There are many places in my writing that topics can be put now.
I just put them where I happen to think they should go as the mood
to write hits me. I have been trying to write every day, but that does
not always happen. The writing comes to me, I have no control. I have
been spending time visiting with friends in a chat room that I love
going to. It is like a big coffee clatch. How I missed that. This one
is different than most I have belonged to though. I always feel so
welcome now. They always greet me like they have missed me so much. That feeling of belonging is so important to me now. I always said I didnt care about those type of things, but we all do. We all feel left out. I left myself out. I did not keep in touch with real life friends because it was just easier to do. I did not get hurt that way, for I was not close enough to anyone to feel that way. I always wonder why I am the person who has to get things together. Organize, arrange. Why do my friends not call me. Yes, I realize they are all busy with their own lives. I have always used that as the excuse of all excuses. Why did no one reach out to me when I was trying to eat myself to death? I got bigger and bigger, but no one said one single word about it to me. I will have to say that it would not have helped anyway. I was not ready to hear anything anyone had to say about it. I was truly trying to accept myself as I was. That is the most difficult thing to do in the world, did you know that? Self love is selfish, etc. I did not mean to wander here. See? My mind has it's own direction to go, no matter what my intent might be to begin with. This is not a bad thing, it is a good thing. "Go with the Flow" is what I will do from now on, let it happen.
I was going to sit here and remember things about my Missouri days again. Those times seem to calm me. I felt good in those days. I felt bad in those days too. I chose to feel good. You see, it IS a choice. I was always doing my best to be Happy. I was back then. I truly believe that. I always remember that Peggy Lee song...."Is That All There Is?" Life is like that. Every day is different...yet some are always the same over and over again. Good. Calm. Some would even say Boring. Routine. I hate routine. I always have. Routine is boring. Give me something different every day. Stimulate me, entertain me. We spend way too much time expecting someone else to make us Happy. Deep inside I think we all know that this is not truly possible. Happiness is a choice. Look at all of the people who have survived horrible trauma in their lives. They can choose to be negative and give up, or they can fight tooth and nail to get better. Some make it, some don't. I want to be one of those who makes it.
I almost wasn't. I am sure had I kept eating my feelings, I would be dead soon. I would no longer feel anything except that continuous feeling of adreniline that eating gives a person for a short time. Maybe adreniline isn't the right word. The right word is probably something to do with hormones or a balance in the system. I cannot think of the word I mean right now...but you know what I mean. That feeling you get after a Holiday meal. All those calories begin to do what they do to your body and for a bit you really feel good. Then the dis-comfort hits and you wonder just how you could eat so very much again! You promise not to do it ever again and yet, you crave those same things again way too soon. Then before you know it, you are addicted to that feeling and want it over and over again. Common sense leaves you. All you can think about is getting that feeling again as soon as possible. It is comfort, joy, satisfaction, lust and last of all, Love. Unadulterated Love. Food is something that won't treat you badly. It won't say mean things about how you look, It won't judge you for any reason whatsoever. It tastes so good, is sweet, salty, all your senses get into it. For a brief time, you can be Happy without even thinking about how. It just happens. I guess you would say my Drug of Choice used to be Food. I could have easily been addicted to many other things, came close at times to that also. Gambling, Drugs, Fast driving. Many more that come to mind also. Why I chose Food, I truly don't know. Perhaps it was because at special occassions, there it was in all its glory. Special cakes, cookies, more cakes, good meats. Good eats. Most of our comfort foods are things that were not expensive when we were growing up. Mac and Cheese, Potatos with lots of Butter, Homemade cakes, pancakes, french toast. I could go on and on. I begin to see more and more how the two things can come together...Love and Food. Love of Food. Food for Love. It certainly worked for me.
The exercise thing...not sure why I did not get into moving more. Most Children do. They cannot wait to go outside and play. I would rather sit and read a book, take a nap, or the newest one, watch television. Would not want to miss a good show! I know part of all this was that my Mom and Dad were so busy trying to put the food on the table and find their own self worth. I read books about "Finding Oneself", "Being What You were put on this Earth to be", things of that nature. Where I was born and raised no one had the time to think about such things. These things alone were the things my Family Dreamed of! Time to sit and relax was very limited. Time to Dream was even less. This said, my Folks and Grandparents still did take the chance to do their own form of Dreaming. Having their own place, not renting anymore. Running their own store, being their own boss. These too, they acheived. Mom went back and got her Teaching degree years after she had us three children. That takes a lot of guts and stamina. I envy her that. She got her Teaching degree in Missouri when I was about 13. It made us all stronger. I had to grow up. I had to learn to cook, such as it was. I never really put much into that process, just enough to get something on the table. I was limited again by money. So many receipes called for things I never had heard of, thus could not buy. I still find this true even today. I do take more chances though, and buy certain foods now that are good for me, no matter what the price. I am worth eating right. I am cooking more now, but not able to share it with my Husband, as he hates the foods I should be eating. He is strictly a Meat and Potatos Man. He would eat Hamburger ever day of the week and sometimes does. I love chicken, turkey, fish...all the foods the body really needs. I always have craved the good foods....just way too much of all of them. I never thought I could get over craving sweets or homemade breads. Once I got switched off of them, it became easier all of the time. I now do not suffer from Heartburn anymore. I used to get it a lot. I was worried I had an ulcer or some such. I believe it was the Bread and starches fermenting with the milk and other foods. Now I know that I cannot eat too much of those things. I do not eat much white flour or other white foods other than potatos. Potatos are the exception to not eating white foods. They are so valuable in nutrition that they excape the rule. I have desserts sometimes when I really am craving them. Spelled backwards, they are stressed. What does that tell us?
This is the first year I did not want or have a Birthday Cake on my Day. I made that CHOICE. This is a landmark accomplishment for me, for sure. We have not had one Birthday Cake for any of our Spring Birthdays. What an amazing thing to have happen. Who knew we could survive without them? The same is true of Chocolate. I have been able to control and limit my intake of this food as well. I have to admit, there are days when I still crave it immensely, but those days are becoming less and less. I find something else sweet to take the place, usually fruit or yogurt. Some things stay in the mind a long long time.
I remember Mom and Dad struggling to feed us when we were little. We never starved, but I think sometimes we came pretty close. Like the times when Dad went Hunting. It was never just for "sport" for him. If he hunted, we would eat it the next meal.
There was one time that he and a bunch of the neighbors got together for a "frog hunt". Yes, we made it into a party of sorts, but we were all pretty hungry. I do not remember much else of what we had at that party, but I do remember thinking that the frog legs were very tasty...like chicken. Everyone jokes about that one, but it is true. There were also Venison feeds. I can still remember how the Elementary School smelled when that Deer was cooking. It had a flavor I still cannot describe. It was not the best taste ever, but it was pretty good barbequed. As I said, anything is tasty when you are hungry enough. We also had to eat a lot of Pheasant and other game birds. Mom got so good at fixing them. I used to watch as she would pick the buckshot out of them....yet we still had to be very careful not to bite down too hard on the meat, for she always seemed to miss some. We raised chickens or someone in the Family did. When Mom was going back to school to get her Teaching degree, Dad began to cook and fix us foods he had while in the Army. I loved Chipped Beef on Toast with gravy.
Have not had that in ages now. I am sure it is not good for the Heart. Lots of things weren't back then. But if they were cheap, we would eat them. We would get together with my Grandparents at Easter and sometimes at Christmas. With my Mother's parents living about 8 hours north of us in Iowa, the times spent with them were very rare. We would always go visit my Dad's Folks a lot though. I think Mom needed the respite from us, so she would leave us there and we would explore and pretend while Mom attended to her College courses. I cannot help but remember these things because now I see my Daughter returning to get her Law Degree and going through some of the same stresses I would see my Mom handle. Mom worked part time also. I know she did not earn much money, but whatever she earned helped to pay the bills and keep us in our home. My Folks even managed to buy a Grocery Store and run it for a while. Mom had been raised helping in my Grandparents Grocery in Iowa, so that came naturally to her. She said they barely could pay the bills of the Store though, because Dad was so kind hearted when folks could not pay their grocery bills at the end of the month.
I will have to ask Dad how long they had the store. I still remember eating Watermelon on the end of the front steps and spitting the seeds down to the ground below. We were told not to swallow them for they might grow a watermelon in our tummies! The things I believed in those days. Its no wonder I am certifiable! Kids are so gullible. I found myself doing similar things later on when raising my own daughters. What goes around comes around as they say. I think the girls are pretty level headed in spite of the things I did....at least so far!
I remember babysitting a little neighbor girl who lived across the street from our store. I would sing the Flying Purple People Eater song to her and make her laugh and giggle out loud. It was a fun song to sing as silly as it was. Even grownups liked it, though most never admitted it. I would go over to see this little girl often as we could swing on her brand new swing set that was store bought....
My parents resented the gifts that my Mom's parents would shower upon us. Strange that I barely remembered those things. When I think hard about it, memories still do come back, though most are only in bits and snatches anymore. Time will do that to one's Memories.I find comfort in the remembering and the telling of those things here as I remember them. Things I had truly forgotten were so enjoyable. Like our cat Fri Fri. He was a gem of a cat. He got a flat nose from us all pushing on it so much.
We got him when my folks had the store. I think someone wanted to get rid of him and his brother or sister. I do not remember the name of that cat. Fri Fri survived the move back from Missouri to Iowa when Mom got a teaching job back near her parents.
I never felt welcome in that community. I wonder if I would have felt welcome anywhere new. I still like things "just so", even when that is a boring thing. Comfort takes many forms I suppose.
Dad would try to give us things to entertain us. I remember one time he put up a Circus type bar in our yard so I could pursue my Dream of being famous one day.
Children tend to Dream of things they cannot be in the real world...or at least I did. I wanted to be on TV, but am truly very shy. My acting attempts were lapluster at best. I never wanted to put the work into them that I should have. Take the easy way, thats me. Guess I was too much afraid of failure to give it my best try. I still tend to be that way today....going along easily. Now I see that that has its good side as well. I tried my best when I was raising my children. I wanted them to have the Life I never had. I let them Dream. I wish I had tried to help them more with that. I too fell into the same dilema as my parents. Too little money, too little time. Spending time trying to earn a dollar and becoming too good at trying to buy my Happiness, and theirs. They say they never felt deprived. I am so glad of that.
There were so many things they did have to do without. Just things though, not anything important to how they turned out. Children will remember the things you do with them more than anything you can buy them. I have seen this time and time again.
I will write more about our new home (new to us) in Fenton after we returned to Iowa at another time. For now, it is time to get going on my walk. The wind is to die down for a bit before the rains begin again. I want to take advantage of that and get in my walk. Even if I do not walk as far, I make the 20 minutes or more, so all is good!
Don't forget to hug someone you love today. Start with yourself!
Hugs n Smooches, Katie
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Friday, April 07, 2006
Family Almost Remembered
These are the Family of my Parents as I remember them now.
Please be patient as it will take time to bring them all back.
My Mother was an only child. Her Parents were Cecil O. Bailey
and Oma A. Bailey. They lived in various towns around Iowa.
I will try to do a trace of where. I am not sure that even
my Dad will remember now. One of the things I regret not asking
back when I had the chance. The thing is, when I could have asked, I was wrapped up in the present, did not see far enough down the line. Now I find comfort in looking back.
I suppose that is what Age can give us. If we choose to receive this gift.
My Grandpa Bailey was a wonderful man. He kept to himself and was pretty quiet. He never spoke much, but when he did, He said things that were awsome. He had been
a Banker back in his younger days, working in two different Banks. Later on when my
Mother was a young child, he and my Grandma Oma bought a plot of land in a very small town called Seneca. It had been named after the Seneca Indians who used to roam near that area. On this plot of land was a nice home, several apartments in a one floor complex, and the Grocery Store/Gas Station/Repair shop. I spoke a bit about this in a previous writing.
There were several other houses in this very tiny town. As the years went by, more and more of the homes disappeared as folks moved away and the buildings tumbled
down and were then torn down or burned.
There had been a School there for many many years. This was a brick building much like some schools still use today. There used to be one just like it here in the town in which I live now. This school also went the way of those other buildings. For a long time afterwards, the playground equipment remained for those remaining children in the town to use for exercise and fun, and sometimes even torment. (more about this in another story).
I am getting away from where I wanted this story to lead. I am trying to recall what my Grandmother's History was before she married my Grandfather. I know that they both Graduated from the Same High School much earlier in life. They graduated a few years apart in the early part of the Century, around 1917 or so. I also do not know how soon after that they married. This is a perplexing thing to me, for any history of this that I could have gleamed is now lost for all of the Family who knew are long
dead. I would have to contact some of my Mother's cousins to get the information.
Perhaps I will do that someday soon. I have always wanted to look into it. I will put it on my List of things to do. I love looking into past information and can almost see the travels of the people back then when I do read such things. I did a bit of geneology searching about 2 years ago, and ran into some dead ends, so gave up for a while. I will soon get back to it. There has to be some sort of link to get me to that one generation that is skipped in the search.
My Grandmother Oma had one Sister, Orma. She had a brother Roscoe who died while still fairly young. Her other brother was Weber. He used to drive the School Bus
I rode on for a while until he retired and his Son Clarence took over. They both had driven for many years before they retired. Both are long gone now. So are my Grandma Oma and her Sister Orma and brother Weber. If there were other Siblings, I have no recollection of them at this time. Who knows what memories will come back to me. I find them flooding back more every time I write.
