Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Finally: My Senior Year '59/'60
I was really happy when my senior year arrived at Normandy High School. I did not have any thoughts of going to college - I was going to be a secretary and had excelled in all the vocational courses necessary to get a good job when I graduated.
Well, one slumber party night - Marilyn said, " I really think you are going to be sad if you stay home and do not go to college." Sooooo - just before Thanksgiving I went to visit William Jewell College in Liberty, MO. I fell in love with the school - very small, Southern Baptist, liberal arts college. My Mom and Dad were in a state of shock when I came home from the weekend and said that I wanted to go to Jewell. Grade -wise and being an only child did not set me up for any scholarships.
My senior year was not the happiest of times, but I truly kept very active in many extra curricular activities. I was especially happy to be the first page editor for the school newspaper - it was the only thing I tried out for and actually made besides sports. I had made Senior Varsity on the Women's field hockey team, but after my Dad came and saw the first game I started in - he made me quit. He said it was much too dangerous for me to play on the team....
I was able to take swimming instructions at school and I became certified to be a lifeguard. This really helped with summer jobs, however, I usually was so tan that Mom thought maybe I should carry around my birth certificate to prove that I was "white".
Marilyn and I spent many hours together during our senior year - we were kind of on the outs with the group we use to run around with. We managed to keep our sanity and graduate - Marilyn with honors. I was just happy to be in the top 10th of the class and be accepted to Jewell. By the summer all was well with the group, and we are all still very good friends. Marilyn is lucky because she still lives in St.Louis and hads lunch frequently with the group.
Well, one slumber party night - Marilyn said, " I really think you are going to be sad if you stay home and do not go to college." Sooooo - just before Thanksgiving I went to visit William Jewell College in Liberty, MO. I fell in love with the school - very small, Southern Baptist, liberal arts college. My Mom and Dad were in a state of shock when I came home from the weekend and said that I wanted to go to Jewell. Grade -wise and being an only child did not set me up for any scholarships.
My senior year was not the happiest of times, but I truly kept very active in many extra curricular activities. I was especially happy to be the first page editor for the school newspaper - it was the only thing I tried out for and actually made besides sports. I had made Senior Varsity on the Women's field hockey team, but after my Dad came and saw the first game I started in - he made me quit. He said it was much too dangerous for me to play on the team....
I was able to take swimming instructions at school and I became certified to be a lifeguard. This really helped with summer jobs, however, I usually was so tan that Mom thought maybe I should carry around my birth certificate to prove that I was "white".
Marilyn and I spent many hours together during our senior year - we were kind of on the outs with the group we use to run around with. We managed to keep our sanity and graduate - Marilyn with honors. I was just happy to be in the top 10th of the class and be accepted to Jewell. By the summer all was well with the group, and we are all still very good friends. Marilyn is lucky because she still lives in St.Louis and hads lunch frequently with the group.
Monday, June 19, 2006
1959: Visiting Aunt Betty
During the summer of 1959, we traveled out to see Aunt Betty and her family in California. I was lucky enough to get to take my best friend, Marilyn, along on the trip.
Aunt Betty had not given us a clue that it would be very cold in San Fransico in July - thus we took clothes along like we would wear for a hot summer in St. Louis. Luckily, we had each packed one pair of slacks and a sweater. We should have gotten a clue when Aunt Betty and Uncle Chuck built a fire in the fire place the first evening.
My cousins Bobby and Timmy loved to tease and pester us. For instance, every morning our air mattresses would have the air let out of them. They thought it was hilarous to "dare" us to do things - like riding the mule bareback!
The most surprising thing about the visit was that my folks let us take a greyhound bus into San Fransico by ourselves. However, they did get a little alarmed when they heard that the fleet had landed on the same day we were sightseeing. We actually did not get lost, and my favorite part was eating at Fisherman's Warf. This was the trip I fell in love with eating fresh crab meat - I do, however, remember Bobby chasing me around the house with a live crab from Fisherman's Warf before Uncle Chuck boiled it for us. It really took a lot for me to take the first bite of that blue crab.
The trip home was really interesting - the transmission started going out on the car, so we drove straight through from Wyoming to St.Louis. Dad's main comment about the trip was that he never knew girls could talk and giggle so much. Great, great memories of the only time I was ever in California.
