Shell collection

Maydene Short still lived in and owned a beautiful old apartment building in Capitol Hill. Funky and affordable in the 1960's her two-bedroom residence was "an investment into the future." The Drs. Short put their money into their daughter's choice to study and live in America. Cornish College was within blocks of the apartment building, and while May studied art, she was also studying midwifery. At the same time.

"It's an odd cobble of your talents dear, but all that energy must go somewhere."
"Couldn't you do the one first and then the other?" This was a three-way conversation well ahead of the techno wizardry of Skype or cellphones. May stood looking out her second floor kitchen window to the alley below. The two floored brick building housed four apartments, two up and two on the ground floor. May's apartment faced east. She held the handset to her closely cropped blond head, and listened first to one parent, and then the other.

"Thing is mother, the Goldmans are starting the midwifery training in October. Cornish starts up in September. I'm enrolled in the Fine Arts program with great instructors and a schedule that will free me up all weekends, and two nights a week. I could begin with both, at least for the first year and see how I get along." Both parents knew the determination in their daughter, and capacity to spread paint with efficacy applied to May Short's youthful vigor. They listened, both silent as they waited for more.

"Are you fretting the investment. The money Dad?"

"No May! I am not." He knew the rent from the three apartments would easily pay the mortgage. This was 1967, and this apartment building had a consistent history of occupancy. "What I'm concerned with is not lighting those wicks from all ends at once. Sizzlin' your firecrackers." That made them all laugh with understanding. The imagery was perfect. Young Maydene was a firecracker fully lit at any given moment.

"I won't disappoint you Mum, and we'll have this chat again next year to see how we all get on with this master plan."

"They won't know what hit them, will they darling?" It was the Mister Short.

"No dad. They won't."

There was a solid and supportive foundation to the Americanization of Maydene Short that could have gone unread if the story did not pick up some old threads seemingly tied good. The Maydene Short who once drove an old Dodge truck she named Olympia in the middle of a lightning storm remains the owner of the Capital Street Apartments. Buy outs and die off have left her unfazed even as Amazon and Google replaced Seattle's flannel shirts for APPS and 'clouds.' She has a Masters in Fine Art Degree specializing in costuming and head dressing. Her particular focus was that of Shell Collecting. More than a hundred costumes featured variations of shells and spirals that replicated the sea world's labyrinths for moving sound.

And the midwifery? There's another good bit of chatter worth your investment. I won't disappoint you. Promise. But it's late, or early morning and this writer needs some sleep. Good night then dear reader. Pleasant dreams.