I used to get to go to my Mom's Cousin's houses to play when I was about ten years old. We had moved to Missouri, but returned when I was just starting to go through puberty. Not a good time for any young woman...trust me. So many rapid changes, the body cannot keep up, let alone the mind! (Again off track)
There was Marlin Wegener and his wife Gladys. They had a large family. I remember
Karen, Beth Ann, and David. The other's names won't come right now. Now that I remember, these children belonged to Marlin's Sister. Her last name was Feye and I used to babysit for their children. The only one who's name I can get back now is Debbie. She hurt her nose on a barbed wire fence one time when we were visiting.
It was getting dark and she couldn't see where the fence was. She fell into it and I can still remember her screams to this day. She was ok, just cut up and needed some stitches in her nose. Nowdays they would just super glue the cut sides together!
Weber's wife's name was Nettie. I always liked to go there because she always put up a lunch which they called a coffee. It came from the years on the Farm making food for the Threshers or the neighbors during Harvest time. I always did like fancy foods!
Clarence's wifes name is Helen and I saw her a few years ago at Mom's Funeral.
She has not changed one bit since when I knew her many years ago. They had several children, all much older than us. Gee whiz, I cannot even remember Grandma's maiden name right now. I hope these things will return as I continue to write on.
I remember Orma was married to a Farmer who was a mean son of a gun, to hear my Grandma tell it. One of those that thinks Women and children are little more than property. Hard working women who suffered abuses that no one should have to feel.
I liked the Coffees then. They used the good china and teacups. They put fancy napkins out and silverware that they spend much time cleaning. I helped do that one time and trust me, the newer silverware is MUCH nicer. I don't know where Mom's Silverware Box went. I know I didn't want it at the time because of the cleaning thing. Tarnished Silverware is not very attractive.
I felt like a Princess when we attended these parties. People got together for entertainment back then. They would play cards or converse and in later times,
watch TV.
I will do some thinking to try and come up with more names of the lost cousins.
Until that time, I need a snooze. Hugs all, enjoy!
Don't forget that HUG!!!
Katie
Please be patient as it will take time to bring them all back.
My Mother was an only child. Her Parents were Cecil O. Bailey
and Oma A. Bailey. They lived in various towns around Iowa.
I will try to do a trace of where. I am not sure that even
my Dad will remember now. One of the things I regret not asking
back when I had the chance. The thing is, when I could have asked, I was wrapped up in the present, did not see far enough down the line. Now I find comfort in looking back.
I suppose that is what Age can give us. If we choose to receive this gift.
My Grandpa Bailey was a wonderful man. He kept to himself and was pretty quiet. He never spoke much, but when he did, He said things that were awsome. He had been
a Banker back in his younger days, working in two different Banks. Later on when my
Mother was a young child, he and my Grandma Oma bought a plot of land in a very small town called Seneca. It had been named after the Seneca Indians who used to roam near that area. On this plot of land was a nice home, several apartments in a one floor complex, and the Grocery Store/Gas Station/Repair shop. I spoke a bit about this in a previous writing.
There were several other houses in this very tiny town. As the years went by, more and more of the homes disappeared as folks moved away and the buildings tumbled
down and were then torn down or burned.
There had been a School there for many many years. This was a brick building much like some schools still use today. There used to be one just like it here in the town in which I live now. This school also went the way of those other buildings. For a long time afterwards, the playground equipment remained for those remaining children in the town to use for exercise and fun, and sometimes even torment. (more about this in another story).
I am getting away from where I wanted this story to lead. I am trying to recall what my Grandmother's History was before she married my Grandfather. I know that they both Graduated from the Same High School much earlier in life. They graduated a few years apart in the early part of the Century, around 1917 or so. I also do not know how soon after that they married. This is a perplexing thing to me, for any history of this that I could have gleamed is now lost for all of the Family who knew are long
dead. I would have to contact some of my Mother's cousins to get the information.
Perhaps I will do that someday soon. I have always wanted to look into it. I will put it on my List of things to do. I love looking into past information and can almost see the travels of the people back then when I do read such things. I did a bit of geneology searching about 2 years ago, and ran into some dead ends, so gave up for a while. I will soon get back to it. There has to be some sort of link to get me to that one generation that is skipped in the search.
My Grandmother Oma had one Sister, Orma. She had a brother Roscoe who died while still fairly young. Her other brother was Weber. He used to drive the School Bus
I rode on for a while until he retired and his Son Clarence took over. They both had driven for many years before they retired. Both are long gone now. So are my Grandma Oma and her Sister Orma and brother Weber. If there were other Siblings, I have no recollection of them at this time. Who knows what memories will come back to me. I find them flooding back more every time I write.
I used to get to go to my Mom's Cousin's houses to play when I was about ten years old. We had moved to Missouri, but returned when I was just starting to go through puberty. Not a good time for any young woman...trust me. So many rapid changes, the body cannot keep up, let alone the mind! (Again off track)
There was Marlin Wegener and his wife Gladys. They had a large family. I remember
Karen, Beth Ann, and David. The other's names won't come right now. Now that I remember, these children belonged to Marlin's Sister. Her last name was Feye and I used to babysit for their children. The only one who's name I can get back now is Debbie. She hurt her nose on a barbed wire fence one time when we were visiting.
It was getting dark and she couldn't see where the fence was. She fell into it and I can still remember her screams to this day. She was ok, just cut up and needed some stitches in her nose. Nowdays they would just super glue the cut sides together!
Weber's wife's name was Nettie. I always liked to go there because she always put up a lunch which they called a coffee. It came from the years on the Farm making food for the Threshers or the neighbors during Harvest time. I always did like fancy foods!
Clarence's wifes name is Helen and I saw her a few years ago at Mom's Funeral.
She has not changed one bit since when I knew her many years ago. They had several children, all much older than us. Gee whiz, I cannot even remember Grandma's maiden name right now. I hope these things will return as I continue to write on.
I remember Orma was married to a Farmer who was a mean son of a gun, to hear my Grandma tell it. One of those that thinks Women and children are little more than property. Hard working women who suffered abuses that no one should have to feel.
I liked the Coffees then. They used the good china and teacups. They put fancy napkins out and silverware that they spend much time cleaning. I helped do that one time and trust me, the newer silverware is MUCH nicer. I don't know where Mom's Silverware Box went. I know I didn't want it at the time because of the cleaning thing. Tarnished Silverware is not very attractive.
I felt like a Princess when we attended these parties. People got together for entertainment back then. They would play cards or converse and in later times,
watch TV.
I will do some thinking to try and come up with more names of the lost cousins.
Until that time, I need a snooze. Hugs all, enjoy!
Don't forget that HUG!!!
Katie
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
The Store
Grandpa's Store was always a fun place to visit. It was like he owned this Kingdom. Especially to a young girl like me. My main memories were from when I was about seven until ten years old. There were so many wonderful smells in that place. It was a somewhat large square building with open space everywhere except where goods were piled or arranged on wooden shelves.
It was amazing. There was a smell of the pink cleaner he always used to clean the floor. It was just called Sweeping compound as far as I know. My husband remembers it being called that. I just remember how it smelled and how I used to watch my Grandpa clean the floor with it. He sometimes even let me help when he was feeling particularly patient and work was not in a rush. He used to sit and play Cribbage a lot in the "back room". There were always several regulars there playing cards, having coffee or just generally shooting the breeze. It was the local gathering spot around the area. Being a rural place, farmers would come in for goods and sometimes could take a few extra minutes to relax before going back to their work. Grandma was known for putting the coffee pot on at the drop of a hat. There was even occasional fresh home baked goodies offered or brought in, too. Even when passing the time, the folks seldom stayed very long, only a few minutes, but the entertainment materials were many. Stories came out about so and so. Or, weather will be changing soon. Miss Molly the teacher has a male friend. The regular, tame gossip. No harm was meant, it was just conversation. There was no television yet, so self entertainment had to be it. I was always reading something when possible.
There was a special Meat Counter. It was always stocked to the hilt with the normal fare. I do not remember how it got there, but I assume it was delivered. I do not want to think of where else it could have come from. I know he didn't butcher it himself! I have had more time to think about it and I believe that he may have had it delivered by the local Locker. Those meats were always piled high and seemed to go quickly whenever a customer would arrive. I don't remember a meal without it, though sometimes there was not a lot of it. I was pretty little at that time and did not worry on such matters. My favorite was the different choices of lunch meat! It was a sandwich heaven!
There was a wooden glass candy cabinet too. It was a large rectangle box with glass on three sides. It
always amazed me to see how many different kinds of candy he had there available to buy. It opened on the back side with a latch.This was the only wooden side and made access easy. He said it was the only way to keep the penny candy from leaving without getting paid for, even back then! Guess certain things are just too much to pass up. I know I was guilty of taking a piece of bubble gum one time. It bothered me for a very very long time...till I fessed up and he forgave me. Trust me, I never ever did any stealing again, ever! We kids used to get to eat whatever sandwiches we wanted when we were visiting there. Usually Grandpa would make us up one with mayonnaise or pickles or whatever we were in the mood for. Sometimes Grandma would bake or cook for lunch, but most of the time it was a quick lunch and something more grand for supper hour. She always had some sort of very good meal there waiting for us hot and simmering when we got home from the store. She would either start something before she went over to work in the store, or she would leave early in the afternoon to begin something.
There were only a few houses in the town, Seneca. It is still there, but the store isn't. It has been gone for many years now. The town had been larger, but over the years, folks either moved away or found jobs away, or both. In the last few years of the store, it became pretty much like a little ghost town. So are all the people who lived there then, dead and long buried. Sometimes I wish I could go back then just to observe more things that I never paid attention to. The memories of that place have faded as the years have gone on. By the time I was big enough to spend time in the store, a lot of the business had ended. The changing tires, repairing engines, etc. were a thing long gone then. Grandpa used to have a hired man who did the garage part and when he left, it was just stopped. They demolished the store sometime in the seventies. I remember being really sad when we drove by and saw what had been done. It had been a big deal when my grandma sold the store. Grandpa had died at 68 and she lost the will and strength to keep it going. It was for sale a long time. Then Grandma got the great idea to advertise the sale as "A whole town". That seemed to peak interest and a buyer gave her a good offer and the deal was done. Grandma sold the entire property in 1968. It was then auctioned off because the people did not want the store stuff at all. Sad now that I think about it. The guy who bought it was going to raise critters for their fur. I am not sure if that ever happened or not. I don't remember seeing any evidence of that, but seeing the house go downhill was not easy either. I always loved that house. There was also an apartment complex with 2 apartments that went along with the sale.
There used to be a public school there too. My folks had gone together when they were very young, about 13 i think. At least that is the way my Dad remembers it. They were just friends for a while, the love came later. But, he said he always liked my Mom from the first time they had met. They had a "puppy love" he said. I know how much he still misses her. He is doing well at getting on with Life, it is just difficult to lose someone you have been with for 67 years.
Seneca had my Grandparents house, the apartments that they rented which were motel rooms earlier on before I was born. They were fun to see the inside of, but I do not remember much about them now. I do remember a picture or two of us standing beside it. It was some sort of stucco I believe...at least that is the way I remember it now. Then the store was next to that. They had gas pumps and a area to work on cars on the east side of it. My Grandpa did it all, so did Grandma. They could work on any type or model and it did not take all day either. I look back at what they did, and I am amazed. They also figured Taxes for the area people whenever that time of year came around. There was always a promotion of some sort going on. One that I remember is the one where you would buy so many groceries, then you could buy plates to complete a dish set when you had enough points or stickers. Sort of like S & H Greenstamps, remember them? Or Raliegh Cigerettes promotion. There was a stamp or so on each package of cigerrettes. My Dad collected them, as did his parents.
They were not aware of the dangers of the awful weed back then. Dad says the government even provided them free for all who were overseas. Who knew?
I will have to continue more about Seneca at another time. Now the couch calls me.
And it is time to answer. I have been having a problem with a muscle in my back since yesterday. It is very painful when i turn a certain way or bend down or up. The only thing I can figure out that I did was when I was holding Hunter yesterday, getting up and down off of the couch, and feeding him and the getting up and down off the floor a few times. Dang, it ain't easy aging! But it beats the alternative~!
Hugs
Katie
It was amazing. There was a smell of the pink cleaner he always used to clean the floor. It was just called Sweeping compound as far as I know. My husband remembers it being called that. I just remember how it smelled and how I used to watch my Grandpa clean the floor with it. He sometimes even let me help when he was feeling particularly patient and work was not in a rush. He used to sit and play Cribbage a lot in the "back room". There were always several regulars there playing cards, having coffee or just generally shooting the breeze. It was the local gathering spot around the area. Being a rural place, farmers would come in for goods and sometimes could take a few extra minutes to relax before going back to their work. Grandma was known for putting the coffee pot on at the drop of a hat. There was even occasional fresh home baked goodies offered or brought in, too. Even when passing the time, the folks seldom stayed very long, only a few minutes, but the entertainment materials were many. Stories came out about so and so. Or, weather will be changing soon. Miss Molly the teacher has a male friend. The regular, tame gossip. No harm was meant, it was just conversation. There was no television yet, so self entertainment had to be it. I was always reading something when possible.
