“Hanging Out – -with DENNY!”

Aug 21st “Hanging Out – -with DENNY!”

L. to R. DENNY…TOMMY…MARY ELLEN

“This is the first picture… that shows me what “HANGING OUT” with someone looks like!” We were not in this ORPHAN HOME too long before this photo was taken. This place was all new to us – so many rules and regulations to follow – – – and always having to be somewhere and in trouble if not where …that was – as if we knew … where to find – – half of the places to be – – and watch out if you ever went into the wrong place – – like where only the NUNS – – were allowed!

“Number ninety-one”… that was my new name. Where ever I was to be somewhere or a NUN wanted me… I would hear…”NINETY-ONE”…”COME HERE!” – – And… did I ever march over there and in a hurry!

DENNY was number seventy-eight… and TOMMY was number seventy-nine. I will remember a lot of “Numbers” and… still know…”who they are” – as we heard those numbers day in and day out – – some things are just too hard to forget! You knew you were in some kind of trouble – – when the NUN in charge and you might be around… and saw a piece of paper with your number on it… and of course there could be several numbers… also in the same “trouble” …and the NUN had this paper pinned with a straight pin – to the front of her cape!

“Hanging… OUT” – – When my sons were young and in school – so often – – I would hear – “We are going over to a “FRIEND”S HOUSE” to HANG OUT??? Never really made any sense to me – – “HANGING” to mean that they are going to be doing something … why not just say what you are going to do???” So… and since I am on the nosy side… I tend to ask too many questions – probably more than KIDS want someone to ask them…especially when they have some other agenda on their mind… to do?

So… then – guessing that – when the friends and they grew older … and my kids were driving – – the HANGING OUT… NOW changed to “PARTY-ing” – and this would have the sound of some kind of a “FISH TALE” – – if I ever heard it??? NOW – I guess you want to know why – – did I think this was just a “FISH TALE”… – the last thing that I would say … as they are ready to drive away… “Remember to bring back to me a piece of the cake…. because all parties that I go to… they serve “CAKE and ICE CREAM” – – and you know that I like “CAKE” – – and that will be the proof of you going to a “PARTY” – so often???”

In all the years that my sons…having gone to so many “PARTIES” – – I never did receive a piece of “CAKE” – – so what kind of “PARTIES” – are people going to – – that never serve “CAKE?”

In the above photo – we three kids do not look too happy – when we first went to the ORPHAN HOME – Visiting Sunday – was only once a month – – but my parents came out to visit us through-out the week – and would not leave – until they got to see us. Those were awfully upsetting years for all of us – – and sometimes – my DAD would come out and just take us home – and those were some of the best of times!