Aunt Irene on a visit to “HIALEAH”

This is our AUNT IRENE…

While my AUNT IRENE came to Florida… for a visit – – we thought she would like to see something nice and enjoy a very nice meal at the “Hialeah Park Race Track”  in their dining room “Club House” – – some of the best food and service – – and in a setting of  beautiful Palm Trees and also watch some magnificent horses race – – and if you are a person who would feel  “LUCKY” – –  place a bet on the horse that looks good to you!

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Everybody knows what “THOUGHT” got…  Well after a week or two with us in Fort Lauderdale, Florida – – and taking Aunt Irene around to some of  the finest places – -attractions and stores  and including our own restaurants – –  I received some disturbing news from my MOTHER – – a few weeks after AUNT  IRENE  left us.

My AUNT IRENE – – when she arrived back in Missouri – – made an appointment with her attorney – – and had her will changed. She thought that if  I was to inherit from her when she died – – that my husband would spend all of my inheritance on the “HORSES” at one of the “RACE TRACKS” – – so in the letter from my MOTHER – – I was NOW out of the will – –  – so let this be a lesson to anyone … if you have someone in the FAMILY that just maybe not like something that you do – – be sure that –  you do not take them  – thinking that whatever entertainment this might be – – it may just put the wrong taste in their  mouth  – – if ever they may have been thinking   of    leaving you something  – – down the road – – when they leave this world. 

Everybody has different thoughts on what they have and to whom they may leave their earthly  treasures – – but if we all remember all of the things  on this earth are only here  for us to enjoy – – and to share while we are here – – and to always remember that  – – when it is our turn to leave this earth – someone else will have our things – and just may enjoy them as much as we did – – so my best thought to share  with everyone …  on this subject – – “Share  and Share  alike” – – and we will be really surprised   with the amount of real  “TREASURE”   that  we will receive in HEAVEN!

“How do you like this “POST CARD” PHOTO of the    “Hialeah Park Race Track” – –  for dining…  check out the “Club House” – – we also enjoyed a very good meal – – – and I know you will too!

If you like “HORSES” – you will love watching them run!


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“Still celebrating AUNT IRENE’s BIRTHDAY”

Here is  Aunt Irene standing on the  left – – and in the middle is my brother Denny, Jr., and with his arm around his wife, Judy  McClarren – – and in the back ground – this is a “German Saint Vincent  Orphanage”   picnic  celebration – – which would  be held on the second Sunday in JUNE and again  the second Sunday in August.

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The idea of this PHOTO – – – is that it is a nice PHOTO of Aunt Irene – -everyone knows that … in seven (7) years of TIME – – you have a new body,  and over the years  – – that would be (83) years for Aunt Irene  – – some of the Photos of Aunt Irene – – that I have – – just do not show  her better qualities. All of us have PHOTOS that we just do not pass around  any more – we already know the comments that we would receive – – and why  have strangers… tell us what we already know… “RIGHT?”

TWO THINGS… I am trying to figure out… “WHAT  YEAR was   this PICNIC   PHOTO   taken?” And the other question – – and this is something that I have been trying to figure out  – – for years…  “Does Aunt IRENE  have glasses on… does she ever wear glasses…  was her eye-sight so good that she never needed glasses – – not even to read or even when she would be at her sewing machine –  – I just can not recall ever seeing her with any glasses on?”

In the last few years – – I wear my glasses all the time – – and  then to read – –  there are two other additional   magnification  items…  that I use – – it’s the PITTS when the print of something you want to read is so small – what does one do?  – It is highly possible that some  of my ancestors were just born with the best of eye-sight – – and I absent mindlessly,  maybe could not “hear” …  when they were asking  questions… and – just  forgot to ask for that special  “eye-sight”  gift, also.

Sure do    HOPE… Aunt Irene – – that yesterday was one of your best “BIRTHDAYS”  – ever – – at least there were quite a few of your Friends – – there to help celebrate with you!


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“Happy Birthday” – – “AUNT Irene Riley~!”

This is “Aunt Irene”  and this is in her backyard.  And the most important part of this PHOTO – – is little ole ME!

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This PHOTO with the two of us is probably on an important day – – like my birthday or maybe …. a big birth date for Aunt Irene – – because if I did the  “MATH”  half  way right – – “Aunt Irene is the big (50) – – and little ole  “Mary Ellen is only two (2) years of age.

Sure looks like Aunt Irene is afraid that I might get hurt – – and or even fall   down – – but if I know myself – – I’m betting that   – – even as still as I am standing – – “I could run rings around  good ole Aunt Irene!”

My Aunt Irene  just loved to sew – – as she was always making something – – you name it…  she could sew it  up in no time at all.  So…  it was especially nice for me to be a girl – – as…  Aunt Irene was always making  a nice “Pinafore”   for me  – – and any other dress – – even when it came time for me to graduate from GRADE SCHOOL.