There was a special Meat Counter. It was always stocked to the hilt with the normal fare. I do not remember how it got there, but I assume it was delivered. I do not want to think of where else it could have come from. I know he didn't butcher it himself! I have had more time to think about it and I believe that he may have had it delivered by the local Locker. Those meats were always piled high and seemed to go quickly whenever a customer would arrive. I don't remember a meal without it, though sometimes there was not a lot of it. I was pretty little at that time and did not worry on such matters. My favorite was the different choices of lunch meat! It was a sandwich heaven!
There was a wooden glass candy cabinet too. It was a large rectangle box with glass on three sides. It
always amazed me to see how many different kinds of candy he had there available to buy. It opened on the back side with a latch.This was the only wooden side and made access easy. He said it was the only way to keep the penny candy from leaving without getting paid for, even back then! Guess certain things are just too much to pass up. I know I was guilty of taking a piece of bubble gum one time. It bothered me for a very very long time...till I fessed up and he forgave me. Trust me, I never ever did any stealing again, ever! We kids used to get to eat whatever sandwiches we wanted when we were visiting there. Usually Grandpa would make us up one with mayonnaise or pickles or whatever we were in the mood for. Sometimes Grandma would bake or cook for lunch, but most of the time it was a quick lunch and something more grand for supper hour. She always had some sort of very good meal there waiting for us hot and simmering when we got home from the store. She would either start something before she went over to work in the store, or she would leave early in the afternoon to begin something.
There were only a few houses in the town, Seneca. It is still there, but the store isn't. It has been gone for many years now. The town had been larger, but over the years, folks either moved away or found jobs away, or both. In the last few years of the store, it became pretty much like a little ghost town. So are all the people who lived there then, dead and long buried. Sometimes I wish I could go back then just to observe more things that I never paid attention to. The memories of that place have faded as the years have gone on. By the time I was big enough to spend time in the store, a lot of the business had ended. The changing tires, repairing engines, etc. were a thing long gone then. Grandpa used to have a hired man who did the garage part and when he left, it was just stopped. They demolished the store sometime in the seventies. I remember being really sad when we drove by and saw what had been done. It had been a big deal when my grandma sold the store. Grandpa had died at 68 and she lost the will and strength to keep it going. It was for sale a long time. Then Grandma got the great idea to advertise the sale as "A whole town". That seemed to peak interest and a buyer gave her a good offer and the deal was done. Grandma sold the entire property in 1968. It was then auctioned off because the people did not want the store stuff at all. Sad now that I think about it. The guy who bought it was going to raise critters for their fur. I am not sure if that ever happened or not. I don't remember seeing any evidence of that, but seeing the house go downhill was not easy either. I always loved that house. There was also an apartment complex with 2 apartments that went along with the sale.
There used to be a public school there too. My folks had gone together when they were very young, about 13 i think. At least that is the way my Dad remembers it. They were just friends for a while, the love came later. But, he said he always liked my Mom from the first time they had met. They had a "puppy love" he said. I know how much he still misses her. He is doing well at getting on with Life, it is just difficult to lose someone you have been with for 67 years.
Seneca had my Grandparents house, the apartments that they rented which were motel rooms earlier on before I was born. They were fun to see the inside of, but I do not remember much about them now. I do remember a picture or two of us standing beside it. It was some sort of stucco I believe...at least that is the way I remember it now. Then the store was next to that. They had gas pumps and a area to work on cars on the east side of it. My Grandpa did it all, so did Grandma. They could work on any type or model and it did not take all day either. I look back at what they did, and I am amazed. They also figured Taxes for the area people whenever that time of year came around. There was always a promotion of some sort going on. One that I remember is the one where you would buy so many groceries, then you could buy plates to complete a dish set when you had enough points or stickers. Sort of like S & H Greenstamps, remember them? Or Raliegh Cigerettes promotion. There was a stamp or so on each package of cigerrettes. My Dad collected them, as did his parents.
They were not aware of the dangers of the awful weed back then. Dad says the government even provided them free for all who were overseas. Who knew?
I will have to continue more about Seneca at another time. Now the couch calls me.
And it is time to answer. I have been having a problem with a muscle in my back since yesterday. It is very painful when i turn a certain way or bend down or up. The only thing I can figure out that I did was when I was holding Hunter yesterday, getting up and down off of the couch, and feeding him and the getting up and down off the floor a few times. Dang, it ain't easy aging! But it beats the alternative~!
Hugs
Katie
Dreamy Days
As we come upon Spring...as it Sprungs, or is that Sprangs? hehe....Anyway.
This time of Year is Bittersweet to me. It is my favorite time of the
year, the time of newness, rebirth, proof of Life going on.
As you know from other writings, it is bitter as well because my Family
lost our dear Wife and Mother in May 2003. Her birth month as well as her
mothers. The month after mine, almost to the day. Several months
after my brother George(February 19), and Jim (March19). Her illness
began on my Dad(Sheldon Junior)'s Birthday on the 25th of March.
My Dad's brother Don's Birthday is in June as was their Dad, Sheldon Senior,
June 14. I have forgotten Don's actual Birthday, will have to ask someonethat. I know they always would celebrate them at the same time, always
around Easter....so you can well see why it is Bittersweet.
I remember growing up when we lived in Missouri, it was one of the
favorite times of the year because my Grandparents from Iowa,
Grandpa Cecil and Grandma Oma would come down to visit us, or in
later years, we would go up to visit them. Those visits were not
very often, as the distance was so far. It would take about 7 or
8 hours in those earlier days because the roads were so winding.
Later on there were some straighter stretches built in so that the world
could move ever faster...as it continues to do.
We would nearly always get to celebrate Easter with our visiting
Iowa Grandparents. That was always fun as they always brought us wonderful
goodies. Things my parents could not afford. I think they really loved
showering us with gifts. I certainly understand that now as we do
that with our two Grandsons, Tyler and Hunter. There were Toy Pedal
Airplanes, Wagons, various Easter Baskets, always brimming with
candy and toys. I still to this day do not understand why my parents
always felt bad about those gifts. I still remember the clothes
Mom made us...we were always "spiffin" in our homemade clothes.
She was the one who felt that we were poor, we children never did.
I have asked both Jim and George and they agreed with me.
One special gift one Easter that we received were pet Bunnies.
I could not believe that they brought those Rabbits clear down
to us in their car! My Grandad always prized his vehicles and kept
immaculate care of them. So, for him to do such a thing really
did prove how much he loved to bring us exciting gifts! I wonder
how my Grandma talked him into it? I bet that was one heated
conversation! My Grandmother pretty much wore the pants in their
Family, at least as far as I can remember. If she said it, it got
done. My Grandfather was a Romantic married to a Practical. He would
always buy her expensive, loving gifts. She always put them in
a box or cupboard and never very often wore them. She did not
want anyone to think she was flaunting their well being. I would say
Wealth, but I do not think they were really wealthy. They always
were able to dress nice, and Granddad loved dressing her in
beautiful clothes. I remember looking in her closet and not believing
all the wonderful clothes in there. She would let me play Dress Up
in them! I remember the smell of that Closet. Not Musty, but a smell
of perfume and leather. She had several Delicate hats which later in
her Life, she began to wear often. She had a Fox Stole! It was kinda
creepy to me, but I knew it had been expensive to buy. I wonder
if she ever wanted a Fur Coat? I don't remember seeing one of those
in there. She probably was too practical to want one. I have inherited
most of her remaining jewelry. I do not know if I got all of it or
where it went if I didn't. I have several of her rings though,
and although they aren't really worth a lot of money, they mean
the world to me just seeing the history of wear on them. I prize
them very much. I also have some of my Mother's rings. I regret
that she always wanted Dad to buy her a decent wedding ring. He
tried, but I think she always wanted that but never asked for it.
She told me one time that she did so. I think she regretted it too.
Dad was a Practical....to a fault. Too many days of being so poor
instilled it into him I think. He loved Mom beyond words or writing,
but that is one thing that I would suppose he never knew because
she never said a word.
I remember having Easter egg hunts every Easter as well. Wherever
we were, whether at our home or visiting Family. That Easter Bunny
was just as wise as Santa. I always wondered if they used the same
list. :)
I remember the grass turning green was always a first sign of Spring
soon to come. That and the Robins returning. That song is always so
welcome to me. Spring always comes earlier in Missouri that it does
in Iowa. The temperatures are usually a bit warmer about a month
sooner there. I say this as in the past. Nowdays I believe they are
nearer the same time. Missouri seems to get more weather like we used
to here. More Snow storms than ever back then. A Snow with much
accumulation was rare there. Now they seem to get almost as much
Snow as we do here.
This Spring is also made sweet by enjoying time spent with our
Daughters and Families. Having people who care for you, celebrate
with you is so wonderful. The two Grandsons growing so fast also
make Spring more Springlike. The Joys of spending time with them
and doing fun things is time well spent.
My Health concerns are improving. I am responding to the medicines
and will have a good checkup at my Surgeon's office tomorrow, I feel it!
I have lost 60 pounds since I realized when Tyler was a baby that it was
time to fix me. I could not change the past or my reaction to it. I
could not go back and make amends for things that should have been done,
but I know now that I can only move forward. I have to take care of me
and what is to come now....a rebirth of myself as well as the Spring.
I LOVE the newer me. I know I am worthy of this change, I deserve it, I deserve to brag a little and to celebrate Life! I almost lost that...so I am doubly thankful.
Well, Dear Folks, My hands are hurting from typing and other chores,
so I will bid you adeiu till the next time the writing bug tells me
to get in touch with you again.
Keep your sights on today. Enjoy it, don't waste time worrying about
tomorrow. It will be here way too soon!
Sleep Well, rest your weary Soul, and be as good as You can.
Love you, and hug yourself and someone you Love today.
Katie
This time of Year is Bittersweet to me. It is my favorite time of the
year, the time of newness, rebirth, proof of Life going on.
As you know from other writings, it is bitter as well because my Family
lost our dear Wife and Mother in May 2003. Her birth month as well as her
mothers. The month after mine, almost to the day. Several months
after my brother George(February 19), and Jim (March19). Her illness
began on my Dad(Sheldon Junior)'s Birthday on the 25th of March.
My Dad's brother Don's Birthday is in June as was their Dad, Sheldon Senior,
June 14. I have forgotten Don's actual Birthday, will have to ask someonethat. I know they always would celebrate them at the same time, always
around Easter....so you can well see why it is Bittersweet.
I remember growing up when we lived in Missouri, it was one of the
favorite times of the year because my Grandparents from Iowa,
Grandpa Cecil and Grandma Oma would come down to visit us, or in
later years, we would go up to visit them. Those visits were not
very often, as the distance was so far. It would take about 7 or
8 hours in those earlier days because the roads were so winding.
Later on there were some straighter stretches built in so that the world
could move ever faster...as it continues to do.
We would nearly always get to celebrate Easter with our visiting
Iowa Grandparents. That was always fun as they always brought us wonderful
goodies. Things my parents could not afford. I think they really loved
showering us with gifts. I certainly understand that now as we do
that with our two Grandsons, Tyler and Hunter. There were Toy Pedal
Airplanes, Wagons, various Easter Baskets, always brimming with
candy and toys. I still to this day do not understand why my parents
always felt bad about those gifts. I still remember the clothes
Mom made us...we were always "spiffin" in our homemade clothes.
She was the one who felt that we were poor, we children never did.
I have asked both Jim and George and they agreed with me.
One special gift one Easter that we received were pet Bunnies.
I could not believe that they brought those Rabbits clear down
to us in their car! My Grandad always prized his vehicles and kept
immaculate care of them. So, for him to do such a thing really
did prove how much he loved to bring us exciting gifts! I wonder
how my Grandma talked him into it? I bet that was one heated
conversation! My Grandmother pretty much wore the pants in their
Family, at least as far as I can remember. If she said it, it got
done. My Grandfather was a Romantic married to a Practical. He would
always buy her expensive, loving gifts. She always put them in
a box or cupboard and never very often wore them. She did not
want anyone to think she was flaunting their well being. I would say
Wealth, but I do not think they were really wealthy. They always
were able to dress nice, and Granddad loved dressing her in
beautiful clothes. I remember looking in her closet and not believing
all the wonderful clothes in there. She would let me play Dress Up
in them! I remember the smell of that Closet. Not Musty, but a smell
of perfume and leather. She had several Delicate hats which later in
her Life, she began to wear often. She had a Fox Stole! It was kinda
creepy to me, but I knew it had been expensive to buy. I wonder
if she ever wanted a Fur Coat? I don't remember seeing one of those
in there. She probably was too practical to want one. I have inherited
most of her remaining jewelry. I do not know if I got all of it or
where it went if I didn't. I have several of her rings though,
and although they aren't really worth a lot of money, they mean
the world to me just seeing the history of wear on them. I prize
them very much. I also have some of my Mother's rings. I regret
that she always wanted Dad to buy her a decent wedding ring. He
tried, but I think she always wanted that but never asked for it.
She told me one time that she did so. I think she regretted it too.
Dad was a Practical....to a fault. Too many days of being so poor
instilled it into him I think. He loved Mom beyond words or writing,
but that is one thing that I would suppose he never knew because
she never said a word.
I remember having Easter egg hunts every Easter as well. Wherever
we were, whether at our home or visiting Family. That Easter Bunny
was just as wise as Santa. I always wondered if they used the same
list. :)
I remember the grass turning green was always a first sign of Spring
soon to come. That and the Robins returning. That song is always so
welcome to me. Spring always comes earlier in Missouri that it does
in Iowa. The temperatures are usually a bit warmer about a month
sooner there. I say this as in the past. Nowdays I believe they are
nearer the same time. Missouri seems to get more weather like we used
to here. More Snow storms than ever back then. A Snow with much
accumulation was rare there. Now they seem to get almost as much
Snow as we do here.
