Wednesday, June 09, 2004
SPRING AND SUMMER....1962
New Year’s 1962 came in quietly while we slept. Keeping up with three active children and their activities was a full-time job. After they were scrubbed and tubbed in the evening I was soon ready to follow. Our days began early and I was always in a dead run to get done with the daily work so I could get on with some of the fun stuff. I was still going to the launder-mat and that took a full morning away from home every week. John accompanied me and busied himself playing or visiting with Mr. Purcell, who was the owner. The launder-mat was just a stone’s throw from the school where George and Becky were so John liked to watch all the kids at recess time. He couldn’t wait to go to school.
Dr. Eubanks decided to fit John for glasses when he was around 2-years old. I was doubtful he would leave them on but Dr. Eubanks said if they were a benefit, he would. He carefully examined his eyes and told me to bring him back in a few days. When we returned the glasses were ready and were fitted. John was amazed at the difference and walked around picking things up. It was a new world for him. He was such a cute little guy with his big glasses….they made him look like Mr. MaGoo. Of course the strength they had to be made his eyes look like huge fish eyes but we didn’t care and he was delighted.
We had lots of indications the glasses were beneficial. One day we were in traffic driving in down-town Kansas City…when we stopped at a light we were joined by another car in the lane next to us. I had John on my lap and he looked that way and said, “Mama…..a car.” I was sure he had never been able to see past the window whether in a car or at home because he was always so restless and couldn’t entertain himself just by looking. He would have to handle, pick-up at close range and look carefully to ’see’ what the rest of us could from across the room. One day he was looking out the living room window and shrieked…… “Mama, a birdddeeeee.” Those were exciting times for both of us. He hated taking his glasses off at nap or bed-time and they were the first things he reached for when he woke up. Dr. Eubanks was very pleased with the advantage it gave John. He had a right to be.
For his birthday on March 2nd John wanted a cake made like an elephant. I baked a 3-layer cake and cut the pieces I needed for the shape. One round layer was the body. The second layer I cut a round piece out of the center for the head. The pieces left of that layer and the last one were shaped into legs and the trunk. With boiled fluffy icing and coconut, then a cookie for his ear he turned out really cute. John was pleased and that was my pay for the effort.
Becky’s birthday followed later that month and wanted a Bluebird cake. Again I made the three layers and cut them up for the body, tail and head. I made the bird beak out of yellow poster board folded in a 3-D effect. The candles were placed to represent the wing and the icing was blue. We celebrated her 8th birthday with the Bluebird group and the girls loved the special cake.
Spring came early that year. In May I planned to drive down to mom and dad’s because it was my 30th birthday and mom was going to make me a cake. George couldn’t get off work so the children and I made the trip by ourselves. We got to Clinton where we usually stopped at a local drive-in for burgers and I got out to get our orders. We ate in the car and I hurried back out on the highway headed South. I got as far as Deep Water when I realized the new pearl earrings I took off and put in my lap must have dropped to the ground when I got out of the car at the drive-in. I was just sick. George had given them to me for my birthday. I made a U-turn and hurried back….the children hopped out of the car and helped me look…there they were, right where we had parked. One was a little bent but it was quickly bent back to shape. I was happy to have them back. On to Willow Springs to meet my brother Louis and cousin Dale who were coming for Memorial Day.
When I drove in to the driveway at the folks it looked pretty quiet. Mom was usually fixed up and the cake would be on a stand, decorated and beautiful. She was in her old clothes and no make-up….she had been crying. I couldn’t figure what had happened….they had both wanted me to come for my birthday so much and now it was like I was an uninvited guest. Dad came in from outside and told me that “Billie” had died that morning. They were both broken up about it. Billie was their pet parakeet and a marvelous little guy. He had a large vocabulary because mom had worked with him so much. Mom hadn’t baked the cake and didn’t have any supper prepared. Well this was going to be quite the birthday. First I lost the earrings and now Billie was dead…..the folks were in serious mourning. I would have to help get them back on track. We went out to supper and Louis and Dale came later in the evening.
