Melanie Popa Piette
Melanie Piette Popa ( née Mary Melanie Piette) turns 60 today. Born 18 months after her next oldest brother (Mark) and only 29 months after her oldest brother (Chas). The first of three girls, and the one who is always described as the “sweetest” of the Piette kids. (well, sometimes *I* get called that. But I think it is meant ironically) Though named after the Blessed Virgin, she was always (or at least as long as I knew her) called Melanie, or more familiarly, Mel. There was always much speculation in the family that she was named after Melanie Wilkes ( née Hamilton) from Gone With the Wind . We were always assured that no, our mother had a very good friend whose name was Melanie, and she was named after that friend. As Chas was the teacher, and Mark was the rogue, Mel acted as the younger kids ’ comforter. She was always around when we needed to talk to someone, needed someone to play with, or just someone to hang around with. Mel at her first communion I ...