Aunt Betty had not given us a clue that it would be very cold in San Fransico in July - thus we took clothes along like we would wear for a hot summer in St. Louis. Luckily, we had each packed one pair of slacks and a sweater. We should have gotten a clue when Aunt Betty and Uncle Chuck built a fire in the fire place the first evening.
My cousins Bobby and Timmy loved to tease and pester us. For instance, every morning our air mattresses would have the air let out of them. They thought it was hilarous to "dare" us to do things - like riding the mule bareback!
The most surprising thing about the visit was that my folks let us take a greyhound bus into San Fransico by ourselves. However, they did get a little alarmed when they heard that the fleet had landed on the same day we were sightseeing. We actually did not get lost, and my favorite part was eating at Fisherman's Warf. This was the trip I fell in love with eating fresh crab meat - I do, however, remember Bobby chasing me around the house with a live crab from Fisherman's Warf before Uncle Chuck boiled it for us. It really took a lot for me to take the first bite of that blue crab.
The trip home was really interesting - the transmission started going out on the car, so we drove straight through from Wyoming to St.Louis. Dad's main comment about the trip was that he never knew girls could talk and giggle so much. Great, great memories of the only time I was ever in California.
Junior Prom - 1959
You will notice in the black and white picture that my dress was calf length and that my wire slip is showing - well it was that way in every picture that was taken for the newspaper. I was very unhappy and convivced Mom and Aunt Winnie into making it a full length gown. Well, after many hours and yards of material - you can see the finished dress on the night of the prom. It really turned out beautiful and I had a wonderful time - this is the guy I was going with for about a year and a half. His name is Bob.
First Major Formal:
The wine colored dress was my first real formal dance. I can just remember Jim, Skip and Aunt Winnie being there with my parents to see me off to the dance. Jim and Skip were just in "Awe" seeing me all dressed up and having a beautiful pink featered mask to carry to the ball.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
A Salute to Girlfriends:
Some of the foundest memories I have of High School are my girlfriends. Many of us became life-long friends in Junior High and continued being friends all through High School. The friends in the pictures below are some of my favorite memories. In each of the photos you will find a picture of my dearest friend Marilyn. In the photo just below, she is the one on the far right.
High School was really not the favorite period in my life. I really did not enjoy the "clicks" and remembering to say "hi" to the right people. I really found my Junior and Senior years to be very difficult, but I know to this day that having Marilyn as my friend is what helped me survive. She was my confidant, my reality check and truly my soul sister.
It is really hard to believe that we have been best friends for over 50 years - I just added that up and I am in a state of shock! She and her husband Rich live in St.Louis and sometimes we meet and have lunch somewhere in the middle of the state. However, the most fantastic thing is that we have calling systems that allow us to call for free and talk as long as we want - after all, we are proud Grandma's now!
High School was really not the favorite period in my life. I really did not enjoy the "clicks" and remembering to say "hi" to the right people. I really found my Junior and Senior years to be very difficult, but I know to this day that having Marilyn as my friend is what helped me survive. She was my confidant, my reality check and truly my soul sister.
It is really hard to believe that we have been best friends for over 50 years - I just added that up and I am in a state of shock! She and her husband Rich live in St.Louis and sometimes we meet and have lunch somewhere in the middle of the state. However, the most fantastic thing is that we have calling systems that allow us to call for free and talk as long as we want - after all, we are proud Grandma's now!
My tribute to my Dad:
You know Dad didn't have too many years here on Earth, but I know that he sure impacted the lives of many people - especially mine!
My Dad was called "Merk" by everyone or "Uncle Merk" or "Grandpa Merk" - Mom wasn't crazy about the name Harold, and somehow "Hal" just didn't fit. It was years and years before my cousins Jim and Skip ever knew that his name was Harold.
Dad and I did everything together when he wasn't working those really long hours at McDonnell. We both loved the outdoors and he would take me hunting, fishing, boating , water skiing - you know, I never ended up shooting anything, but it was just great being with Dad. At least, Dad bought me jeans and boots to wear and I didn't have to wear the frilly dresses Mom loved for me to wear.
