“In the 70th year – starts 2nd Childhood!”
Did you ever hear that … “You start into your 2nd Childhood?” – – “In your seventies – – “KIRK DOUGLAS” stated that – – you begin… your second childhood – and that means – – that – – NOW – you can do all those things – that you were deprived of getting to do – – and whatever silly stuff you are doing – – “IT” is NOW – – all okay to do!”
So… when I heard that – – that was exactly something that I thought I will remember – – so that – – when I get to the age of “70” – – there will time and no complaints from anyone – – when I want to do what there was no TIME – – for me to do back then!
This is a PHOTO of me – – in my “Rosati-Kain”HIGH SCHOOL uniform – – and just to be funny – – put a “DUNCE CAP” on… and then – – to clear my hands – just threw my school cap up into the air – – and caught it on top of my “DUNCE CAP” – – just to see what – – “looking silly – really looks like?”
When I was in HIGH SCHOOL
there was a BUS strike – – and so in order for me to get to school – – I did have to ride my bike to 4300 Lindell BLVD. SAINT LOUIS – – and the miles for me – – to peddle were about three and a half. This would not have been too bad – – – but as I was riding – – had to from time to time – – make sure that my school uniform skirt was not flying too high – – so as to distract – passers-by – – – and or cause an accident – and it sure was good that we did have good weather – – because – – how else would I travel – – if there would have been RAIN???
So… as you see me in this PHOTO – – that is the way I traveled – – and with my school books and prob bally a purse somewhere – – – this is the way – – just as friendly as possible – since going through the SAINT LOUIS area – did have to cross over “STREET CAR” tracks and – – thinking back – “IT sure was a good thing that – – I was young – – and had lots of energy!”
NOW…that I am in my seventies – – I am thinking that it would be beneficial for me to get an adult “Three-Wheeler” – – and have a large attached basket – – in the rear – – for “STUFF!”
That is me with the “SCOOTER” – and of course my younger brother “TOMMY” – – and in looking at these old PHOTOS – – I can see that I have done a good job of riding the “two-wheeler” – – – and sure did use lots of leg energy – – pushing the “Scooter” around – – so – – NOW – – are you also thinking … the same thing that I am thinking???
As a person – NOW in my seventies – – – and… if… I am also in my “second childhood” – – need to keep in tune with the “TOY STYLES” of children – but – – – which would be easy for an old “bag of BONES” – – to feel comfortable riding – – and then… when taking a rest… can sit back… on – – – – and in a comfortable position – – that would be in the “sitting position” – for the legs and the whole “bag of BONES” – – some of which in my case – – have been replaced!
“What a “GOOD TIME” – – we “SENIORS” have to look forward to – – It’s that “second childhood” – – having that positive attitude in to old age – – letting us have all the FUN – – that we can!”
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“Birthday Photos on Visiting Sunday”
“Visiting Sundays” – – were just too hard for me to take! I would be just so very “HAPPY” that my PARENTS were there to see me – – but just as soon as it would be getting close to 5:00 p.m. – well… I would start to get all choked up – – ready for the tears to flow… as if the “Niagara Falls” were turned on – – and in full force!
In the above photo – – that is ME and TOMMY and DENNY – and we seem to be so HAPPY – – one thing that my Parents never forgot – was to bring something good to eat and a whole list of other goodies that I would ask for… by writing on a three cent post card to my MOM – – with all the goodies that I would like and even something for my brothers… Just the other day – – I was looking through some photos – – and in and amongst the photos there was an old post car – date of February 1948 – – and I was reminding my Dad to send to us the VALENTINES – that he promised – so that … we could send them to our classmates – – and the “big to do” thing for my MOM…was to bake a “BIRTHDAY CAKE” for our next – VISITING SUNDAY …as that would be little TOMMY’s BIRTHDAY!
Should not have said “LITTLE” TOMMY – as he is only “six foot – four inches… only the tallest of all of us – takes after the BRADY side of the FAMILY!
In the “PHOTO” – – and behind us on the slide… are some of the children …just sitting on that “circular swing” – as I have forgotten what they called…it – – but and on – many of a VISITING SUNDAY – there were a good number of the children – – that never had a “VISIT” from anyone at all! There was only one child who was a true ORPHAN – so why in the world did the same children …never ever receive a visit??? That was always very hard for me to believe – – I think that I would have really felt bad – each and every Visiting Sunday – and no one took the time to come and see me – – – even to this day – – it is still hard for me to figure – – why – was not someone appointed to visit these children???
There were case-workers assigned to work with each FAMILY placement – and I believe that – they should have been informed of the situation and – – and if that “good” case-worker could only – find someone that would visit these children – they too…needed to know that someone would care about them and LOVE them and would spend time with them – – as it would be the only decent thing to do.
It would only make for a much better world – – if we all… could show a little more LOVE to our neighbor – – and even double that LOVE to a young child – – especially in an institution!
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“Birthday Gifts…”
When the “Poodle Skirts” were part of a your girls’s dreams… even in the Orphanage – – I had to ask my MOTHER… “Would it be possible for me to have a “POODLE SKIRT” – – for my BIRTHDAY???”
In the above photo – – you can see me with the new “POODLE SKIRT” on…and just so that I would have a complete outfit to wear… my Aunt Irene – – did what she does so well – she made a very nice scoop neck blouse with a draw-string neck opening – – a nice light pink, soft organza material – and as you can see – I have that neck tied up – nice and high – – no off the shoulders for me – – the NUNS …would not allow such stuff!
