I had told the guys there that I got engaged and they wanted to see a picture of the girl. When this one came they were there when I opened the envelope. None of them believed that this beautiful girl had agreed to marry me. By the way the outfit she is wearing is the one she had on at the picnic when we met. That is the girl that I saw coming down the stairs. That is the girl I fell so hard for. Both of those pictures came from very small prints so the quality is not as good as I would like. As I have said before you never had to tell Helena how to move or pose. She was a natural. She was the same way with her dad. In fact the only posed picture I have is her high school graduation picture (I may show you some other day) and it doesn't look much like her. Of course the photographer was directing her how to pose in that one. The third shot shows Helena riding the bronze lion at the entrance to the Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha Nebraska in about 1987. Next we have Helena taking a break somewhere in California probably in 1978 or 9. Next a shot from the early 80's again in California, I think at Knotts Berry farm, but not sure. The last shot is a sexy shot for you, also from a print. I do not even recall taking any color prints during her "nude" posing sessions but she is clearly wearing the same transparent nightie she wore for those pictures. This is taken in a different room than the nudes but still. Somewhere I should have the negative for this. And since I can't imagine I only took one picture on print film there must be others. All I have to do is find them. Maybe someday.