by Julie Williams

It was 1934, and the warm blush of red maples was just beginning to reflect on the quiet waters of Boulder Lake when my grandparents put a down payment on a small resort in Wisconsin’s North Woods. SYD DOOLITTLE'S RESORT OF THE WOODS was born and cabins were added to accommodate fifty guests. Through Rosabel’s superb cooking, and Syd’s professional fishing guide services for anglers, they received national acclaim as a vacation destination. Grandpa spent each winter hand writing personal letters to their guests, personally inviting them back to share in the prospective summer's events. North Woods memories fill my early years until their retirement in 1958.

After Grandpa passed away, Grandma spent the school seasons with us, and taught my sisters and I her baking skills. Home Economics was still a required course for high school girls in the 1960’s, and I wasn’t pleased with the prospects of taking this class. After all, Grandma was a professional cook and had been teaching me for years. I was paired up in Home Ec’ with an extrovert brunette from the yearbook committee. During class instruction, I was constantly turning to her and contradicting the teacher's instructions with, “But, Grandma’ says…”. I did manage to pass that class, despite my great attitude.

One of the yearbook projects was the pairing up of each graduate with a personal motto. When the class yearbook finally arrived, sure enough, under my picture were the words: “My Grandma Says…” <>Grandma’s influence shaped many of my cooking and life skills. Through disappointments and frustrations, whether in the kitchen or elsewhere, I eventually come back to her words, so firmly and quietly spoken----“Attitude is everything, dear”.

Those words still ring true in my heart today. Attitude IS [still] everything. Thank you, Grandma Doolittle.