This Spring is also made sweet by enjoying time spent with our
Daughters and Families. Having people who care for you, celebrate
with you is so wonderful. The two Grandsons growing so fast also
make Spring more Springlike. The Joys of spending time with them
and doing fun things is time well spent.
My Health concerns are improving. I am responding to the medicines
and will have a good checkup at my Surgeon's office tomorrow, I feel it!
I have lost 60 pounds since I realized when Tyler was a baby that it was
time to fix me. I could not change the past or my reaction to it. I
could not go back and make amends for things that should have been done,
but I know now that I can only move forward. I have to take care of me
and what is to come now....a rebirth of myself as well as the Spring.
I LOVE the newer me. I know I am worthy of this change, I deserve it, I deserve to brag a little and to celebrate Life! I almost lost that...so I am doubly thankful.
Well, Dear Folks, My hands are hurting from typing and other chores,
so I will bid you adeiu till the next time the writing bug tells me
to get in touch with you again.
Keep your sights on today. Enjoy it, don't waste time worrying about
tomorrow. It will be here way too soon!
Sleep Well, rest your weary Soul, and be as good as You can.
Love you, and hug yourself and someone you Love today.
Katie
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
More Memories of Back Then
I was born in 1950 in a Hospital in Southern Missouri, Springfield. I don't remember much of those days, only what I see when I look back at pictures taken when my Mother's
parents would come down from Seneca Iowa to visit. They must have come down fairly often, for there are many pictures from those times. I remember the clothes and hats.
Fun things. We must have made many a fashion statement. Mom was an avid seamstress even back then. I have always been jealous of her skills in that department. I never thought I could measure up to it, so only sewed for a little time when I was raising my girls.
She was a good cook too apparently, for I became a chubby child at about puberty time.
As I look back on that time, I realize I was a victim of circumstances and of poor self esteem as well. I wonder if I wasn't born with that insecurity? I never will know about that, but all of this remembering is helping me to learn to like me for the way I am, and to love me too. At last, I feel worthy of being loved and of loving myself.
Did not mean to go there. We moved back to Iowa in 1963. I was just going into Junior High School. I was excited to move to Iowa. There was really nothing I had in Missouri that was keeping me there. I was changing to a new school the next year anyway. I knew I would not miss my chore of carrying out the waste to the outside
toilet. Nor would I miss those Hornets that bombarded me every time I tried to do so.
The house in Iowa was much larger. We would each have our own room with a storage room upstairs too. The big plus was the indoor flush toilet! What a luxury that seemed at the time.
I was not full of regret to be moving to Iowa. I had a few friends I would miss, but not that many. One of my best ever friends moved just before I found out we were going, so I was Happy to leave. I would miss our Grandparents and my Aunt and Uncle and Cousins that still lived there, but we would also be back close to my other Grandparents, so that trade off was not too bad.
By this time, there were three of us children. My older brother Jim and my younger brother George. Jim is 2 years older than me and George is 3 years younger.
As I look back now, I was always a loner. I was always happier when I played with my doggies or kitties. They loved me unconditionally. My imagination was another of my best friends. When I was climbing that tree, or walking along that old broken down wall, I was in full control of things. It was the only time I felt really good.
There was no pressure to behave, no one to tell me what I did was wrong or right.
No peer pressures to deal with. No teachers or parents bossing me around. Do this,
don't do that, get over here and finish this...these chores need to be done now!
Stop that dreaming, it will not get you anywhere. Oh, if they had only let me believe in those Dreams. I understand now why they said those things. There was no time for lolly gagging or dreaming. Just work to be done. Day Dreaming was not productive.
I wonder if I had only talked to Mom about it, if she would have understood. I needed that time to be a Dreamer. I needed to feel good about things, even if they were only in my head.
I wonder now if she were Manic Depressive as well. I remember when I see pictures of her when she was young, she always seemed blue or sad. She looked like she was where she didn't want to be and doing things just because she had to fill the status quo.
How many folks get "stunted" in their abilities by being put into this rigid structure. I know that structure is important in Life. It is how things get done.
Routines show us that Life is normal. They help us to deal with many things for our working life. But, there are many other jobs that are important too that require a person to Dream. To reach, to accomplish. Where would we be without the Dreamers?
I think of Jim Henson often. He really had it figured out. Except that he gave up too much of himself. He couldn't stop to take care of himself. He didn't listen to his inner self and kept pushing. He left a wonderful legacy. We all owe him a lot.
But, wouldn't it be wonderful if he were still here?
I had some feelings not too long ago about my Life. It was a huge warning to me.
That made me sit up and take notice and finally listen to what my body was warning me about. I knew I had to stop what I was doing, the path I was on. I truly believe that had I not done so, I would have had a Heart attack or Stroke by now.
Anyway, I was going to tell more about my house in Iowa. I will have to continue with that at a later time. Now I have errands to run and lunch to have with my dear family.
Hugs to you all, and don't forget to hug yourself, it is perfectly ok, and even needed now and again. We need to be our own best friends. We need to treat ourselves as we treat others we love. We need to do so now!
Bye for now, Next time, more about my New Iowa Home!
*smooch* Katie
parents would come down from Seneca Iowa to visit. They must have come down fairly often, for there are many pictures from those times. I remember the clothes and hats.
Fun things. We must have made many a fashion statement. Mom was an avid seamstress even back then. I have always been jealous of her skills in that department. I never thought I could measure up to it, so only sewed for a little time when I was raising my girls.
She was a good cook too apparently, for I became a chubby child at about puberty time.
As I look back on that time, I realize I was a victim of circumstances and of poor self esteem as well. I wonder if I wasn't born with that insecurity? I never will know about that, but all of this remembering is helping me to learn to like me for the way I am, and to love me too. At last, I feel worthy of being loved and of loving myself.
Did not mean to go there. We moved back to Iowa in 1963. I was just going into Junior High School. I was excited to move to Iowa. There was really nothing I had in Missouri that was keeping me there. I was changing to a new school the next year anyway. I knew I would not miss my chore of carrying out the waste to the outside
toilet. Nor would I miss those Hornets that bombarded me every time I tried to do so.
The house in Iowa was much larger. We would each have our own room with a storage room upstairs too. The big plus was the indoor flush toilet! What a luxury that seemed at the time.
I was not full of regret to be moving to Iowa. I had a few friends I would miss, but not that many. One of my best ever friends moved just before I found out we were going, so I was Happy to leave. I would miss our Grandparents and my Aunt and Uncle and Cousins that still lived there, but we would also be back close to my other Grandparents, so that trade off was not too bad.
By this time, there were three of us children. My older brother Jim and my younger brother George. Jim is 2 years older than me and George is 3 years younger.
As I look back now, I was always a loner. I was always happier when I played with my doggies or kitties. They loved me unconditionally. My imagination was another of my best friends. When I was climbing that tree, or walking along that old broken down wall, I was in full control of things. It was the only time I felt really good.
There was no pressure to behave, no one to tell me what I did was wrong or right.
No peer pressures to deal with. No teachers or parents bossing me around. Do this,
don't do that, get over here and finish this...these chores need to be done now!
Stop that dreaming, it will not get you anywhere. Oh, if they had only let me believe in those Dreams. I understand now why they said those things. There was no time for lolly gagging or dreaming. Just work to be done. Day Dreaming was not productive.
I wonder if I had only talked to Mom about it, if she would have understood. I needed that time to be a Dreamer. I needed to feel good about things, even if they were only in my head.
I wonder now if she were Manic Depressive as well. I remember when I see pictures of her when she was young, she always seemed blue or sad. She looked like she was where she didn't want to be and doing things just because she had to fill the status quo.
How many folks get "stunted" in their abilities by being put into this rigid structure. I know that structure is important in Life. It is how things get done.
Routines show us that Life is normal. They help us to deal with many things for our working life. But, there are many other jobs that are important too that require a person to Dream. To reach, to accomplish. Where would we be without the Dreamers?
I think of Jim Henson often. He really had it figured out. Except that he gave up too much of himself. He couldn't stop to take care of himself. He didn't listen to his inner self and kept pushing. He left a wonderful legacy. We all owe him a lot.
But, wouldn't it be wonderful if he were still here?
I had some feelings not too long ago about my Life. It was a huge warning to me.
That made me sit up and take notice and finally listen to what my body was warning me about. I knew I had to stop what I was doing, the path I was on. I truly believe that had I not done so, I would have had a Heart attack or Stroke by now.
Anyway, I was going to tell more about my house in Iowa. I will have to continue with that at a later time. Now I have errands to run and lunch to have with my dear family.
Hugs to you all, and don't forget to hug yourself, it is perfectly ok, and even needed now and again. We need to be our own best friends. We need to treat ourselves as we treat others we love. We need to do so now!
Bye for now, Next time, more about my New Iowa Home!
*smooch* Katie
Friday, March 31, 2006
Back When I was Borned
Yes, I said borned. Sound Southern? It is. I was conceived in Iowa, but born in Missouri. Mom was 8 months pregnant with me when we moved to Missouri from Iowa.
My parents and my Dad's parents took a chance and moved lock, stock, and barrell
buying 2 farms down in the Southern, Hilly part of Missouri. Actually I think
saying Missouri and Hilly is redundant. Missouri is known for it's Hills.
It is a beautiful state. Just to drive through it is a joy. Along with the
Hills comes the Hillbillys. Yes, I have to admit I was one. Going barefoot
was a daily thing there. Mostly because we would only buy shoes for school
in the Fall. We were poor, but not dirt poor. There is a slight difference.
I try to imagine how my Dad must have felt, buying his own place. He and Mom
rented when they first married. It was a farm along the river. A place someone
they knew had rented to them at a very low price. But, as most people who rent
think, they felt that renting was throwing money away every month. Money that they needed to buy food or clothes.
It had to be the biggest, scariest thing they ever did in their Lives. Mom had
my brother Jim who was barely 2 years old to care for. Then she was 8 months
pregnant with me. What were they thinking?
Freedom, self worth, accomplishment, terror.
I am sure they thought all of these things, but took a chance anyway.
We found a small farm near the town of Lousiburg. My grandparents found one
8 miles south of there in a town called Buffalo.
My memories of that time are very pleasant. I don't remember having any fears when I was out on that Farm. I loved to go out and be around the cows and other critters we had around. I have always been a loving person who loved to care for others. I should have gone to Veterenary School perhaps. I did not even dare to have a Dream like that then.
My Grandmother Iva had a sister Bessie who lived near them. I do not remember if
Bessie moved to Missouri first, or later. She married a true Hillbilly named Hank.
We would go visit them sometimes when I would stay with my Grandma. She always said Bessie needed looking after. Her husband was not a kind man...scared me to pieces every time i saw him. He had one eye that looked sideways and I never knew where to look at him....so i would look at the ground. Grandma said he beat my Great Aunt Bessie, and I certainly hope that was not true, but I bet it was. She was the dearest woman you could ever meet. She never knew an enemy. She would wait on us hand and foot when we went to visit. She was the one who taught me to alway put sharp knives in the draining rack point down so no one would get hurt. She was childlike in nature. She loved for the sake of the love she got in return. I would always get a hug and kiss both when I arrived and when I would go to leave. I sure loved that woman! She had two kids, Mary Ann and ....hummm I forget the boy's name. He was a real hoodlum and was never around when we would visit. Grandma said he would only show up when he needed to borrow more money or have a place to sleep. Grandma always told me that those two kids were so lazy and never helped their Mom one bit. She would always tell me when teaching me things, now come here Katie Jo, lets learn this so you will never be like Mary Ann. I always felt so sorry for Mary Ann. I wonder how she turned out?
My Grandmother's family was very loving. They had some bad times when younger, like we all do. I remember Grandma talking about her younger brother Leslie. He wound up in a Home for people with Mental problems. We think now that he was not Mentally Ill but that his wife ended up not wanting to be married to him anymore, so she had him committed. I know no more details about that episode than that. He was lucky in some ways though. He met a woman who worked in that Home cleaning. She took time to be nice to Uncle Leslie. After some time, she managed to get him out of that home and they married and had some very good last years together. She was another sweet woman, one I am very proud to have known. I would go visit them often when I was about 18 or so. By this time I was living within 20 miles of where they lived. I never once was afraid to go to their home. They were dirt poor, but they were filled with the best gift of all, Love. They also made me feel very special when I went there. I wish now that I had spent even more time with them. Those times were very nice indeed.
Grandma had several brothers. The children were: Iva, Eugene, Jim, Leslie, Bessie, and one other brother who's name I have forgotten. I have plans to get together with my Dad to look through family picture books to get some names refreshed that even I have forgotten. I hope Dad has not lost them yet. I will be very sad if that is true.
Time goes so fast. We don't realize how fast till it is gone.
More next time, taking a break to go visit Hunter and Family.
Hug yourself and treat yourself as well as you would treat a special guest,
you deserve it!
Love you
Katie
My parents and my Dad's parents took a chance and moved lock, stock, and barrell
buying 2 farms down in the Southern, Hilly part of Missouri. Actually I think
saying Missouri and Hilly is redundant. Missouri is known for it's Hills.