Since my MOTHER had a special dress that she wanted for me – – for graduation – material and the whole nine yards… – she gave Irene  – her sister the picture of what – – she had in mind for me – – and my Aunt worked from a photo – – and “lucky me”  – – my graduation dress … was made by “IRENE!”

As…  TIME has a way of flying by – – I am  LUCKY to have lots of memories –  – – and so many include my Aunt Irene!  so……….”HAPPY BIRTHDAY……………AUNT IRENE…….


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“AUNT IRENE is so HAPPY!”

Here is the best PHOTO…  this is our Aunt Irene Riley and her  brand new baby boy,  Bernard  Riley!

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If ever there was a “TIME” in Aunt Irene’s LIFE – – that she was exceedingly  just full of HAPPINESS – – it was this day! You can see in her face – – she looks  like an ANGEL – – herself.  Such good looks  and    the  joy of having her very own … beautiful baby boy, “BERNIE”

My MOTHER, Marie – – younger sister of  “IRENE” – – had  told me stories of little BERNIE – – he was just the best child  that, a MOTHER – – could have ever wanted – – and LOVED – – since he was so good  – – and as he grew up…  very good looking – – and so smart!

In LIFE – – a day like this one in this PHOTO – – is like receiving a small piece of “HEAVEN” – here on earth – – – and if only …all the days of our lives – – could be so good!

BUT… TODAY – – we know that BERNIE is in HEAVEN and so is AUNT IRENE!  – – One more day to go….  Happy Birthday  Aunt Irene!


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“BILL and IRENE RILEY – Memory”

Here is …  the young “RILEY’s  – – and we all have seen – – episodes    of   “the…  LIFE of RILEY” – – – –  well  just a  big…  maybe  “they …  the  couple sitting on their back porch” – – were used as the typical role models…  as to just exactly – – the RILEY’s … BILL and IRENE  – – did and did not do and “HOW” they reacted to each other and  the whole wide world!

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Check out those “black stockings”  – – those alone give you an idea  of when this PHOTO was taken.  Is your guess – – early 1900’s?

Here is what I see in this PHOTO – – “IRENE” has her apron on – – so that tells you that she is still into the preparation of supper – – for her   husband, “BILL” – – and since he picked up the “NEWS-PAPER” – when he left the office… where he works – – in the downtown,  St.Louis area – – he does not own a vehicle as yet – – and it is good to be able to catch up on all the NEWS of the DAY – – as when riding on the bus – – there are so many stops made – and if you have something,  to do with your TIME – – you will have some  NEWS of the DAY to pass on to your wife.

 Since the  specially prepared food is running a bit longer – –  looks like “IRENE” is all ears to hear about something  important going on in the world – – – if only her husband, “BILL” – – will stop reading …. and spill the “BEANS” – –  “What a LIFE… for young “RILEY” –  – just waiting patiently?”

“IRENE”  has always receive rave reviews for all of her cooking and baking – – I know – she taught me well – – and she received the best of instructions from her MOTHER, “ANNE E. BRADY” – – because “MR. BRADY” said that – – my MOTHER,  “MARIE” verified that fact to me!

                                 “HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNT IRENE!”


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“My future GRANDMA – also AUNT IRENE”

How’s this old Photo – – for going way back in “TIME – the old memory lane!”   This is early 1900’s –  as “AUNT Irene” on the right – does have a much younger face – – so much younger than so many of the PHOTOS – – that I have of her.

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On the left… is “Anne E. Smart Brady” – -and she did have thirteen (13) children – – and my Mother  to be…    “MARIE”   was the number 13 – – and the last! 

Without looking  up the exact dates – – but using a foggy memory  – – seems that the above Photo looks like  ANNE  and IRENE are happy about something – – and here are the simple facts of the TIMES. Marie was born in 1900 and is  (15) fifteen years  younger  than her older sister IRENE – – the only two girls to survive.  MARIE  – – my future MOTHER to be – –  will only be getting married in 1935 – –  and IRENE will be  married NOW or very soon – – because she will be having her one and only baby boy  in 1910 – – so it is very possible that on this PHOTO…   Irene has been married some years and is sharing the “GOOD NEWS!”

So…  I  LOVE for the person – – who will be celebrating a “BIRTHDAY”  – – enjoy the fact that you are having a BIRTHDAY – – and the best decision to make is to celebrate at least  – a whole week! – The idea is…  that you gradually  get into the feel of another  “YEAR”  that of getting “OLDER…”  –    but so much  “WISER” – – and by doing so – – “YOU will also feel as YOUNG as  your  HEART  inspires and keeps you … well motivated!”   

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY…  AUNT IRENE!”


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