Grandma’s Stories

Aug 25th “Prayers and Humor from President Ronald Reagan”

A Day of Prayer is what AMERICA needs –  – but in my opinion… we need more  PRAYERS and  more often – – than just one day of the year! We need an abundance of PRAYER – – every day and around the clock – – as things are not as they used to be – – in fact – – things are “Topsy -turvy” – – and just seem to be getting worse.

President Ronald Reagan  was for “PRAYER” in government and in the public schools system – – so I have a few of his message which some may like to hear – – and also included some humor that  just may make your day!

My  “Dad” was born just a year later, than  “President Ronald Reagan” in February!

Aug 24th “Orphan takes another Orphan to EYE DOCTOR”

In the mid 1940’s and being in the Orphanage – – and not getting to see much of the outside – – that is to go by bus to the Downtown St.Louis area only happened  on the first Sunday of ADVENT as a “CHRISTMAS treat to visit the  “FAMOUS BARR”  store for treats  – Live Show and even some  “Three Stooges’ Movies!” and this was a for sure good treat for all of the ORPHANS!

I’m guessing that I was in the 5th or 6th grade – – and there was  another girl – – whose name I can not remember – – as I can not even remember anyone even wearing “GLASSES” in the Orphanage, but this person had to be seen by a “Dr. Winter – – who had a store in the downtown St.Louis area – – a good guess was 9th and Olive Street – – and of course he did this work for the Orphanage for FREE – – another guess as several places did “Charity”  work for the Orphanage.

This old PHOTO only reminds me of how some of the old buildings may have looked in the 1940’s and I did remember how to get to the “Downtown” area by BUS and when I was asked to  take someone to a “Dr. Winter’s Optical Store  – – I was tickled pink! Of course I would miss a day of school – – but sometimes one must make sacrifices – RIGHT? And, I was glad to do so!

The reason that I was so HAPPY to leave the Orphanage and go anywhere at all – – I knew that I would be able to make transfers by “BUS” to where my MOTHER”s home was – – and also how to get the correct “BUS” from there to  and on the correct route back to the Orphanage!

So that is what I did, took the  “Walnut Park Bus” from the down town area and was given my tickets for the girl that I was escorting around  – and got off that BUS and walked a couple of blocks. Went to our house and of all the breaks – – no one HOME – – sure was disappointed. We then walked to the area for our next bus ride to make – and then another connection to the “Natural Bridge Bus” and then from there we needed to get the “Ramona Bus” and at that area – – we waited a very long time.

At that time the “Ramona Bus”  was the slowest of all bus lines – – always long waiting – – could have walked – – but since we still had our transfers – – why walk when you you can ride. So after a “FUN DAY” on the bus to down town St.LOUIS and even a try to see my MOM on the way back – – Just one of those memories that will never be forgotten.

I just may have to look through some odd PHOTO albums to see “WHO” wore glasses – – as that is something   that mystifies me – – who wore glasses in the Orphanage? “WOW”

Aug 23rd “You DO what YOU have to DO”

Would you believe, that –  I found this little  old “two pound” sack  the other day – – and in side  it – – someone had put some old ribbons and bows – which would have to be at least  “sixty years old”  – –  and, this old sack is from the 1944 or 1945 time frame  – – I do doubt that you could find another one like it!                                                                       ( This sack measures  5.5 x 8.5 inches)

                                                                                                                   If I have anything “OLD” it is because  “it”   was   in the “FAMILY”  and  saved for  some very  good reason. If you lived way back then- – with  WWII  going on,  you did need to save   good and reusable stuff to use over and over – – and learn to make do –  as we all  had to do our part in the  “WAR EFFORT”  – –  – –  so  we were all ‘savers of stuff’  – – that just might  or could  possibly be reused… for something else.

This old  “sugar sack” has another memory, much  more important to me. During those  “WAR” years each  AMERICAN FAMILY was issued  “coupon books” – one for each member of the FAMILY – –  and in  our  case, this day,  one  coupon would be  used – – for “SUGAR” – – in order to purchase a sack of sugar, you  did have to have a “ration coupon” just  to purchase  – – as so many things and or items were restricted – – so as  to help with the “WAR”  effort – -and every FAMILY including the children did learn  early about doing without some things – – and learning to  help and to do their part. 