It is a beautiful state. Just to drive through it is a joy. Along with the
Hills comes the Hillbillys. Yes, I have to admit I was one. Going barefoot
was a daily thing there. Mostly because we would only buy shoes for school
in the Fall. We were poor, but not dirt poor. There is a slight difference.
I try to imagine how my Dad must have felt, buying his own place. He and Mom
rented when they first married. It was a farm along the river. A place someone
they knew had rented to them at a very low price. But, as most people who rent
think, they felt that renting was throwing money away every month. Money that they needed to buy food or clothes.
It had to be the biggest, scariest thing they ever did in their Lives. Mom had
my brother Jim who was barely 2 years old to care for. Then she was 8 months
pregnant with me. What were they thinking?
Freedom, self worth, accomplishment, terror.
I am sure they thought all of these things, but took a chance anyway.
We found a small farm near the town of Lousiburg. My grandparents found one
8 miles south of there in a town called Buffalo.
My memories of that time are very pleasant. I don't remember having any fears when I was out on that Farm. I loved to go out and be around the cows and other critters we had around. I have always been a loving person who loved to care for others. I should have gone to Veterenary School perhaps. I did not even dare to have a Dream like that then.
My Grandmother Iva had a sister Bessie who lived near them. I do not remember if
Bessie moved to Missouri first, or later. She married a true Hillbilly named Hank.
We would go visit them sometimes when I would stay with my Grandma. She always said Bessie needed looking after. Her husband was not a kind man...scared me to pieces every time i saw him. He had one eye that looked sideways and I never knew where to look at him....so i would look at the ground. Grandma said he beat my Great Aunt Bessie, and I certainly hope that was not true, but I bet it was. She was the dearest woman you could ever meet. She never knew an enemy. She would wait on us hand and foot when we went to visit. She was the one who taught me to alway put sharp knives in the draining rack point down so no one would get hurt. She was childlike in nature. She loved for the sake of the love she got in return. I would always get a hug and kiss both when I arrived and when I would go to leave. I sure loved that woman! She had two kids, Mary Ann and ....hummm I forget the boy's name. He was a real hoodlum and was never around when we would visit. Grandma said he would only show up when he needed to borrow more money or have a place to sleep. Grandma always told me that those two kids were so lazy and never helped their Mom one bit. She would always tell me when teaching me things, now come here Katie Jo, lets learn this so you will never be like Mary Ann. I always felt so sorry for Mary Ann. I wonder how she turned out?
My Grandmother's family was very loving. They had some bad times when younger, like we all do. I remember Grandma talking about her younger brother Leslie. He wound up in a Home for people with Mental problems. We think now that he was not Mentally Ill but that his wife ended up not wanting to be married to him anymore, so she had him committed. I know no more details about that episode than that. He was lucky in some ways though. He met a woman who worked in that Home cleaning. She took time to be nice to Uncle Leslie. After some time, she managed to get him out of that home and they married and had some very good last years together. She was another sweet woman, one I am very proud to have known. I would go visit them often when I was about 18 or so. By this time I was living within 20 miles of where they lived. I never once was afraid to go to their home. They were dirt poor, but they were filled with the best gift of all, Love. They also made me feel very special when I went there. I wish now that I had spent even more time with them. Those times were very nice indeed.
Grandma had several brothers. The children were: Iva, Eugene, Jim, Leslie, Bessie, and one other brother who's name I have forgotten. I have plans to get together with my Dad to look through family picture books to get some names refreshed that even I have forgotten. I hope Dad has not lost them yet. I will be very sad if that is true.
Time goes so fast. We don't realize how fast till it is gone.
More next time, taking a break to go visit Hunter and Family.
Hug yourself and treat yourself as well as you would treat a special guest,
you deserve it!
Love you
Katie
My Old Missouri Home
I remember a few things from growing up. Some are foggy now.
Most are fun, fond, dreamy memories.
I was Happy on that Farm. If I ever was Happy. Sometimes I wonder
about that now.
But yet again, that is another story.
I want to describe my Home when I was a child. I remember some
details, so will share them here as I recall them.
The house was nothing special. It was a small home, but large
in my eyes.
The big deal of that home was when my folks closed in the screened
in porch to make it into a kitchen. Then the old kitchen became my
bedroom.
I remember the Dryer and my bed and dresser being in that room,
along with the stairs up to the second floor. It also had 2 other
doors! Talk about no privacy! But was better than where I had been
which was sharing a bedroom with my parents.
I remember one time being so excited about having a party on my
Birthday for about 5 friends. I was so worked up I actually made
myself sick. I had to stay home that day and rest. I never knew
if it was a real illness, but now as I look back, I think it
was nerves. Mom was really good about it and let me stay home.
She even still let me have the party. That makes me know that
she understood how I could get so excited to become sick about
it.
The party went on as planned.
I do not even remember who came to the party, just that I was
so happy to have friends over to my house for the first time.
Oh how I wish I could ask Mom about it now. I truly did not
realize that I had waited way to long to ask her a lot of things
Yet again another story! Which I have touched upon in other
writings.
I remember watching as the new room was closed in to make the
house grow. That was impressive to a very young girl. I would
guess I was about 4 at that time. Maybe 5. I cannot remember
if I was in school yet or not. Memories of details escape me
now days. I do remember my bed was a twin one and dark wood.
The dresser was too. It was what is called a tall chest now.
I remember the day we got the clothes dryer too. What a luxury
that was! To not have to go hang the clothes on the line
anymore and to have fluffy warm clothes! I can still smell
that fresh smell to this day! I sometimes miss hanging the
clothes on the line. I did this with my own family until
it got to be such a chore to lug the wet clothes up the stairs
and out to the line. Those baskets were heavy and our
stairs are those narrow see through kind. It is a wonder
I didnt fall down them more than once! (yes, yet another
story to come!)
The two boys had the upstairs bedroom all to themselves. There was a storeroom as well, but that was the official "Attic". It had all the extra "stuff"
that did not have a designated place downstairs.
I think about how small that house was now. But then I am seeing it as an adult now, not as the child I was then.
My husband and I went back once. I almost wish now that I hadn't.
The house had burned down, so lots of the memories went too.
But the one thing I truly noticed was the smallness of the place.
What had seemed like a mile across the yard was only about 15 feet.
Mom and Dad had a bedroom next of mine to the east. Then there was a door into the living room from their bedroom and mine. Then an opening into the kitchen
as well. I remember Dad closing in the one door from my bedroom into the living room and making it into a bookcase later on.
I am not sure why they would build a house with so many doors. Possibly because the one door from my room used to go to the back porch, and the one opening from the living room into the kitchen was not there at that time. That explains it.
I remember years later getting into trouble for sneaking to watch TV when I was
supposed to be taking my nap or going to bed. I had to take a nap and then
still go to bed at 8:30 pm. Maybe that is why I was more lenient about bedtime with my own children.
I did come around to the early to bed thing with my children later on, for my sake.
That makes me really wonder how my Mother did it caring for us 3 after being raised an only child. That could make one pretty crazy in itself, don't you think?
The new kitchen. I can almost smell it now. Fresh paint. Glistening Cabinets.
New Lineoleum floor. They did not even have Tile back then, that I can recall.
There was a cabinet between the Kitchen and the Living Room that housed some
books and a counter for the Phone to rest upon. It was a Party Line, remember those?
Pretty amazing to realize that our Young People today do not even know what that entailed. You would listen for your ring. Every person had their own special one.
If it were not for you, you would just let it ring until they picked up. Or sometimes, when a person was really bored, or snoopy, they would pick up to listen to the conversation of the other persons. Sometimes you would be asked to answer for someone called away for one reason or another. Then you would just write down the message and call later or run over to their house to deliver it. What a different world from ours today!
The living room was nothing special that I can remember. Just the Couch and a chair or two. Then that Bookshelf that someone built. I cannot remember that detail either.
I better ask my Dad next time I see him about some of the specifics of those times.
He is 81 now, so no time to delay. That will be gone too if I do.
Mom did a lot of sewing for us back then. I have a Memory Quilt to help with that.
It has our old clothes in pieces to bring back some more Memories. I remember the boys pajamas, and mine. Many of my dresses. Some shirts of my Dad, and a few of my Mom's Apron Strings. Anything she had leftover for scraps went into that Quilt.
Some of those patterns! Plaids, Flowers, some quite jazzy for the day. Mom went
with the norm sometimes, but others she just went with what pleased her eye.
She was quite bold in that respect. She made many quilts in her life. She was going to make a quilt for each Grandchild, which would have been 10 quilts. I have to say that she did not get them all quite finished. I believe the Alzheimers was taking over at that time and she would just wander through the house and sit and sort Magazines and do whatever else she did. When we cleaned our their house on the Lake,
we found reams of fabric and quilting materials and more books than we could count.
I don't know how she managed to pack so much in that tiny little room, but she did.
That pretty much describes our House in Missouri. The land outside was kind of a wild area. Dad tried to plant crops, but I don't think he was ever very successful. The land in that area was better to put building on than it was to farm. I guess the last time My Folks visited that area, there were new houses everywhere, all over our farm and the next, and the next after that. AAAAAhhhhhhhh Progress! I would like to see it again. The gravel roads have all been paved now, so it would really be different now.
No, maybe I best leave my Memories intact.
The Barn was a typical barn. It was not in very good condition even when we first moved in. I remember Dad warning us never to play in there. Especially not to go into the Hayloft because there were so many holes in it. Why he didn't fix those holes is beyond me. Just too busy perhaps. Anyway we stayed out of it most of the time.
The one time I remember being brave enough to go up there was the time I have told about before when we saw the beady little snake eyes and skedattled out of there fast.
There was Milkbarn made of Stone. It was a neat place to visit. I did not have to help Milk the cows, but sometimes would watch my older brother Jime as he did his part to help Dad and Mom. He could not have been very old at that time, but I remember him getting the Cows in, Milking them, then washing them off and sending them back out into the Pasture. I was maybe 8 or 9 at that time, which would have put Jim at 10 or 12. I remember him feeding the cats straight from the Cow. It was a no no to waste milk, but sometimes he could not resist doing it. I have tried to milk a cow since and never got the hang of it quite right. I needed more practice. I never got it. I was pretty good at getting out of things. My crying and whining must have worked sometimes. (who me? never!)
There was a Stone Building next to the Cowbarn that Dad used as his Shop. He has all of his tools in there. I don't think there was much room in it. I am not sure whether my Memory is not good, or if it was cluttered up with things. I do remember that there was a root cellar attached to a double garage, these were all Stone too.
What an accomplishment that was for whomever built all those buildings. I remember
also a delapatated building that was in ruin out by where my Mom had her garden.
I would walk those stone walls like an Acrobat. I think I may have wanted to be in the Circus one day? Or to be a Ballerina? Maybe I wanted to Sing on the Stage.
Boy, that memory was buried deep. I just recall walking and talking and singing
as I played on that wall. I could even walk part of it without looking. How daring
is that?
We had a back pasture past the fields Dad planted crops in. It was a ways to walk, but I used to love going there. We usually had a dog to go with me to protect me.
I am not sure how much protection the dog would have been in reality, but I had the idea from the "Lassie" show that I was safe.
I would spend time there. We had 2 ponds on the place. One was close to the barn, the other was in that pasture I just mentioned above. There were Persimmon trees back there as well. There was always something for me to watch or look at or dream about there. I remember going to get a Christmas tree back there one time with my Dad's
Dad, Grandpa Sheldon. Dad was a Jr. he was a Sr. My Dad became Junior, then June.
That name has stuck all of these years. He is even "Shelly" to a few of his friends.
I remember having picnics there too. We would pack up our stuff and go "down by the pond". That ended one time when there were Black Snakes spotted nearby. We had them often, even in the house! Mom would find snakeskins in the attic. She even herded one little black snake into a dishpan to try to get him outside once. He got away. My
brothers had to catch him when they got home from school. I remember they put him in a quart mason jar and put a preservative over him. He sat there in a jar for a very long time. My brother was going through a Science thing at that time and Mom let him experiment on that poor dead snake.
We had a menangerie of pets. I remember Kittens, Puppies, and who knows what other critters we befriended. One Easter my Mother's parents even brought us Bunnies clear from Iowa. I still don't know why. We had them outside and they did not live long.
I think they were intended to be inside pets, even back then. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma! This was not as bad as when my husband Larry's Grandpa Jess brought a goat
to their house for Christmas. I still don't know what that was about, but we both think it had something to do with getting Drunk at Christmas!
I digress. I wish I could remember some of our pet's names. Those are all gone now.
I remember one little puppy who would let me dress him up in doll clothes. That was oh so fun. Then we had a little black doggy that would chew gum for me. Why I gave him my old gum is still a mystery. Guess he smelled it and really begged to have it, so I would share sometimes. No, I did NOT take it back from him and chew it again!
I had a favorite "Climbing tree". I would climb up there and spend what seemed like hours just pretending things. I could go anywhere in that tree. I was a brave adventurer. Mom would say, "Don't go up too high now". But she did not seem to mind the time I spent there. I did scare myself onetime by walking out too far on a quite small in diameter branch. This tale would also get me into some scarey times with my middle daughter later on. That too can be a story in itself. Long story short, she survived unharmed and is 26 years old now.
Hugs for this time. Time to get some things done around the house for the day.
Have a good day today and a good tomorrow too!
Love you, Love Yourself!
Katie
Most are fun, fond, dreamy memories.
I was Happy on that Farm. If I ever was Happy. Sometimes I wonder
about that now.
