Haylee Marie Loughner

A LIMB AND A TWIG

Grace Hartman Ogden and her 

Great Great Granddaughter Haylee Marie Loughner

Ogden descendants old enough to remember Grandma Ogden (Grace), will recall how she said, "Goodbye" to friends and loved ones who visited her home at 336 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg, PA.  

After visitors left the house, but before they drove away, regardless of the weather, Grandma would stand by their car and talk, reluctant to let them go. If the driver was impatient, he or she would begin to ease away from the curb, but Grandma never stopped talking until the car pulled away, leaving her behind often with tears in her eyes. 

Last December, following their annual family Christmas Party at Doug and Holly’s home in Webster, New York, something happened to remind us of Grandma Ogden’s goodbye routine.

The party was over, hugs and kisses were shared, gifts were packed and cars were warming up. Five year old Haylee Loughner, whose family was not yet prepared to leave, hurriedly put on her boots, warm jacket and cap, and ran out with her Grandpa Doug, and stood there in the cold, holding Grandpa's hand waving goodbye until the cars left just like her Great Great Grandma before her.

Haylee had a huge pile of Christmas presents in the house from her generous family, but she preferred to stand outside in the cold, saying goodbye to her Cousin Cooper and other family members.

Could there possibly be a gene within Haylee that compels her to say goodbye just like her Great Great Grandma did many years ago? I would like to think so.