So… there was a sale on “SUGAR” at a grocery store on GRAND Avenue – – I’m guessing five to ten blocks  south of  the  “Northside Theater”   which was on the S.W.  corner of  “Grand Avenue  and Natural Bridge” – – and since my “God-Parents” lived   in and near that area – – and we had  made visits there so often – – as young as I was,  I knew how to get there, and “all by myself!”

So… with money and coupon in hand – – I left our home on Carter and Linton Avenue – – cut through different streets – cut through the “Fair Grounds Park” and on down Grand Avenue to the  Grocery store,  got the bag of sugar with the help of a store clerk and made the walk back home. Good thing that I started out early in the morning – because,  when I got back home with this sack of sugar there was a  small hole in the sack and some sugar  was missing!

My Mother called the store to complain and said she was sending me back with  that damaged bag of sugar – – and that she wanted a  good “FULL BAG OF SUGAR” – – a bag with no holes!  So… with note and bag of sugar in hand – – I retraced my steps back to this grocery store – – and had to have them see to it,  that this new  bag  was full and firm and no leaks – – otherwise – –  I may be coming back, again.

It could be that when a small child is sent to the store – – that they give something damaged to the child to take home – – but, in our case my Mother would not accept damaged goods – – and  since “my feet” did the walking – – I remember so very well – – and guess that,  that  is the way I feel about purchases,  even today. It must have been  those miles that,  I was walking for the purchase – – but,  even if I was out playing with friends – -I would have walked that far  and even further  – – as my “Play Ground” was from the “Fair Grounds Park” to the opposite direction  to include  the “O’Fallon Park”  – as I had friends all over and was so very  LUCKY to know how to get where ever I needed to go – – as those were the days when we as a FAMILY  did walk  to most of the places  that we would go – -and so as early as possible – – if you wanted to go some where – –  it was a good idea to know “HOW” to get there!

“Now that I think back on my traveling all over  the North Saint Louis  area, and sometimes taking my younger brothers – – I have to  give “Thanks to  the Almighty Yahweh”  – – for having His Angels watch over us, three!   D.V.

Aug 22nd “This is a BLUE RIBBON WINNER Photo”

This is by far… the best PHOTO – – that I have seen in a long time – – and I know what a long time is!”

There is just something  extra “special” about this smiling face of  our “Baby LEX” – it looks like he is saying something  very important – – and with that  grin  and the twinkle in his eyes – he knows that he has  all of  our attention – – and that, no matter what he wants – – or is asking – – he already knows – – we will not  be turning  him down! 

With  this body language – –  he could sell to  “me”  the “Brooklyn Bridge”  – – and know,  that no matter what he was selling it for – – just his looks  alone … has me  sold – – and I would give him any amount that he would be wanting – – and,  I have no use for that “Brooklyn Bridge” – – but with that special look – I am buying what ever “LEX” is selling!

This is one  “PHOTO”  that I am saving and forever – – here and in my   ‘memory bank’ – – that I will be taking with me to the next Heavenly Realm — – when and where ever – – as this PHOTO will open lots of “doors” for who ever is carrying it  – – It just has that  extra special “MAGIC  SPELL”  coming across – – and I am Thanking our CREATOR – – for sending little “LEX”  to our FAMILY and to me!     D.V.

Aug 21st “Till We Meet Again”

“Maybe – just  a maybe… because I can still remember seeing so many  men and women in uniform during the  1940’s  on the buses and street-cars – – downtown where all the bus  and train connections were made – near “UNION STATION” – day and night – everyone joining up to serve – -“GOOD-byes” were what you saw and remembered!”

There is something about a “Good-bye” with that “Till We Meet Again” – – that has always been with me – – as that question I wonder about – – “Will we meet again” – “WHEN and Where?” No one that I know of – – can be sure of the very next minute – – especially when so many were sent off  to fight during WWII – – and without all of  us helping each other – – it could be very difficult – – just to think that maybe…  all that will come back is a “Telegram” – – “Lost in ACTION” – – and when those came – – neighbors could hear the screams – – loud and clear!

“SO…when parting those you LOVE and GOOD COMPANY and never knowing  – – what is around the next corner of LIFE – – here is what we do as a FAMILY with FRIENDS – – and some may think  “us”  strange – – but, we have so much FUN with doing our own,  “Fire in the HOLE” – –  you may want to try this sometime – –   just to see if your FAMILY  enjoys  this “Good-bye or Fare-well”  with the same amount of FUN as well as we do?”

