“8 Month old, Mary Ellen – CAN DO LIST”

“Looks like DADDY is holding “ME” – – firm enough – – so as not to move – – and  then the PHOTO would not be any good?” “This is a “PARK” – – and I want to ‘run and play’ – –  well maybe not run – – but…  at least get down on the ground – – and see what I can get into – – without being caught???

This is the back side of the above PHOTO of … baby, Mary Ellen – – and…  I have to say that…  this is the best idea of all – – while you have the PHOTOS is your hands – – jot a couple of notes about the person – –  what the person can do – – like this list of what I could  do on that date…  and within the few months – – of what I could do.  (“How do you like that 14 letter word?”)

This is my “MOTHER’s Handwriting” – – and It is wonderful that she wrote these things out – – as so much of her ‘note’ taking is done in “short-hand” – – and if this was all in short-hand – – well… no one would know what  or how to read – – as she was in the last class of  “Pittman” – – the following year – – SCHOOLS started  a new “Gregg Shorthand” course – – and  everything would be…  one big mystery.

Several of these small “pass-port” photos of me  – – just had to post one – – so I could blow it up – – to see what I really looked like.

As I look …  this PHOTO over… my face tells… that someone is giving me  a “con” message – – maybe to smile more… give a bigger laugh… show more teeth… but whatever they are trying to sell me… I am not buying.  My eyes tell me… I can not trust you… You may be saying that…  you will give  me some candy – – or some other sweet enticement – –  but…  I just am not falling for it!

There is one thing that my MOTHER said  – – more times than  I wanted to hear… and of course this was when I was  much older… “Do NOT believe anything you hear… and only “HALF” of what you see – – and  never be hasty about anything…  since most of what you…   “THOUGHT” you saw – – was never  even in the picture!”

Most of the advice my MOTHER passed on to us  – – was inspired “WISDOM” and from the BIBLE – – so much good advice – – and to think that it was good hundreds of years ago – – and today – – it is “GOLDEN” – – and to understand… one must read from the BIBLE  – – every DAY!  D.V.

 


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“DREAMS… COME to LIFE…in your own ROCKER”

This “PHOTO” shows ‘ME’ in  my very own “ROCKER” – – and it looks as if – – I have almost out-grown this  ‘Child’   size  rocker.

Rocking myself was FUN… it was something that I could do – – all by myself – – and for as long as I wanted, too!

In another year or so… my brother, DENNY would use this ROCKER – – as his favorite chair and he would also rock for hours  – – as I had graduated to  using my MOM’s rocker.

My MOTHER’s rocker was one of the most comfortable rockers  – –  of all the rockers – – that is…  that I have ever had the opportunity to have had and or  temporarily own.  If only I could find a PHOTO of it – – or even one like it – – I sure would like to own one like it again – – it is the “top drawer” of rockers – –  only wish we would not have ever lost it – – in moving.

During WWII – – the 1940’s – – we had a radio that look like a small house.  It sat on a shelf – – there was some space on each side – – and it was up against the wall. Someone would turn it on… how I did not know – – even though I would watch  and try to see… just exactly  – – “how in the world all of these little people would all of sudden be in this small house – – and then they would start talking?”

I would plant myself into my MOTHER’s “ROCKER” – – and listen to everything  that was going on. I could not figure out – – all the singing – – sometimes stories – – and even at time – – just plain ole talking – – the voices changed – – but I did not see anyone coming or going out of this small box of a “HOME” – – and started wondering… “How can I get these “DOLLS” out to play with “ME” – – and have real FUN – – since these little DOLLS are able to really “TALK” – – and I could really have   more  friends!” The excitement grew and grew – – but  and no matter how I paid attention – – never could figure the “MYSTERY” of these little people that hide their selves in our radio – – and they all had so much FUN – – and all  without  me.

There were a couple of times… that I rocked so hard and fast in “Mama’s Rocker” – – that it completely turned over – – and with me in it. I never got hurt – – but someone would always be there in a hurry to see what was going on??? It was just so exciting – – to hear all of this wonderful stuff – – and I wanted to be a part of it – – but never got the chance. Now that I think about it – – no one else seem to question all of the talk and stories  – – and even other people talking on the radio – – they always just went about their business – – and here I was – – always trying to figure out – – “HOW can I get those people out – – to play with?”

“Maybe turning summer-salts in a rocking-chair – – once or maybe even a time too many – – left me with  a shortage of marbles – – in the ‘belfry’ – – – seems that I still have too many questions – – and not enough of the correct answers?”


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“School is OUT – LIBRARY is OPEN”

Post-war prosperity, a booming automobile industry, and increasing suburbanization continued the expansion of bookmobile service. The below picture of a Brooklyn library bookmobile doesn’t really capture all of the trends of the time, but look at the kids!

Index

Library Card

Someone asked me about my library card?   “Did I have one, to use in SAINT LOUIS?”

It is amazing how an almost “70 year library card” – can find a safe place to hide, for  all these years and still look good.  SO, this is the  real story  of,  “HOW and WHEN”  so long ago, that    I was able to get my very own  “LIBRARY CARD”  and,  all by myself!

In the early 1940’s,  we moved into the North St.Louis area, and I was sent to the bakery for “cinnamon” rolls. I’m only six years old and on  the corner of Carter & Warne Avenue,  is  parked a  “mobile library trailer” something,  not ever seen by me,  before this day, on my early  runs for items, for the family.  I could not just pass  this by, since they had “two  doors” opened. “Nosy– me” pokes my  head in and someone said, “Come on in?”  “I don’t know if I can ??  “What are you here,  for?”.  Someone then said, “You can have a book  to “READ” that is ,  if you have a library card!”  I had to first check this “information” out  and  see if   “IT”  would be “OKAY”  with “MOM”  and,  so I  just  said, “I’ll come back.”

I had to run as fast as I could,  to the “Bakery”   as I had just wasted “TIME”  just making this stop, and  back home, and then with an “OKAY”  from “MOM”  back to the “mobile library.”  When I got there, they helped me fill out the “library card”  and pointed me to the  area that would interest me. I picked out a book that had a picture covering the whole front cover. Across the top was the name of the book, “Madeline.”  I could hardly wait,  till I was back home, to show my “MOM”  this was really FUN for me, as a kid,  I was always on the look-out for new and different stuff.

 My Mother read the book,  to me and my brothers,  Denny and Tommy , as we sat in the living room,  on the sofa,  as we did almost every day.  Back then,  WWII was going on  and my DAD was working on NAVY SHIPS in Vallejo,  California  and we loved hearing the stories that Mom would read from the BIBLE and other books that we had. MOM  was happy with my selection, today and  she read it several times to us,  as I could only have  it for a short time and would have to return it back, according to the date stamped on the card that was on the inside cover of the book, which,  gave me  the permission to borrow it.

“MOM”   also helped me  to read it.  The story of  little “Madeline”  just seemed as if, it would  be,  about  “ME”- and this was one story book,  that I always  had the best of memories for and about,  and when I had my own little family,  that was one  of the books,  I bought for my children and myself and  then too, had the “Little Madeline” story book ready,  for my Grand-Children.

P.S. – – I do recommend – – if you have a chance – – get this book and read to your children – – see if they will remember it as I do? …  “For ever” 


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