When my mom, Collene Spencer married my dad, Allen Spencer, they moved from Casper, Wyoming, to Superior, Wisconsin. She was young and unprepared for the loneliness that came with being so far from her parents and their big family. As the middle child in a family of nine, she was used to always having people around her…sisters to talk to and do things with, and brothers who teased her but also did the kindest things for her. Marriage was exciting, but being so completely on her own was also incredibly scary and unfamiliar to a young bride of 17 years.
When she arrived in Superior, Wisconsin…as happy as she was, being married to my dad, my mom was still wondering if she would be able to make it in this new place, without her family. Then, she met her new sister-in-law…my Aunt Doris Spencer. Mom always told me that Aunt Doris saved her, in many ways. She was a new friend when my mom really needed one, and they became the best of friends…friends for life…even after my Aunt Doris and my Uncle Bill Spencer, who is my dad’s brother, were divorced.
Mom has shared countless stories about the adventures she and my Aunt Doris had. One of the funniest is how they were always on some diet, even though they weren’t really overweight and never stuck with it for long. I suppose they thought dieting together would help them stay committed, and plenty of people still believe that today, though it’s never been something that worked for me. They even tried odd ideas like crackers with ketchup and warm water.
Mom also appreciated the funnier side of my aunt. When Aunt Doris got her driver’s license, she was on her way to meet Uncle Bill at their cabin when a police officer pulled her over for speeding. He asked for her 
license, then stepped away from the car for a moment. Without handing it over, Aunt Doris simply drove off to the cabin. When she told Uncle Bill about it, he asked to see the ticket. “What ticket?” she replied. He said, “The ticket he gave you.” She answered, “He didn’t give me a ticket. He walked away, so I just left.” She figured he’d decided to let it slide. Uncle Bill panicked, certain the cops would come arrest his wife, but they never did. The officer must have found it hilarious, because he never followed up…much to Uncle Bill’s surprise. It’s the most unusual way I’ve ever heard of someone getting out of a traffic ticket. Today would have been my Aunt Doris’ 102nd birthday. Happy birthday in Heaven, Aunt Doris. We love and miss you very much.
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