DEAR READERS: Cleaning out files, I ran across this email (from 2008) that is a charming story about my mother, the original Heloise, 1919-1977. Please enjoy! Dear Heloise: In 1969, I was a nursing student in New York City. I was on a crosstown bus one day and a well-dressed “older woman” (i.e. my mother’s age) got on the bus. She didn’t realize that exact change was required. The bus driver was NOT very pleasant about it. I paid her fare. She sat next to me and we talked while we rode the bus. I had NO idea who she was. She asked my name and where I went to school. Later that week, an autographed copy of her latest book was delivered to my dorm! Sadly, my own mother (who was delighted to see the book) lost this precious keepsake somewhere between retiring in New Jersey, and relocating to Texas. I’m so tickled to see that you’ve carried on your mother’s legacy. You and your mother have been a godsend to so many hapless housewives, like me! Thank you so much for all you do. -- Cathy W. via email *** Cathy, this just made me smile! I can see her, and she was probably wearing a suit, a nylon net hat she made, and carrying her monogrammed (in gold) briefcase! -- Heloise

Here is my mother, Heloise (1919-1977), getting off of the airplane in New York City sometime in the early 1960's. Notice her brief case...it has her name, HELOISE in gold on both sides!! Here books were best sellers and she did all of the top talk shows, including Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin and Mike Douglas. Click here for a larger photo. Here are the twins!! My mother, the original Heloise, with her identical twin sister Louise Matlock, along with Tom Wright, left and Bob Coleman from the Carpet and Rug Institute. I think this was in San Antonio Texas in the mid-1960's at a national meeting. Notice the Heloise Hats! My mother made them, using her famous nylon net. Yes, they are dressed the same! She would many times by two of something if it was a bargain and she liked it, as she did these dresses. Click here for a larger photo. Here is my mother, the original Heloise, at a Texas Press Association meeting in Austin Texas in 1971. The Heloise Hat is one of many that she made using a hat form and her famous nylon net. But, she added black beads to this one. Click here for a larger photo. This is a close up of my mothers briefcase. One of two mind you! She had her name printed on BOTH sides, in gold. That way, no matter which way it was sitting, you could read her name! Click here for a larger photo. Here is a photo of the hat my mother is wearing in the photo from Austin. Notice the black beads she hand sewed onto the nylon net. And, that is the original hatbox! See her notation in black marker stating which hat was inside!! She had dozens she made, so this made finding just the right one easy. Also, her briefcase with name in gold. Click here for a larger photo.