Friday, June 09, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Branson 1949
Merk's and Reed's Vacation:
During the summer of 1949 our two families rented a cabin at Sammy Lane in Branson for a week. It probably rained almost every day we were there and it was so cold. However, one of the days Winn donned her two-piece and she and I went swimming. Mom never could swim - so she took care of baby Jimmy. I just decided to post this picture because Aunt Winnie always hated it - teehee
During the summer of 1949 our two families rented a cabin at Sammy Lane in Branson for a week. It probably rained almost every day we were there and it was so cold. However, one of the days Winn donned her two-piece and she and I went swimming. Mom never could swim - so she took care of baby Jimmy. I just decided to post this picture because Aunt Winnie always hated it - teehee
Dad and Winn in 42:
This picture was taken before either of them had had their horrible accidents. I already told you about Dad, but I think it is important that you all know what happened to Aunt Winnie. This is what I remember being told: Aunt Winnie and Becky had to find some gainful employment other than the Beauty Shop, so Dad got Winn on at McDonnell. I not sure of the year, but I think it was late '42 or '43. Winn was carpooling to work and there were alot of people jammed into one car. Winn was sitting up front with 3 other people and when they went around a corner, the door flew open and Winnie was thrown from the car. She was taken to the hospital and my parents were told that she had 7 different concusions and that she was very critical. All I know from there is that she survived, but it was a slow process regaining memory.
I remember that if we were having conversation about a particular thing, and Winn did not remember it that way, we wouldn't argue about it - there were just blanks in memory that would never recover and it was a frustration to her. Thank the good Lord that is all that came out of what could have been a tragedy in all our lives.
This picture was taken before either of them had had their horrible accidents. I already told you about Dad, but I think it is important that you all know what happened to Aunt Winnie. This is what I remember being told: Aunt Winnie and Becky had to find some gainful employment other than the Beauty Shop, so Dad got Winn on at McDonnell. I not sure of the year, but I think it was late '42 or '43. Winn was carpooling to work and there were alot of people jammed into one car. Winn was sitting up front with 3 other people and when they went around a corner, the door flew open and Winnie was thrown from the car. She was taken to the hospital and my parents were told that she had 7 different concusions and that she was very critical. All I know from there is that she survived, but it was a slow process regaining memory.
I remember that if we were having conversation about a particular thing, and Winn did not remember it that way, we wouldn't argue about it - there were just blanks in memory that would never recover and it was a frustration to her. Thank the good Lord that is all that came out of what could have been a tragedy in all our lives.
Childhood Days on the Farm
Going to the farm was one of the real delights of my childhood. In my minds-eye I can remember it all. The fabulous food, the great smells, the laughter, the huge kitchen table and breakfront, the piano and of course the ever popular piano stool. Grandma was so much more patient about the piano than my Mother.
My Grandma made the best applebutter I have ever tasted and the best blackberry cobbler. She always had some extra applebutter for me to take home. Then, of course, we always had Anglefood cake!
I remember the sleeping room upstairs - we use to get into so much trouble rough housing up there. Boy - do I ever remember the front porch and the porch swing. That is where the stories were told. I was always fasinated with the Uncles rolling their own cigarettes with the thin white paper and the little pouch. The Aunts all went back behind the barn to smoke because they didn't want "Mom" or "Pop" to see them - I often wondered in later years if they ever fooled anyone.
I always remember begging to go over to Uncle Willis's house - that was where the fun was. Patsy and I would stay up for ever, talking, being silly and sucking on ice cubes to keep cool. Sometimes Patsy would ride over and then I would get to ride back over to the house with her or Richard. Donnie was famous for taking us City Cousins on horseback over to pick green apples - you know, I don't think he would have ever thought that we would remember his antics and talk about it when we were grown!
Each summer some things did really scare me. Grandpa was always trying to protect me by telling me to stay close to the house because there were rabid dog packs running around (that's a nightmare maker!) or that I must not go near the pin with the bull in it - you know the one that Floyd had put a ring in his nose and just about beat to death with a club because he was so mean. Then of course there's the ever popular chicken running around with it's head cut off!
I really learned to appreciate nature from my cousins. My friends in the city could not believe that I could catch a JuneBug, tie a string on it's leg and spin it around my head to make a buzzing sound - then bring it inside for lunch and tie it to the back of my chair(Grandma never said a word). I could even catch Honeybee's like Frankie showed me and pull the stinger out, then let it crawl on me and really freak my Mom out!
My cousins could squirt milk in my face from across the barn. I could jump in the hay, pick blackberries and many times land in a cow pile in my good shoes and then try to explain to my Mom that I thought it was a rock!
I hope that when my own grandchildren look back on coming to Grandma's and Grandpa's they have as found of memories as I do. Our Grandparents left us a legacy that I will always carry in my heart.
My Grandma made the best applebutter I have ever tasted and the best blackberry cobbler. She always had some extra applebutter for me to take home. Then, of course, we always had Anglefood cake!
I remember the sleeping room upstairs - we use to get into so much trouble rough housing up there. Boy - do I ever remember the front porch and the porch swing. That is where the stories were told. I was always fasinated with the Uncles rolling their own cigarettes with the thin white paper and the little pouch. The Aunts all went back behind the barn to smoke because they didn't want "Mom" or "Pop" to see them - I often wondered in later years if they ever fooled anyone.
I always remember begging to go over to Uncle Willis's house - that was where the fun was. Patsy and I would stay up for ever, talking, being silly and sucking on ice cubes to keep cool. Sometimes Patsy would ride over and then I would get to ride back over to the house with her or Richard. Donnie was famous for taking us City Cousins on horseback over to pick green apples - you know, I don't think he would have ever thought that we would remember his antics and talk about it when we were grown!
Each summer some things did really scare me. Grandpa was always trying to protect me by telling me to stay close to the house because there were rabid dog packs running around (that's a nightmare maker!) or that I must not go near the pin with the bull in it - you know the one that Floyd had put a ring in his nose and just about beat to death with a club because he was so mean. Then of course there's the ever popular chicken running around with it's head cut off!
I really learned to appreciate nature from my cousins. My friends in the city could not believe that I could catch a JuneBug, tie a string on it's leg and spin it around my head to make a buzzing sound - then bring it inside for lunch and tie it to the back of my chair(Grandma never said a word). I could even catch Honeybee's like Frankie showed me and pull the stinger out, then let it crawl on me and really freak my Mom out!
My cousins could squirt milk in my face from across the barn. I could jump in the hay, pick blackberries and many times land in a cow pile in my good shoes and then try to explain to my Mom that I thought it was a rock!
I hope that when my own grandchildren look back on coming to Grandma's and Grandpa's they have as found of memories as I do. Our Grandparents left us a legacy that I will always carry in my heart.
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