Remembering Bibbs

When I was little, my mom was on the school board and was fortunate enough to meet a woman named Bibbs Orr, who was also on the board. Bibbs was Scandinavian – tall, robust, and elegant. She had a slight accent, which further enhanced her elegance in my mind.

My most vivid memory of her was when my sister Meri and I got to go to a school board conference with my mom in Anaheim at Disneyland. We were staying at the Disneyland hotel which was ridiculously exciting. We were meeting Bibbs for dinner, and as we were walking outside at night, we saw her: she was dressed in heels and beige slacks, with a cream sweater, I believe. The most memorable part was her cape that was blowing dramatically in the wind. She was walking past the fountain that was lit up, and when she saw us, she opened her arms and called out, “My Princesses!”. We went running over to her and were enveloped in her cape as she hugged us.

She loved good food, and would pile her plate high at the breakfast buffet. She loved to taste roasted coffee beans and said that was the best way to tell if the coffee would be good.

Bibbs died many years ago of ovarian cancer. Thinking of her this morning, I was wondering whether she knew what she meant to me, and that she would have a lasting effect on me? I hope so.