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