Dear Aunt Polly is a witty and worldly woman of magical mystery to whom children are drawn. Her spry body and quick mind belie her age. In fact, she often seems much younger than the children’s parents. Aunt Polly’s love for others and intuitive nature allow her to quickly understand their needs and feelings. She knows children want to feel protected, accepted, understood and challenged; and she embodies these nurturing qualities, tempered with innate wisdom.

Aunt Polly has long silvery wispy hair that is pulled into a bun. Her glasses fit comfortably at the tip of her nose but never hide the twinkle in her eye. She dresses for action in gardening overalls or loose-fitting dresses of gingham or flannel. A shawl with mystical attributes is usually hung over her shoulders. It can act like a magic carpet to take Aunt Polly and the neighborhood children on adventures to other times and other places around the world.

Aunt Polly loves to garden, and she disburses her flowers generously to the local townspeople. Her home always smells of something tasty for she has a sweet tooth but she keeps healthy snacks for the children, usually prepared by Uncle Pete. To his dismay, Aunt Polly chats more than attending to her cooking so she frequently makes a complete mess of herself and his spotless kitchen. The garden, porch swing and small brook behind the house are her favorite ‘serenity spots’ where she is often found reading and watching the birds, usually in the company of her dogs and cats.

Many of the local people, adults and children alike, gather in her home in the evenings to make music. Aunt Polly plays the piano and sings in a loud voice. She and a few others have created a band called Polly & the Crackers. They play at town events on the village green and in the community center. The band has an amateur but heart-rousing sound.

Aunt Polly grew up in a small town in the South where hospitality and charm were part of her heritage but she quickly ran to the Big Apple for a life of sophistication and excitement. She started her career as a reporter for a newspaper and later became a writer for GOOD FOOD & GOOD TIMES Magazine.

In this position, she traveled widely and gathered a large collection of books on other countries, their food and cultures. While working on a culinary story, she met Uncle Pete, a well-known chef in the city who was originally from New Orleans. They married late in life and have no children of their own.

One of Aunt Polly’s passions is writing, both stories and letters; and she has written what she believes is the next great American novel. She makes numerous attempts to get her book published and each day eagerly awaits the postman in hopes that her creation has finally been recognized. Unfortunately, her mailbox is filled with rejection notices. Only when she writes from the heart, like in her letters, does she write anything of substance.

Having had enough of noise and constant stimulation, Aunt Polly and Uncle Pete have chosen to spend their retirement years in a small town not far from the city and close to her nephew and his family. Her love of writing continues as gossip columnist for the local paper as well as the creator of a blog on how to enjoy retirement.

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