But yet again, that is another story.
I want to describe my Home when I was a child. I remember some
details, so will share them here as I recall them.
The house was nothing special. It was a small home, but large
in my eyes.
The big deal of that home was when my folks closed in the screened
in porch to make it into a kitchen. Then the old kitchen became my
bedroom.
I remember the Dryer and my bed and dresser being in that room,
along with the stairs up to the second floor. It also had 2 other
doors! Talk about no privacy! But was better than where I had been
which was sharing a bedroom with my parents.
I remember one time being so excited about having a party on my
Birthday for about 5 friends. I was so worked up I actually made
myself sick. I had to stay home that day and rest. I never knew
if it was a real illness, but now as I look back, I think it
was nerves. Mom was really good about it and let me stay home.
She even still let me have the party. That makes me know that
she understood how I could get so excited to become sick about
it.
The party went on as planned.
I do not even remember who came to the party, just that I was
so happy to have friends over to my house for the first time.
Oh how I wish I could ask Mom about it now. I truly did not
realize that I had waited way to long to ask her a lot of things
Yet again another story! Which I have touched upon in other
writings.
I remember watching as the new room was closed in to make the
house grow. That was impressive to a very young girl. I would
guess I was about 4 at that time. Maybe 5. I cannot remember
if I was in school yet or not. Memories of details escape me
now days. I do remember my bed was a twin one and dark wood.
The dresser was too. It was what is called a tall chest now.
I remember the day we got the clothes dryer too. What a luxury
that was! To not have to go hang the clothes on the line
anymore and to have fluffy warm clothes! I can still smell
that fresh smell to this day! I sometimes miss hanging the
clothes on the line. I did this with my own family until
it got to be such a chore to lug the wet clothes up the stairs
and out to the line. Those baskets were heavy and our
stairs are those narrow see through kind. It is a wonder
I didnt fall down them more than once! (yes, yet another
story to come!)
The two boys had the upstairs bedroom all to themselves. There was a storeroom as well, but that was the official "Attic". It had all the extra "stuff"
that did not have a designated place downstairs.
I think about how small that house was now. But then I am seeing it as an adult now, not as the child I was then.
My husband and I went back once. I almost wish now that I hadn't.
The house had burned down, so lots of the memories went too.
But the one thing I truly noticed was the smallness of the place.
What had seemed like a mile across the yard was only about 15 feet.
Mom and Dad had a bedroom next of mine to the east. Then there was a door into the living room from their bedroom and mine. Then an opening into the kitchen
as well. I remember Dad closing in the one door from my bedroom into the living room and making it into a bookcase later on.
I am not sure why they would build a house with so many doors. Possibly because the one door from my room used to go to the back porch, and the one opening from the living room into the kitchen was not there at that time. That explains it.
I remember years later getting into trouble for sneaking to watch TV when I was
supposed to be taking my nap or going to bed. I had to take a nap and then
still go to bed at 8:30 pm. Maybe that is why I was more lenient about bedtime with my own children.
I did come around to the early to bed thing with my children later on, for my sake.
That makes me really wonder how my Mother did it caring for us 3 after being raised an only child. That could make one pretty crazy in itself, don't you think?
The new kitchen. I can almost smell it now. Fresh paint. Glistening Cabinets.
New Lineoleum floor. They did not even have Tile back then, that I can recall.
There was a cabinet between the Kitchen and the Living Room that housed some
books and a counter for the Phone to rest upon. It was a Party Line, remember those?
Pretty amazing to realize that our Young People today do not even know what that entailed. You would listen for your ring. Every person had their own special one.
If it were not for you, you would just let it ring until they picked up. Or sometimes, when a person was really bored, or snoopy, they would pick up to listen to the conversation of the other persons. Sometimes you would be asked to answer for someone called away for one reason or another. Then you would just write down the message and call later or run over to their house to deliver it. What a different world from ours today!
The living room was nothing special that I can remember. Just the Couch and a chair or two. Then that Bookshelf that someone built. I cannot remember that detail either.
I better ask my Dad next time I see him about some of the specifics of those times.
He is 81 now, so no time to delay. That will be gone too if I do.
Mom did a lot of sewing for us back then. I have a Memory Quilt to help with that.
It has our old clothes in pieces to bring back some more Memories. I remember the boys pajamas, and mine. Many of my dresses. Some shirts of my Dad, and a few of my Mom's Apron Strings. Anything she had leftover for scraps went into that Quilt.
Some of those patterns! Plaids, Flowers, some quite jazzy for the day. Mom went
with the norm sometimes, but others she just went with what pleased her eye.
She was quite bold in that respect. She made many quilts in her life. She was going to make a quilt for each Grandchild, which would have been 10 quilts. I have to say that she did not get them all quite finished. I believe the Alzheimers was taking over at that time and she would just wander through the house and sit and sort Magazines and do whatever else she did. When we cleaned our their house on the Lake,
we found reams of fabric and quilting materials and more books than we could count.
I don't know how she managed to pack so much in that tiny little room, but she did.
That pretty much describes our House in Missouri. The land outside was kind of a wild area. Dad tried to plant crops, but I don't think he was ever very successful. The land in that area was better to put building on than it was to farm. I guess the last time My Folks visited that area, there were new houses everywhere, all over our farm and the next, and the next after that. AAAAAhhhhhhhh Progress! I would like to see it again. The gravel roads have all been paved now, so it would really be different now.
No, maybe I best leave my Memories intact.
The Barn was a typical barn. It was not in very good condition even when we first moved in. I remember Dad warning us never to play in there. Especially not to go into the Hayloft because there were so many holes in it. Why he didn't fix those holes is beyond me. Just too busy perhaps. Anyway we stayed out of it most of the time.
The one time I remember being brave enough to go up there was the time I have told about before when we saw the beady little snake eyes and skedattled out of there fast.
There was Milkbarn made of Stone. It was a neat place to visit. I did not have to help Milk the cows, but sometimes would watch my older brother Jime as he did his part to help Dad and Mom. He could not have been very old at that time, but I remember him getting the Cows in, Milking them, then washing them off and sending them back out into the Pasture. I was maybe 8 or 9 at that time, which would have put Jim at 10 or 12. I remember him feeding the cats straight from the Cow. It was a no no to waste milk, but sometimes he could not resist doing it. I have tried to milk a cow since and never got the hang of it quite right. I needed more practice. I never got it. I was pretty good at getting out of things. My crying and whining must have worked sometimes. (who me? never!)
There was a Stone Building next to the Cowbarn that Dad used as his Shop. He has all of his tools in there. I don't think there was much room in it. I am not sure whether my Memory is not good, or if it was cluttered up with things. I do remember that there was a root cellar attached to a double garage, these were all Stone too.
What an accomplishment that was for whomever built all those buildings. I remember
also a delapatated building that was in ruin out by where my Mom had her garden.
I would walk those stone walls like an Acrobat. I think I may have wanted to be in the Circus one day? Or to be a Ballerina? Maybe I wanted to Sing on the Stage.
Boy, that memory was buried deep. I just recall walking and talking and singing
as I played on that wall. I could even walk part of it without looking. How daring
is that?
We had a back pasture past the fields Dad planted crops in. It was a ways to walk, but I used to love going there. We usually had a dog to go with me to protect me.
I am not sure how much protection the dog would have been in reality, but I had the idea from the "Lassie" show that I was safe.
I would spend time there. We had 2 ponds on the place. One was close to the barn, the other was in that pasture I just mentioned above. There were Persimmon trees back there as well. There was always something for me to watch or look at or dream about there. I remember going to get a Christmas tree back there one time with my Dad's
Dad, Grandpa Sheldon. Dad was a Jr. he was a Sr. My Dad became Junior, then June.
That name has stuck all of these years. He is even "Shelly" to a few of his friends.
I remember having picnics there too. We would pack up our stuff and go "down by the pond". That ended one time when there were Black Snakes spotted nearby. We had them often, even in the house! Mom would find snakeskins in the attic. She even herded one little black snake into a dishpan to try to get him outside once. He got away. My
brothers had to catch him when they got home from school. I remember they put him in a quart mason jar and put a preservative over him. He sat there in a jar for a very long time. My brother was going through a Science thing at that time and Mom let him experiment on that poor dead snake.
We had a menangerie of pets. I remember Kittens, Puppies, and who knows what other critters we befriended. One Easter my Mother's parents even brought us Bunnies clear from Iowa. I still don't know why. We had them outside and they did not live long.
I think they were intended to be inside pets, even back then. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma! This was not as bad as when my husband Larry's Grandpa Jess brought a goat
to their house for Christmas. I still don't know what that was about, but we both think it had something to do with getting Drunk at Christmas!
I digress. I wish I could remember some of our pet's names. Those are all gone now.
I remember one little puppy who would let me dress him up in doll clothes. That was oh so fun. Then we had a little black doggy that would chew gum for me. Why I gave him my old gum is still a mystery. Guess he smelled it and really begged to have it, so I would share sometimes. No, I did NOT take it back from him and chew it again!
I had a favorite "Climbing tree". I would climb up there and spend what seemed like hours just pretending things. I could go anywhere in that tree. I was a brave adventurer. Mom would say, "Don't go up too high now". But she did not seem to mind the time I spent there. I did scare myself onetime by walking out too far on a quite small in diameter branch. This tale would also get me into some scarey times with my middle daughter later on. That too can be a story in itself. Long story short, she survived unharmed and is 26 years old now.
Hugs for this time. Time to get some things done around the house for the day.
Have a good day today and a good tomorrow too!
Love you, Love Yourself!
Katie
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Breakfast of the Past, Pancakes
I remember having Pancakes and Homemade Syrup at my Grandma and Grandpa's house.
My Granddad could make the best Syrup that you ever tasted, from scratch.
Grandma's pancakes were ambrosia! They were light, fluffy and tasted divine.
They truly made me feel like I could conquer the world.(The world of a 7 year old at least!)
Ok, so I am exagerating a tiny little bit. When I was nearly a Baby, these
foods tempted me. As I grew older, they still tempted me.
I still remember the smell of that Kitchen when My Grandparents
worked as a fine oiled machine, a balanced team to make those delectible treats for me and my brothers.
It was a fantastic Summer treat to get to go to their house to spend the weekend.
My parents would occassionally have errands to run, or just needed to spend some time together, so off to Grandma and Grandpa's we would go.
The times when I stayed overnight there, I would never get Homesick like I always did when I would try to stay with my peers. When I was at their home, I felt like I was safe, I knew what would happen...there would be a certain schedule, no unknowns.
I think when bedtime came at other people's houses, it was different than at my folks, so it scared me. There was a set routine and Grandma and Grandpa's house, so I never worried, it was always good. I can still hear the cars and trucks going by on the Highway that ran by close to their house.
When we stayed at my Grandparents it was a time to be with Family as well. My Aunt and Uncle and Cousins would come to visit most of the same weekends, and it would be a Family party. In those days, it was very common to have stay overs. It was just easier.
I am not so sure it was easier for the hosts, but I never felt any tension over it.
They were always glad to have their two boys, (Their sons) and families with them.
We felt loved. We also learned to equate food with love, for in those days they were one and the same.
I was always in awe of my Grandparents in the Kitchen. They could each do either job, cooking or cleaning up and often switched who did what. Sometimes Grandpa would cook the entire feast, as Grandma had to work in the Insurance office until noon. He seemed to love to entertain us, to treat us like Royalty. It was a safe, loving time.
I still look forward to Pancakes as my favorite comfort food. I still get to be treated like Royalty. My husband is the same kind of loving, caring, good looking and good cooking man. He makes me Whole Wheat pancakes now, and I have low calorie syrup with them. I had never connected the two experiences until this time. It is nice to remember and have a connection with all of my Family.
I have been very lucky to find the Love of my Life. I have been blessed to have loving parents and grandparents. I will never forget the good times I had growing up.
It is good to go back, but I would not want to live there again. I like things as they are today. Life is good.
More next time folks,
See you around the bend or over the horizon.
Keep your Spurs handy, and your necktie on.
*wink*
OK, so I am having flashbacks to my hero,
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, just go with me!
(At least I didn't say Happy Trails this time)
Hugs, Katie
My Granddad could make the best Syrup that you ever tasted, from scratch.
Grandma's pancakes were ambrosia! They were light, fluffy and tasted divine.
They truly made me feel like I could conquer the world.(The world of a 7 year old at least!)
Ok, so I am exagerating a tiny little bit. When I was nearly a Baby, these
foods tempted me. As I grew older, they still tempted me.
I still remember the smell of that Kitchen when My Grandparents
worked as a fine oiled machine, a balanced team to make those delectible treats for me and my brothers.
It was a fantastic Summer treat to get to go to their house to spend the weekend.
My parents would occassionally have errands to run, or just needed to spend some time together, so off to Grandma and Grandpa's we would go.
The times when I stayed overnight there, I would never get Homesick like I always did when I would try to stay with my peers. When I was at their home, I felt like I was safe, I knew what would happen...there would be a certain schedule, no unknowns.
I think when bedtime came at other people's houses, it was different than at my folks, so it scared me. There was a set routine and Grandma and Grandpa's house, so I never worried, it was always good. I can still hear the cars and trucks going by on the Highway that ran by close to their house.
When we stayed at my Grandparents it was a time to be with Family as well. My Aunt and Uncle and Cousins would come to visit most of the same weekends, and it would be a Family party. In those days, it was very common to have stay overs. It was just easier.