Dad was probably the most honest, fair, straight shooter I have every known. His word was truly his bond- which is remarkable for the way he was brought up! He always made sure that I knew that he loved me - he said those words were never spoken to him before he married the love of his life - my Mom.
He was unbelievably respected at work, although it was truly a huge ulcer factory. In St.Louis he was a General Forman in charge of the final flight line. The big wigs from the service would always come to Dad and ask when a plane was going to be ready to fly - which meant they did not believe Dad's supervisors, and he would always tell them the truth to the best of his ablility. Many times his honestly cost him promotions - but you know, when he transferred to Florida from St. Louis, I think every custodian in the plant wanted to shake his hand before he left. To Mom and I that spoke volumes.
Dad was so proud that I graduated from College, married Mike and had two beautiful children. He really did bust his "buttons" about his two grandchildren. I am so happy that they both still remember him. I do remember Cindy crying when Grandpa died and she said, "but who is going to fix my broken toys?"
To Dad I was always "Jo" or "Gizmo" - to me he was "Dad" or "Daddy". He just had a special way about him, if he said something, you had better do it right then. I ask him once after I had kids, "how did you accomplish that with me?" He just smiled and said, " you will figure out the formula, I know you are going to be a great Mom."
Dad's heart was just not strong and he suffered several heart attacks after he retired at the age of 55. He actually had a near -death experience during one of his episodes. I remember standing at his bedside and he reached out and held my hand and said, "Jo, I am really no longer afraid of dying - I am really at peace about it." "Jo, I want you to be at peace about it because I know I am going to a better place where I will wait for you". This really had an impact on my life and at Dad's funeral Mom and I were able to rejoice and celebrate Dad's wonderful life. I miss him more than words can say, but when I look down at my hands and see my Dad's hands, I always smile and say a short prayer of thankfulness for my Dad.
My Dad was called "Merk" by everyone or "Uncle Merk" or "Grandpa Merk" - Mom wasn't crazy about the name Harold, and somehow "Hal" just didn't fit. It was years and years before my cousins Jim and Skip ever knew that his name was Harold.
Dad and I did everything together when he wasn't working those really long hours at McDonnell. We both loved the outdoors and he would take me hunting, fishing, boating , water skiing - you know, I never ended up shooting anything, but it was just great being with Dad. At least, Dad bought me jeans and boots to wear and I didn't have to wear the frilly dresses Mom loved for me to wear.
Dad was probably the most honest, fair, straight shooter I have every known. His word was truly his bond- which is remarkable for the way he was brought up! He always made sure that I knew that he loved me - he said those words were never spoken to him before he married the love of his life - my Mom.
He was unbelievably respected at work, although it was truly a huge ulcer factory. In St.Louis he was a General Forman in charge of the final flight line. The big wigs from the service would always come to Dad and ask when a plane was going to be ready to fly - which meant they did not believe Dad's supervisors, and he would always tell them the truth to the best of his ablility. Many times his honestly cost him promotions - but you know, when he transferred to Florida from St. Louis, I think every custodian in the plant wanted to shake his hand before he left. To Mom and I that spoke volumes.
Dad was so proud that I graduated from College, married Mike and had two beautiful children. He really did bust his "buttons" about his two grandchildren. I am so happy that they both still remember him. I do remember Cindy crying when Grandpa died and she said, "but who is going to fix my broken toys?"
To Dad I was always "Jo" or "Gizmo" - to me he was "Dad" or "Daddy". He just had a special way about him, if he said something, you had better do it right then. I ask him once after I had kids, "how did you accomplish that with me?" He just smiled and said, " you will figure out the formula, I know you are going to be a great Mom."
Dad's heart was just not strong and he suffered several heart attacks after he retired at the age of 55. He actually had a near -death experience during one of his episodes. I remember standing at his bedside and he reached out and held my hand and said, "Jo, I am really no longer afraid of dying - I am really at peace about it." "Jo, I want you to be at peace about it because I know I am going to a better place where I will wait for you". This really had an impact on my life and at Dad's funeral Mom and I were able to rejoice and celebrate Dad's wonderful life. I miss him more than words can say, but when I look down at my hands and see my Dad's hands, I always smile and say a short prayer of thankfulness for my Dad.
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