Lori Nelson Bohardt
My name is Lori Nelson Bohardt. I am my dad's oldest daughter.
As I recall I met Sue in 1966 when she was pregnant with Gary. Gary and I are 9 years apart.
I don't know where to begin -- there are many memories of Sue that I have.
One thing I liked to do with Sue is to go shopping in Oranjestad. We would stop at the vendors who would bring fresh fruits and vegetables from Columbia and Venezuela.
We would stop into Spritzer and Furhmann - an upscale jewelry store. I loved going in there because the airconditioning was so nice and cold.
On the way back to The Colony we would stop at Sue's sisters' (Baby) restaurant, the Chesterfield to visit. Baby would make Beth and I food to eat while Sue and Baby visited.
I had a bit of a culture shock when Sue's mother came to visit. She ate with her hands. Sue told me that is how Indian's eat.
I liked listening to Sue's stories about growing up in Trinidad. One story was her mother made her wear shoes to school, but she would ditch them in the bushes, because she wanted to be like the other kids who didn't wear shoes. Her mother eventually found out and was not happy!
Telling me how she would make roti.
She was also taught how to embroider, which she does beautiful work. Sue is very crafty and good at it! I had made dad a lap robe and she wanted to add onto it. Didn't have the pattern or stitch, but did a great job.
Things are just hopping in my head as I write. If I don't write it down I will lose focus.
None of this is chronological except the beginning and end.
Dad, Sue, Beth, Gary and I would go to Dude Ranches and travel to other places. Dad loved doing things like that. It was fun!
As many of you may know our relationship wasn't the best. I wish I 'knew' her then as I did when dad got sick and I stayed with them on and off for several months until dad passed away August 13, 2019.
Sue really loved dad and dad really love Sue. I was very envious to see the romance between the two of them.
When I stayed with them I found Sue to be a really good person. She was fun, smart, beautiful, always busy.
When Beth and I saw her in 2022 she was in the hospital. At that point she was in memory care at her residence. But she knew who I was and reached out her hand to me and said my name. What an amazing feeling!
I will miss Sue dearly. She was a very good wife, mother, stepmother.
Like dad would end his letters with
All my love,
Lori
