Grandma’s Stories

Dec 30th “CHRISTMAS VACATION” ends in Disaster”

Remember… “Moderation in all things and activities is the best medicine for all – – just a day or two longer – will end up in complete DISASTER!”To be mindful of the moderation is all things – – I have read some verses in the BIBLE…stating that same thought – so…as an adult – – I have tried to remember that – – because,  I know first-hand  – – that you will loose so much more – – when good times last…  too long.

As the elder of  the three McClarren children – -the social worker taking us back to the ORPHANAGE – – was directing all of the reasons that we were going back – – our parents were at our house – –  no room in this car for them – – so I heard about how wrong it was for us to be at home with our parents – – all this time when they should have brought us back. The more – – that I had to listen to her –  the more that I was crying – and so choked  up –  could hardly say anything in their defense – – and that we were having FUN – – and we were enjoying every minute – and that we all wanted to stay home longer and forever.

Back at the ORPHANAGE – – for a little kid – -I felt like a “CRIMINAL” and that I had leprosy…  or some weir disease? My brothers went to the right side of the Orphanage… the BOYS’ side of the building and I went to the GIRLS’ side and to the PLAY ROOM… where everyone was at that time of day. Went to my “LOCKER” to hang my coat and put my stuff that I was bringing back  – – and someone else now had my locker – – while I was at home – – the lockers were re-assigned and everyone NOW – had a new locker location. So the Nun in charge told me where my newly assigned locker was – – and if was empty???

So… I was asking everyone where was my stuff???   Where was my “CHRISTMAS PRESENTS” that I received for CHRISTMAS?  “Where did my “BRIDE DOLL” go?”  AND… “Where are the letters and mail that I have been saving…  that my Mother sent to me?  The special “Birthday Card”   that I received from my FATHER – –

“” Mary, Mary,       quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells and cockleshells
And pretty maids all in a row.”

And … there  was a special “Christmas edition of WOMEN’s DAY magazine” that my Mother had just brought to me on the last Visiting Sunday – – that had so many  things that I was looking forward to making and reading – all gone!

I was everywhere asking and looking for my new “BRIDE DOLL” – -it had just disappeared – – no one knew where it was – – but –  I know that one of the NUNS – – must have taken it – – because…  I searched  every locker in the “PLAY ROOM” – –  so when…  that day comes – – when all answers will be made possible – – I would just like to know  – “WHO”  in the world – – just had to have the  old “WAC WAR doll” that my “Aunt Irene Riley”,  took to the “Doll Hospital – – had it gone over and restored  to brand NEW condition – – and even had some of her  very own “keep-sake” hair  –  from when she was a “young girl ”  – – made into a wig – – into beautiful “Banana CURLS” – – the white “Bride”  clothing all made special  – – this was something…  that I would have treasured… forever!

Now… I had an empty locker – – nothing personal anymore – – everything gone – – and I know what I had – – and no one throws away valuable stuff – – someone knew the value and took it …  and that  happened the first day that we did not show up – –  after the “CHRISTMAS VACATION”- –  someone  wanted my stuff and saw a good  opportunity  and NOW a way to take it – – so…  I just hope that they enjoyed it.

It is funny – – when you stop to think of your road in LIFE –  –  You are here and then somewhere else for a while – –  and usually on all of the cross roads and stops – we leave behind some of what we thought important – – but –  after awhile down another road –  we start to accumulate stuff – – and along that path – – we find that it is easier to TRAVEL – –  without  a heavy sack of stuff –  – that only makes our TRAVELS – –   a tad harder to move   FORWARD!

Dec 24th “CHRISTMAS EVE” in the 1940’s”

Do you attend the CHURCH of your choice to CELEBRATE – -what the “EVE of CHRISTMAS  is all about?

This is taken in the CHAPEL of GERMAN St. Vincent Orphanage – – and we would follow the very same procedure at the very same time  – – only some of the children partaking might be different – – as he older children graduated from the eighth grade and left – –  the younger children – – having been here for years – – knew just how and what to do – and when.

The girls were on the left side of the building living quarters  and so we were on the left side  pews of the Church  – – and the boys  were always on the right side pews  – – as you  can  see – – and that looks like my brother, TOMMY  – – the boy in the pew in front of the NUN – – and he is third from the left side aisle  – – in a fairly white color shirt.

After our Church Services – – ending the “ADVENT SEASON”  we would  proceed to the class rooms  – – and this was the best part of the evening. Each child would go to the class room and in single file – -and we would sing CHRISTMAS SONGS – – and walk around the perimeter of the “class room”  – and this would be for a few minutes – – to give each child the chance to view from a distance their desk – – and their friends desk – – to see what was on the desk  – – that was for them for CHRISTMAS.

One year… as we were doing the “march” around the room – – there was this beautiful “BRIDE DOLL” standing on my desk top – – “I could hardly believe that  – this beautiful  doll was for me – – it must be a mistake!” I even  ask the NUN, Sister Florence – – if this was for sure for me?  She  said it was for me – – and I was really so HAPPY – – to have received such a beautiful CHRISTMAS present!

“to be continued… tomorrow”

Aug 29th “Dial ‘O’ for your local OPERATOR!”

Everyone knows that when you dial  ‘O’  for OPERATOR… you will receive a  “voice with a smile” – – and just so you can put  that “voice” into a picture as to  maybe someone you know… just thought that I would post the photos I have  for three other young ladies and myself. 

The above PHOTO is of me  – – and was taken within the first year of my learning to be a “Telephone Operator” – – and I do look fairly young – – as when I started to work – – was not eighteen years old and did have to secure a worker’s permit and promise to not  quit  – –  when September rolled around to continue with the last  couple of months of High School.

The reason for taking this PHOTO – – was that I had found this material with little telephones all over – – and just thought that I had to buy enough material   – – just to make a blouse that I could wear to work. Of course lots of my friends at work liked the idea and the blouse – – and when wearing this blouse to places other than work – –  I could go into detail about working for the “Telephone Co.,”

Just in case … you caught the PHOTO in the frame above the mirror – – that is me as a baby.  My Mother told me that, “One day…  I was playing outside and my Father came home in a  big hurry…  just grabbed me and rushed off in the car – –  saying he had to hurry.”   Evidently there was a “BABY CONTEST” going on… and he wanted to have me –  entered in… by having my PHOTO taken. When we return home,  later on – – my Mother told  my DAD  – “You could have at least let me clean  “Mary Ellen” up – – and put nice clothes on her!”  So… was my MOTHER – – ever surprised – –  when the Photographers Store  called  – – that  my parents …  could pick up the “Blue Ribbon” for me.

This PHOTO  – – above is of  three of the other young ladies that started working for the “Telephone Co.,” with me – – – there were two other girls – – but… they  were not around when I was taking photos. If I was to find and check my  old note books for the first four weeks of training  – – that we were in together – – I might find the names of these girls – – as we did even go to a couple of places to dance in the evening and we did have each others’ phone numbers.

One other memory … the young lady on the right of this PHOTO – – was not able to make dresses from patterns – – but – – as  I did like to sew and was able to make some of the clothes that she wanted… she  bought materials and  patterns for a variety of different  out-fits – – and I was happy to do the sewing – – I was able to make use of the lessons I had  taken  – -and had fun to doing something different. These were the days – – that we did not have “TV” – – and were able to do lots of things – – that people do not have time to do today … with the “TV’ occupying  all of our time.

If you think you know any of us  “OPERATORS” – –  just take the time and leave a message in the comment space.  Thanks!
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