If … I were …to ever live in an Orphanage.. again – – and I don’t think that would be possible – -since there is no way to re-do – the LIFE I had over seventy years ago – but – giving thought to my own childhood in the Orphanage – I did have the habit of asking my MOTHER for entirely too many things – – that I really did not need – – and in an Orphanage – – the more that you as an individual child has – the more that is lost or just taken away and in those years that I was there everything was sent to Germany.
The “POODLE SKIRT” was just too much – really no place to wear it – and if I was allowed to wear it – – for a couple of “Visiting Sundays” – there was no wear – that I could wear it – and never ever wore it – and never ever saw it – – and no one else ever wore it – – so where did it go??? I did have the nerve to ask…”Where are the clothes that I had when I first come here?” The answer I received. – “there are families of some of the NUNS in GERMANY – and since they lost everything during the WWII years – they had need of our things – since we worn standard uniforms – and we have no need for extra things.”
After a good number of years… I feel that we should remember … that it is easier in this LIFE TIME to learn to travel our journey on the “LIGHT SIDE” – – – as you never see a “U-Haul Truck” following the hearse of the deceased person – – on the way to the Cemetery – as you have no longer have need to take anything to the next LIFE – – use what you need – enjoy that which you have – but to just collect a lot of stuff – – it is a waste of your time and talents – use and do the best – learning to enjoy all the gifts that the Almighty gives us and share all of the extras with our neighbors – that makes for a much better LIFE!
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“Another Photo…SAME LOCATION…
This is the SAME LOCATION… but that is my MOTHER… now… she is holding our baby sister Karen… the twin that was a survivor!
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“Another BIRTHDAY…Another YEAR Older…”
We moved in here… in AUGUST – – and SEPTEMBER follows… and another BIRTHDAY… for ME – – and in the photo is TOMMY and ME!
Would you believe that in just looking at the above photo – – I remember what I like doing most… and that was to do “Cartwheels” – – I would just do one after another… and the way that I am standing,,, it looks as if I will be doing a “Cartwheel” right out of that photo!
These were the beginning years of WWII and we were doing our part. As you can see TOMMY is wearing a white “Sailor’s cap” – – – there wasn’t a military song that he didn’t know – – and could sing it …with all the ‘gusto’ of a movie star – – hands and legs moving – especially when we were on the bus or street car… going to and from the downtown Saint Louis area. Of course…I would be right by his side – to keep him going – – Tommy just had a natural knack for entertaining – you might say …he stole the “show” – – and I knew most of the songs – because when we were on our swing-set and swinging for hours — we would sing so loud and for hours…I’ll bet that – they could hear us singing …way on down to GRAND AVENUE!
If you are looking at my face…you can see that… I have the “MUMPS” – and this was TOMMY’s fault! Tommy got the MUMPS – – and gave them to me. Tommy is keeping his “eye” on DADDY – – because we know that DADDY is going to CALIFORNIA to do welding on battleships in “Vallejo” – the “San Francisco Bay Area” California.
If things would have worked out the way that I thought… I was the one… to get to go to CALIFORNIA – – but this is another learning lesson in the game of LIFE… “Live and Learn” – – when you are on a journey – – that is all you are doing! You will go somewhere – that you have never been before… and you study the situation out – determine exactly what needs to be done… for you to arrive where you want … and maybe get to enjoy at least “FIVE” minutes more of this new LIFE experience. You heard that old song… “Give Me Five Minutes …MORE…” well – that is how they came to write the words for it – – just another one of “LIFE’s” experiences!
Just so everyone will know…TOMMY went to CALIFORNIA…
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“With BIRTHDAYS – YOU get OLDER!”
With a fancy “black velvet dress”- on… that calls for a BIRTHDAY – my 4th!
In the above photo – that is my brother, DENNY – and what was good about us KIDS – having a BIRTHDAY – was that – that would call for a very big PARTY for the ADULTS! My FATHER was the type that had to have a lot of “SHOW” going on – – when any event or occasion came along to celebrate.
In the basement – – we had several of those large round galvanized tubs – – each filled with ice and beer and some soda. Since… my FATHER took charge of the cooking – these occasions called for food – and lots of it as only he would like to do – – and – to do it up – – so that everyone could take home plenty of good eats – – that would last them days. I always marveled at how he could cook and bake and never needed a recipe for anything – just knew what and how much – – and everything …was fit for a KING!
My MOTHER told me… that when we were little…we were placed in the “play-pen” in the center of the PARTY – and all the adults would blow those noise makers – that would extend right into our faces and make a loud noise! Guess… those adults thought that they were entertaining us kids – or maybe trying to scare us into keeping quiet – or maybe… they just didn’t have any other way of acting silly???
This …is in the WWII early years… my PARENTS decide to sell that nice house we had in PINE LAWN – and it sold so fast – went like “HOT CAKES” – and… if you wanted a house – they just were not to be found … just not available…but – we had to rent for a month or two – everything packed – since we knew – we were looking and finally …they found this 85 year old house in NORTH SAINT LOUIS – – and fairly close to the the above “Fair Ground Park” – – you can see us in the above photo near the lake in the PARK – where my brothers DENNY and TOMMY and I would go quite often to play.
Since we are – each a year… apart in age…it looks like we are at least – 3 – 4 – 5 – years old – Isn’t it nice to be so close together in age in the family??? DENNY has red hair – I have brown hair – and Tommy has blonde hair – – and in so many of my photos… I am wearing a multi-color ribbon- bow in my hair – the reason for the remark – is that I still have one of my favorite bows – just had it in my hair this week – for my BIRTHDAY pictures – – some things that you like – well… they just last forever and ever.
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