I am not so sure it was easier for the hosts, but I never felt any tension over it.
They were always glad to have their two boys, (Their sons) and families with them.
We felt loved. We also learned to equate food with love, for in those days they were one and the same.
I was always in awe of my Grandparents in the Kitchen. They could each do either job, cooking or cleaning up and often switched who did what. Sometimes Grandpa would cook the entire feast, as Grandma had to work in the Insurance office until noon. He seemed to love to entertain us, to treat us like Royalty. It was a safe, loving time.
I still look forward to Pancakes as my favorite comfort food. I still get to be treated like Royalty. My husband is the same kind of loving, caring, good looking and good cooking man. He makes me Whole Wheat pancakes now, and I have low calorie syrup with them. I had never connected the two experiences until this time. It is nice to remember and have a connection with all of my Family.
I have been very lucky to find the Love of my Life. I have been blessed to have loving parents and grandparents. I will never forget the good times I had growing up.
It is good to go back, but I would not want to live there again. I like things as they are today. Life is good.
More next time folks,
See you around the bend or over the horizon.
Keep your Spurs handy, and your necktie on.
*wink*
OK, so I am having flashbacks to my hero,
Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, just go with me!
(At least I didn't say Happy Trails this time)
Hugs, Katie
Monday, March 27, 2006
A Ballerina for Christmas
In this post, I will try to remember some of the gifts I
got for Christmas when I was a child.
I want to talk to my brothers to get their memories
of this too....will do that soon.
I remember some of the Dolls I got...but do not
remember the specific Christmases when they came,
nor who even gave them to me.
I remember the Ballerina Doll the most, be cause she was
one of my favorite toys. She was dressed in Pink, and could
be posed on her toes or flat footed. She had dark hair done
up in an Updo. I know this too, because I tried to have her
wear it down and was unpleasantly surprised to see that she
didn not have all of her hair. She was bald on the inside
of the updo. So, she always had to wear her hair in a pony
tail. It was one of the traumas of my youth!
She played a song from a popular television show theme song.
It was "I'll be Loving you, Always". Gisele McKensie used
to sing that song on "The Hit Parade".
got for Christmas when I was a child.
I want to talk to my brothers to get their memories
of this too....will do that soon.
I remember some of the Dolls I got...but do not
remember the specific Christmases when they came,
nor who even gave them to me.
I remember the Ballerina Doll the most, be cause she was
one of my favorite toys. She was dressed in Pink, and could
be posed on her toes or flat footed. She had dark hair done
up in an Updo. I know this too, because I tried to have her
wear it down and was unpleasantly surprised to see that she
didn not have all of her hair. She was bald on the inside
of the updo. So, she always had to wear her hair in a pony
tail. It was one of the traumas of my youth!
She played a song from a popular television show theme song.
It was "I'll be Loving you, Always". Gisele McKensie used
to sing that song on "The Hit Parade".
Things I Learned once upon a Time
I remember my parents in one specific way. It is always good to learn of other things about them which I never would have known without those who tell tales!
I very rarely heard my parents say bad words. Oh sure, once in a while Dad would be working on some stubborn project and the air would become a bit blue, but as I said that time was rare.
My Dad and my Grandpa were the best of friends. That is when I first began to know them as a child growing up. I never heard them speak up to one another in a loud tone or in any sort of disrespectful way. They were the best of Friends at that time.
I have since heard a few stories that tell me this was not always true. I will begin to write them down here. I do wish I had asked Mom more about them when she would have been able to relate them to me. It is one thing I will always regret about the past. I will always wish I had asked more about things, or been more interested in HER slant on Life, instead of being so afraid she was going to Judge me for the way I wanted to live mine.
I remember things about living in Missouri. I remember why we moved there
when I was still in my Mommy's tummy. A better Life, land of their own.
No more renting. No more dealing with someone else telling them what to
do with their crops.
That had to be Brave, Scarey, and Wonderful all at the same time. Leaving what they knew, facing the unknown. I tried it for a couple of weeks...I have to admit, I was not as ready for Adventure as I thought I was. I never will be. I am the type who relishes safety. (This is another story I will write later)
Oh, I lamented for some time about "what ifs". I lived in the past.
I tried to blame everyone else for me...I know now that that is done.
I am moving on. I am finding out more about others in my Family whom
I have always loved. There is still time. I must keep digging. I want
to know more.
What that must have been like to buy a farm, cows, pigs, and etc. I will have to ask my Dad how much money they invested. I am sure it was not very much. I remember pictures of my Grandparents back then.
My Grandma Merril was about 90 lbs soaking wet and tipped the scales
at a whopping 132 at one time. She went on a diet as she felt so fat and frumpy at that weight. She never gained an ounce back either. After working hard most of their lives, she and Grandpa softened up as they got older and did not find themselves needing to work as hard at manual labor as they did when they lived
in Iowa and when they first moved to Missouri to farm.
I can remember their hands were always calloused and worn looking. Grandma would say that she was glad to wash the dishes because doing so helped her hands stay softer. I think of the way they did things back then. It was much more manual labor than now days. They earned every thing they had...or bought. Sometimes laboring for years before they would be able to afford things important to them.
Things people nowadays take for granted. Things people now will go into debt to have. Things to "keep up" with the other people they know.
I remember having to wash clothes in a wringer washing machine. Being careful not to lose fingers was my biggest goal. That and getting all the different loads washed before I would have to change the water and begin again. No fresh water for each load. Jeans and other work clothes were the last in because they were
the dirtiest.
The same was true of bathing. We did not bathe every day. Once or twice a week was a Heavenly thing! Once a week was required.
No Tv. No running into town for any little thing. One trip a week was all we got, sometimes 2 weeks would go by before we would be able to journey in. It depended upon the time of the year.
Grandma and my Mom gardened and canned and they/we had food for the
entire winter because it had to stretch. If we didn't, we had to buy canned, and canned goods cost about 10 cents per can...which was a lot back then.
Anyway, I am drifting away from my point. I was telling about my
Dad and things I heard Sometimes.
I remember one time hearing him Swear a Blue Streak because he was losing a calf that was being born too soon and he swore and cried until he had to stop trying to make that calf breathe.
It was one of the few times I saw him lose total control. He wanted that calf to live so much, he just worked and worked and didn't give up until he could no longer try. He sent me to the house as soon as he knew that the calf was not going to make it. He had wanted to share the wonderment of Birth with us kids and I know it made him feel so bad to have it turn out so wrong. "Sometimes things just go wrong" I remember him telling me later on and how he was so sorry for saying all those things he did not mean and that he hoped I would forgive him for saying them.
Of course I did.
I was going in another direction, but since I have wandered so far off topic, I will keep going and change the name of this later.
My point was to tell about things my Grandparents told about my Dad and his family. I realize now that I don't have all that much history in this respect, and will have to see if I can get some things from Dad or his Brother Don.
Waiting too long is not a good thing, memories like that die
with the older generations.
I will continue this story later on, I have run down for now.
Thanks for reading!
I very rarely heard my parents say bad words. Oh sure, once in a while Dad would be working on some stubborn project and the air would become a bit blue, but as I said that time was rare.
My Dad and my Grandpa were the best of friends. That is when I first began to know them as a child growing up. I never heard them speak up to one another in a loud tone or in any sort of disrespectful way. They were the best of Friends at that time.
I have since heard a few stories that tell me this was not always true. I will begin to write them down here. I do wish I had asked Mom more about them when she would have been able to relate them to me. It is one thing I will always regret about the past. I will always wish I had asked more about things, or been more interested in HER slant on Life, instead of being so afraid she was going to Judge me for the way I wanted to live mine.
I remember things about living in Missouri. I remember why we moved there
when I was still in my Mommy's tummy. A better Life, land of their own.
No more renting. No more dealing with someone else telling them what to
do with their crops.
That had to be Brave, Scarey, and Wonderful all at the same time. Leaving what they knew, facing the unknown. I tried it for a couple of weeks...I have to admit, I was not as ready for Adventure as I thought I was. I never will be. I am the type who relishes safety. (This is another story I will write later)
Oh, I lamented for some time about "what ifs". I lived in the past.
I tried to blame everyone else for me...I know now that that is done.
I am moving on. I am finding out more about others in my Family whom
I have always loved. There is still time. I must keep digging. I want
to know more.
What that must have been like to buy a farm, cows, pigs, and etc. I will have to ask my Dad how much money they invested. I am sure it was not very much. I remember pictures of my Grandparents back then.
My Grandma Merril was about 90 lbs soaking wet and tipped the scales
at a whopping 132 at one time. She went on a diet as she felt so fat and frumpy at that weight. She never gained an ounce back either. After working hard most of their lives, she and Grandpa softened up as they got older and did not find themselves needing to work as hard at manual labor as they did when they lived
in Iowa and when they first moved to Missouri to farm.
I can remember their hands were always calloused and worn looking. Grandma would say that she was glad to wash the dishes because doing so helped her hands stay softer. I think of the way they did things back then. It was much more manual labor than now days. They earned every thing they had...or bought. Sometimes laboring for years before they would be able to afford things important to them.
Things people nowadays take for granted. Things people now will go into debt to have. Things to "keep up" with the other people they know.
I remember having to wash clothes in a wringer washing machine. Being careful not to lose fingers was my biggest goal. That and getting all the different loads washed before I would have to change the water and begin again. No fresh water for each load. Jeans and other work clothes were the last in because they were
the dirtiest.
The same was true of bathing. We did not bathe every day. Once or twice a week was a Heavenly thing! Once a week was required.
No Tv. No running into town for any little thing. One trip a week was all we got, sometimes 2 weeks would go by before we would be able to journey in. It depended upon the time of the year.
Grandma and my Mom gardened and canned and they/we had food for the
entire winter because it had to stretch. If we didn't, we had to buy canned, and canned goods cost about 10 cents per can...which was a lot back then.
Anyway, I am drifting away from my point. I was telling about my
Dad and things I heard Sometimes.
I remember one time hearing him Swear a Blue Streak because he was losing a calf that was being born too soon and he swore and cried until he had to stop trying to make that calf breathe.
It was one of the few times I saw him lose total control. He wanted that calf to live so much, he just worked and worked and didn't give up until he could no longer try. He sent me to the house as soon as he knew that the calf was not going to make it. He had wanted to share the wonderment of Birth with us kids and I know it made him feel so bad to have it turn out so wrong. "Sometimes things just go wrong" I remember him telling me later on and how he was so sorry for saying all those things he did not mean and that he hoped I would forgive him for saying them.
Of course I did.
I was going in another direction, but since I have wandered so far off topic, I will keep going and change the name of this later.
My point was to tell about things my Grandparents told about my Dad and his family. I realize now that I don't have all that much history in this respect, and will have to see if I can get some things from Dad or his Brother Don.
Waiting too long is not a good thing, memories like that die
with the older generations.
I will continue this story later on, I have run down for now.
Thanks for reading!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Granddad and My Mom
My Grandad: What a Man!
I remember so many things about him, it is difficult to find
a place to start.
He was a kind man. He was a Man of few words most
of the time.
There were always chores to be done. He would let
me tag along whenever I wished to.
There was always some critter to care for or some
car repair or maintainence to be done on the Farm.
I would never tire of spending time with him. He was
a great Story Teller. It was so real, you could feel
things happening.
He and my Grandma took care of us kids once in a while so
Mom and Dad would run errands and have time together.
There were always fun things to do on the Farm where they lived.
I will give more detail of these things in a later story.
My Grandpa used to play tricks on my Mom back when they first
moved down to Missouri, long before I was born.
I did not know my Grandpa teased my Mom until one day when
my Dad was remembering some things about when he and Mom
were first married.
Dad told the story of when my Grandpa, his Dad, teased my
Mom about there being a Huge Bear roaming around
the Countryside.
Grandpa was able to tell this story in such a believeable
way that Mom bought it Hook, Line and Sinker.
She was naive and did not know any difference. They had only
recently moved from Iowa to Missouri. The timber filled land
and houses so far from one another and the aloneness was
all new to my Mom.
I can imagine the look on my Mom's face when this entire
incident happened. I can also feel a lot of empathy for her
in that she was so easily "Hoodwinked".
It scared her so much that she began to see things that
were not happening. She actually believed she saw a bear
in the bushes North of our House!
She became so stressed out about it, that my Dad
finally told her that his Dad had been pulling her
leg and that there were no Bears in this part of
the Country so it was impossible to see them.
I wonder if she ever trusted my Grandpa again after that!
I wonder often how she could stand being so far from her parents.
The loneliness had to be hard to manage.
I wonder a lot about those days. I see the photos of those times.
My mother was very brave. She took care of my two Brothers
and me with an ease which I have never seen since.
She had grown up an only Child. That really astounds me.
To go from so much quiet to so much noise had to be tough to take.
Then to be separated from her Parents by so many miles had to be
a challenge as well. I remember she used to write to her
Parents very often in those days.
It was a time without TV to distract or entertain. There would
have been little time for that anyway with Laundry to do and
cooking to get done in time for my Dad to arrive home from his
busy day.
There was water to be carried for every chore she faced. When
we got a bit older, we began to help with as many of the
chores as we could. Times were just much harder back then.
Kids now days give funny looks when told of the the common
things we did "Way back Then".
I began to talk about my Grandfather and ended up talking more
about my Mom. I seem to do that a lot when I write.
I know it is because the Anniversary of her Death is coming
again soon. I always will think of her a lot in Spring.