When your  “Family” gets  together  for a “Good Time”, at a restaurant,    or even a dinner at my home,   or   one of us  who  has just made a  “Special Dessert” and maybe  even  just  for a “Hang Out”  gathering  –   “What’s the Icing on the Cake  going to be  –  our extra special –   Goodbye?”

Now that I’m thinking about it  –  I know  everybody  has  seen a “Football Game”,  and watch both  teams  getting  ready   for the next    big play  – they get in  that “Huddle Position”!  This  is really  the   “Hugging an Touching Position”,  and  “Cheer Leading Jumping”  with some  “Rah Rah’s”,  a time to pass  strong  physical  energy  around to  each  other  –  to keep  each of us   highly energized  –   “Till  we  meet  again”!

So,  the   “Last is  the Best” –    that  would be  Me, as only  an old  “Granny” can  “Yell”  “Fire in the  Hole”!    That’s  my signature   “Yell”!     And I do  that  yell  a couple   of times!   **** Strangers   take   Note:      You’ll want  your  “Goodbyes”    to  stand up  and  mean something,   too!   So and until then,  we LOVE you and send our Blessings to last forever! ****    “Till we meet again!”

Aug 20th “There were REWARDS then and even TODAY we have REWARDS”

Today it is almost impossible to  “SHOP” or even open an “ACCOUNT” that you   are also handed paper work to fill out  – – to join in this  organisation’s … “REWARD” program! 

Back in the 1940’s as a small child – – I did know that if  you bought your merchandise at this location you would receive “Eagle Stamps”   which later on  you would use to buy whatever you wanted. ( A Reward for shopping there.)

Today  – collecting “stamps” – – forget that… too much TIME  wasted  – – things move faster – – it is all fast  and furious  with  “REWARDS”  for merchandise NOW!

And so… thinking back in time…

Sometimes, I have a wild imagination, realized that in the 3rd and 4th grades.  Sister Florence taught the 3rd and 4th grades, and from what I remember  when she  would talk about her life before becoming  a “Nun”,  that as a young girl she never smelt any unpleasant smells?   It is odd the stuff you remember someone saying.  She  was writing a book,   “Topsy”,  and every so often she would read a chapter to us in class,   as  a special treat!   Sister Florence may have studied art,   because she seem to have lots of  natural talent and  ability, as in her class room  we had  an  “art table” she  had  lots of paints and colored pencils to  do almost anything in the creative field.

For  every  “Holiday”, she would  have each of us students make something  for  our  “Parents”, and since my Mother  saved everything that  I and my brothers made, I now,  still have some of    “our Prize works of  Art”!

My big break for writing came when  Sister Florence, opened a box of  “Pictures”  cut out from magazines and other sources in the  1940’s;  she had announced  that we should  take a picture from the box  and write a story  –  something interesting   and long enough to be of  interest to our parents and all those who would be reading it on “Anniversary  Day.”

Sister  Florence  also said – –  the magic words that I like to hear – – even TODAY – –  there would be a  “Prize”!   That’s all I needed  to hear!    So I went to that “BOX” and looked through those pictures  and pulled out several that just seem to grab me… by the hand.  To me,  “A   picture  is worth   a “Thousand Words”,  – – so carried away  – – I could come up with a story of at least 200 hundred words – – some more or less – – but a good picture that can call out a “STORY” to me… as to why that PHOTO was taken or why that scene was there – – for what purpose – – so many questions – – calling out to be answered – – so much so that  I still  “TODAY”  –  LOVE  putting  that  answer to the PHOTOS,  that I post!

 “My imagination  just ran away with me – – I wrote  “32” stories and  won the  “Prize” – – I can not remember what the “PRIZE”  was – – but,  on  that  “Anniversary Day” –  I had more FUN than anyone – – bringing my FAMILY and Friends to our class room – –  just to show off all those stories hanging all over our class room!”

NOW… that is what I call a  “REWARD” – – and one to remember for  ever and always!  Thanking the Almighty Yahweh for His good gifts to us – – and the talents to use them – – and, it is in the remembering of  those good TIMES – – that are worth more  than  any  thing  you could   have otherwise received!   D.V.