Eureka!

The name on her birth certificate was "Roberta." But, later, her mom decided she was as beautiful as the movie star, Dolores Del Rio. So, she became Dolores Randolyn, the first-born of Vinjennes Delquatro(Jennie, later Jane) and George Randolph (Rand) Sharp, born in Eureka, Nevada. Eureka is not a thriving metropolis - and it wasn't back in 1930 either. But, Rand got a job there - which is a good reason to go someplace - and they called it home for a while.

It's fitting, I think, that Mom was born in Eureka ("I found it!") I think that's what Dad thought when he "met" her. She knew exactly who he was - but he didn't remember her. He defended himself by reminding me that she was only 13 when he used to bring his dates into "Earl's" - the hamburger joint where she worked. A year later he went into the army and served in Korea during WWII. Right after he got home, he went on a mission to Uruguay for two-and-a-half years. In the meantime, Randy grew up and graduated from high school - this is her graduation picture. She wore that same dress when they were married in the Salt Lake Temple on June 12, 1951. And she wore it again on their 30th wedding anniversary - it fit beautifully.

As lovely as the dress and roses are, it's her face I find captivating. I was her first-born, and my dad named me for her - hoping, I think, that I'd be like her. Vain ambition. Mom was long and lean and lovely and I'm.... not. The only way in which I resemble my mom is that I carry -but don't use - her name. Oh yeah - and my mouth. Big. Better to smile at you, my dear...

Mom was a genuine liker of persons. She always had a reason to like someone - even the prickly ones. She rarely denigrated people - although she was very balanced in her evaluation of them. She was a very good read of character - a characteristic I did not appreciate as a kid, but grew to depend on as an adult. She could mine the most mundane mind and find something likeable. You could almost hear her soul whisper... "Eureka!"