I am not sad in that would she have lived, there would
not live been the quality of Life that she deserved. It was to
be her time. She had suffered enough. I am glad she is no
longer in pain.
I do not want to end this on a sad note, for I remember
all of the good things she left behind when she left.
She had so many former students and friends attend her funeral.
This after many many years of time and distance between them.
She had a lot of people who cared for her. That makes
my writing and remembering all good!
Hugs to you all, hug yourself and someone you know
today, it is important!
Smile at someone today that you normally wouldn't.
It can make their otherwise not so good day better.
It might even help your Day become great as well!
So little can mean so much!
Goodbye for now! Later,
Katie
I remember so many things about him, it is difficult to find
a place to start.
He was a kind man. He was a Man of few words most
of the time.
There were always chores to be done. He would let
me tag along whenever I wished to.
There was always some critter to care for or some
car repair or maintainence to be done on the Farm.
I would never tire of spending time with him. He was
a great Story Teller. It was so real, you could feel
things happening.
He and my Grandma took care of us kids once in a while so
Mom and Dad would run errands and have time together.
There were always fun things to do on the Farm where they lived.
I will give more detail of these things in a later story.
My Grandpa used to play tricks on my Mom back when they first
moved down to Missouri, long before I was born.
I did not know my Grandpa teased my Mom until one day when
my Dad was remembering some things about when he and Mom
were first married.
Dad told the story of when my Grandpa, his Dad, teased my
Mom about there being a Huge Bear roaming around
the Countryside.
Grandpa was able to tell this story in such a believeable
way that Mom bought it Hook, Line and Sinker.
She was naive and did not know any difference. They had only
recently moved from Iowa to Missouri. The timber filled land
and houses so far from one another and the aloneness was
all new to my Mom.
I can imagine the look on my Mom's face when this entire
incident happened. I can also feel a lot of empathy for her
in that she was so easily "Hoodwinked".
It scared her so much that she began to see things that
were not happening. She actually believed she saw a bear
in the bushes North of our House!
She became so stressed out about it, that my Dad
finally told her that his Dad had been pulling her
leg and that there were no Bears in this part of
the Country so it was impossible to see them.
I wonder if she ever trusted my Grandpa again after that!
I wonder often how she could stand being so far from her parents.
The loneliness had to be hard to manage.
I wonder a lot about those days. I see the photos of those times.
My mother was very brave. She took care of my two Brothers
and me with an ease which I have never seen since.
She had grown up an only Child. That really astounds me.
To go from so much quiet to so much noise had to be tough to take.
Then to be separated from her Parents by so many miles had to be
a challenge as well. I remember she used to write to her
Parents very often in those days.
It was a time without TV to distract or entertain. There would
have been little time for that anyway with Laundry to do and
cooking to get done in time for my Dad to arrive home from his
busy day.
There was water to be carried for every chore she faced. When
we got a bit older, we began to help with as many of the
chores as we could. Times were just much harder back then.
Kids now days give funny looks when told of the the common
things we did "Way back Then".
I began to talk about my Grandfather and ended up talking more
about my Mom. I seem to do that a lot when I write.
I know it is because the Anniversary of her Death is coming
again soon. I always will think of her a lot in Spring.
I am not sad in that would she have lived, there would
not live been the quality of Life that she deserved. It was to
be her time. She had suffered enough. I am glad she is no
longer in pain.
I do not want to end this on a sad note, for I remember
all of the good things she left behind when she left.
She had so many former students and friends attend her funeral.
This after many many years of time and distance between them.
She had a lot of people who cared for her. That makes
my writing and remembering all good!
Hugs to you all, hug yourself and someone you know
today, it is important!
Smile at someone today that you normally wouldn't.
It can make their otherwise not so good day better.
It might even help your Day become great as well!
So little can mean so much!
Goodbye for now! Later,
Katie
Thursday, March 23, 2006
Happy Trails
Remember "Happy Trails To You"?
I do. Fond memories come to me whenever I hear that song.
Dale and Roy riding into the Sunset.
Happy Endings!
Black Hat, Loser or Bad Guy.
White Hat, The Winner and Good Guy.
Nelly Bell the Jeep?
Pat the Silly Comic Relief? Yep....I remember.
Saturday Morning cartoons.
What About My Maypo? Wheaties, Breakfast of Champions!
There Is Always Room for Jello!
HEY Koolaid!!!!
It's Shake N Bake, and I helped!
SKY KING!
My Friend Flicka!
Nelly Bell was always tempermental, but started when
the Chips were Down!
Sky King flew that Plane everywhere...and it was a
child's dream...freedom and escape.
Even when Flicka got caught in the Fence, she
survived and came back stronger than ever!
(Was it Flicka or Fury? My memory is a bit blurry)
I grew up watching early Television. We would go to
the neighbors on Friday nights until we could save
up enough money to finally buy our own TV. We were
the last ones in the neighborhood to aquire one of
our own. I often wonder if Mom and Dad bought it
after all the folks said we couldn't come over
anymore.
My Dad worked 2 jobs to make the bills. He worked
Construction and Ran a Milk Route. I can still
remember the mornings when my brothers and I could
go on the route with him. Mom used the leverage of
being good to work as a reward. The best child of us
three got to go on the route on Saturday morning
with Dad. I can still smell the fragrance of that
Creamery where Dad would unload the fresh milk in
the metal cans.
As our reward for being good, there were always
cheese sandwiches and small bottles of chocolate milk.
I can almost taste those treats now when I think
about it.
The cost of those treats had to be minimal. Mom
packed the cheese sandwiches and dad splurged
for the chocolate milks. Sometimes he would take
all three of us along, mostly to give Mom a break
I think.
How well I understand that now having raised 3 daughters
of my own, and now seeing my own Daughters raising their
own children.
Were we poor? My Dad never thought so. He started working 2 jobs
then 3 to make ends meet. Mom even pitched in washing Dishes
in the local eatery till her hands became infected from a
reaction to the strong soap they used. She later went back
to School and got her teaching degree.
As far as I know, Dad and Mom never asked nor accepted financial
backing. They were strong and stubborn on that count. I do
remember Mom saying that her folks helped to finance her going
back to College. She always felt badly about not paying that
debt back. My Grandparents were investing in her future, they
never expected payback.
My parents moved to Missouri in February of 1950. They wanted
a new start and a home of their own. My Dad's parents were
going down to purchase land there. Dad's little brother was
there also, so Dad felt the pull to a new land and owning
his own place. I know the places were selling dirt cheap then
because that is about all they were worth, cheap dirt!
I still look back at what Mom accomplished as such a young Mom
moving so far from her own parents to let my Dad have his Dream.
I do wish I had talked to her and Dad more about those days.
I found some stories Mom had written about those times, but not
nearly enough. Dad said he had gotten rid of some of her work,
not sure to this day why. I am not sure if he didn't like the
things she was writing, or just thought it was clutter and
no longer needed. I would give my Eye Teeth to have those
stories back. Now with my own interests in writing, it would
be like Gold to be able to read more about those days of old,
back when I was only a twinkle in my Dad's Eyes!
I forgot to mention when I was writing of Mom and her courage
that she was Eight Months Pregnant with me at the time they
went. My older brother Jim was just two years old. My brother
George came along only three short years later. What a Busy
Lady! With Dad gone so much, she was really a Pioneer of
sorts.
I had some of the best times of my life on that small, dusty,
poor crops land. I don't think Dad ever got a decent crop,
but he was sure proud of the crops he did get!
Mom told me several times that she really enjoyed being on
that place. There was no indoor bathroom, but we had running
water soon after we moved in. They added a nice kitchen when
I was old enough to remember it....so about 4 or so years
after the move. I remember those cabinets. They had sliding
mottled glass doors. They were quite the style for those
days. The cabinets themselves were white and had silver
trim on the front.
Mom also said that her father in law had quite the fun
with her being so green in the country. She had grown
up in the shelter of her parents very small Country Store.
She was more of a townie than a country...so he did not
have to try all that hard to fool her.
I will write more of that later on.
Most of what I remember of those years is brought back
by looking at pictures from my Grandma's photo album.
I am not sure why I did not ask more about that sort
of thing when I could still get the answers from Mom.
Guess I was so busy with raising my own three girls,
I did not think about that sort of thing. Then I waited
too long and most of that is lost to me now.
When Mom died, I found pictures upon pictures that I had
never known they had. There are family members and friends
there that I will never know the names of because I did not
think to ask when it should have been done.
I have been enjoying this meandering in the past. It makes
the present much more precious. I will do my best to keep
better records so that if and when my family asks, I will
be able to tell them about the "Happy Trails" of my youth.
Hug yourself now, and have a good night!
Katie
I do. Fond memories come to me whenever I hear that song.
Dale and Roy riding into the Sunset.
Happy Endings!
Black Hat, Loser or Bad Guy.
White Hat, The Winner and Good Guy.
Nelly Bell the Jeep?
Pat the Silly Comic Relief? Yep....I remember.
Saturday Morning cartoons.
What About My Maypo? Wheaties, Breakfast of Champions!
There Is Always Room for Jello!
HEY Koolaid!!!!
It's Shake N Bake, and I helped!
SKY KING!
My Friend Flicka!
Nelly Bell was always tempermental, but started when
the Chips were Down!
Sky King flew that Plane everywhere...and it was a
child's dream...freedom and escape.
Even when Flicka got caught in the Fence, she
survived and came back stronger than ever!
(Was it Flicka or Fury? My memory is a bit blurry)
I grew up watching early Television. We would go to
the neighbors on Friday nights until we could save
up enough money to finally buy our own TV. We were
the last ones in the neighborhood to aquire one of
our own. I often wonder if Mom and Dad bought it
after all the folks said we couldn't come over
anymore.
My Dad worked 2 jobs to make the bills. He worked
Construction and Ran a Milk Route. I can still
remember the mornings when my brothers and I could
go on the route with him. Mom used the leverage of
being good to work as a reward. The best child of us
three got to go on the route on Saturday morning
with Dad. I can still smell the fragrance of that
Creamery where Dad would unload the fresh milk in
the metal cans.
As our reward for being good, there were always
cheese sandwiches and small bottles of chocolate milk.
I can almost taste those treats now when I think
about it.
The cost of those treats had to be minimal. Mom
packed the cheese sandwiches and dad splurged
for the chocolate milks. Sometimes he would take
all three of us along, mostly to give Mom a break
I think.
How well I understand that now having raised 3 daughters
of my own, and now seeing my own Daughters raising their
own children.
Were we poor? My Dad never thought so. He started working 2 jobs
then 3 to make ends meet. Mom even pitched in washing Dishes
in the local eatery till her hands became infected from a
reaction to the strong soap they used. She later went back
to School and got her teaching degree.
As far as I know, Dad and Mom never asked nor accepted financial
backing. They were strong and stubborn on that count. I do
remember Mom saying that her folks helped to finance her going
back to College. She always felt badly about not paying that
debt back. My Grandparents were investing in her future, they
never expected payback.
My parents moved to Missouri in February of 1950. They wanted
a new start and a home of their own. My Dad's parents were
going down to purchase land there. Dad's little brother was
there also, so Dad felt the pull to a new land and owning
his own place. I know the places were selling dirt cheap then
because that is about all they were worth, cheap dirt!
I still look back at what Mom accomplished as such a young Mom
moving so far from her own parents to let my Dad have his Dream.
I do wish I had talked to her and Dad more about those days.
I found some stories Mom had written about those times, but not
nearly enough. Dad said he had gotten rid of some of her work,
not sure to this day why. I am not sure if he didn't like the
things she was writing, or just thought it was clutter and
no longer needed. I would give my Eye Teeth to have those
stories back. Now with my own interests in writing, it would
be like Gold to be able to read more about those days of old,
back when I was only a twinkle in my Dad's Eyes!
I forgot to mention when I was writing of Mom and her courage
that she was Eight Months Pregnant with me at the time they
went. My older brother Jim was just two years old. My brother
George came along only three short years later. What a Busy
Lady! With Dad gone so much, she was really a Pioneer of
sorts.
I had some of the best times of my life on that small, dusty,
poor crops land. I don't think Dad ever got a decent crop,
but he was sure proud of the crops he did get!
Mom told me several times that she really enjoyed being on
that place. There was no indoor bathroom, but we had running
water soon after we moved in. They added a nice kitchen when
I was old enough to remember it....so about 4 or so years
after the move. I remember those cabinets. They had sliding
mottled glass doors. They were quite the style for those
days. The cabinets themselves were white and had silver
trim on the front.
Mom also said that her father in law had quite the fun
with her being so green in the country. She had grown
up in the shelter of her parents very small Country Store.
She was more of a townie than a country...so he did not
have to try all that hard to fool her.
I will write more of that later on.
Most of what I remember of those years is brought back
by looking at pictures from my Grandma's photo album.
I am not sure why I did not ask more about that sort
of thing when I could still get the answers from Mom.
Guess I was so busy with raising my own three girls,
I did not think about that sort of thing. Then I waited
too long and most of that is lost to me now.
When Mom died, I found pictures upon pictures that I had
never known they had. There are family members and friends
there that I will never know the names of because I did not
think to ask when it should have been done.
I have been enjoying this meandering in the past. It makes
the present much more precious. I will do my best to keep
better records so that if and when my family asks, I will
be able to tell them about the "Happy Trails" of my youth.
Hug yourself now, and have a good night!
Katie
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