Oh my gosh!! Was Dale a good looking kid in his Navy blues. Our three kids stuck to him like glue for the whole visit. Dale’s parents had moved to Willow Springs when uncle Ted retired. We all headed for the lake to ski, fish and camp. It was always a hoot to get that many of us together….the stories started flying when the day was done and we gathered around the camp. Some of my fondest memories were born at Norfork Lake.
The children loved being in the water and there was a roped off place for them to splash and play. I decided they needed to learn to swim and when we were home again I stood in a long line of mothers to sign George and Becky up for Red Cross swimming lessons. I think it’s important for everyone to know how to swim. I made it my habit to take the three of them swimming every afternoon and I enjoyed it as well.
We returned to the lake again in July when my brother and the Powell’s came to visit mom and dad. We also went to the Shepherd of the Hill’s area and took in some beautiful country. Of course we spent time with Grandma and Grandpa Strain going and coming and caught up on the news around Cabool. It was always good to touch base with our families.
By the time we got home from our vacation it was almost time for school to begin once more. This was the year John had been waiting for….he was going to get to go to kindergarten. Dr. Eubank’s recommended sending him to the Kansas State School for the Blind which was over in Kansas City, Kansas. A good friend of ours from church taught school there so we had a leg up on how it all worked. He drove back and forth every day and told us John could ride with him if we would like. He just lived up the street from us so it would pose no problem. I took John to register and meet his teacher. She was a jewel of a lady and we’ll be introduced to her tomorrow.
Until then,
Essentially Esther
Dr. Eubanks decided to fit John for glasses when he was around 2-years old. I was doubtful he would leave them on but Dr. Eubanks said if they were a benefit, he would. He carefully examined his eyes and told me to bring him back in a few days. When we returned the glasses were ready and were fitted. John was amazed at the difference and walked around picking things up. It was a new world for him. He was such a cute little guy with his big glasses….they made him look like Mr. MaGoo. Of course the strength they had to be made his eyes look like huge fish eyes but we didn’t care and he was delighted.
We had lots of indications the glasses were beneficial. One day we were in traffic driving in down-town Kansas City…when we stopped at a light we were joined by another car in the lane next to us. I had John on my lap and he looked that way and said, “Mama…..a car.” I was sure he had never been able to see past the window whether in a car or at home because he was always so restless and couldn’t entertain himself just by looking. He would have to handle, pick-up at close range and look carefully to ’see’ what the rest of us could from across the room. One day he was looking out the living room window and shrieked…… “Mama, a birdddeeeee.” Those were exciting times for both of us. He hated taking his glasses off at nap or bed-time and they were the first things he reached for when he woke up. Dr. Eubanks was very pleased with the advantage it gave John. He had a right to be.
For his birthday on March 2nd John wanted a cake made like an elephant. I baked a 3-layer cake and cut the pieces I needed for the shape. One round layer was the body. The second layer I cut a round piece out of the center for the head. The pieces left of that layer and the last one were shaped into legs and the trunk. With boiled fluffy icing and coconut, then a cookie for his ear he turned out really cute. John was pleased and that was my pay for the effort.
Becky’s birthday followed later that month and wanted a Bluebird cake. Again I made the three layers and cut them up for the body, tail and head. I made the bird beak out of yellow poster board folded in a 3-D effect. The candles were placed to represent the wing and the icing was blue. We celebrated her 8th birthday with the Bluebird group and the girls loved the special cake.
Spring came early that year. In May I planned to drive down to mom and dad’s because it was my 30th birthday and mom was going to make me a cake. George couldn’t get off work so the children and I made the trip by ourselves. We got to Clinton where we usually stopped at a local drive-in for burgers and I got out to get our orders. We ate in the car and I hurried back out on the highway headed South. I got as far as Deep Water when I realized the new pearl earrings I took off and put in my lap must have dropped to the ground when I got out of the car at the drive-in. I was just sick. George had given them to me for my birthday. I made a U-turn and hurried back….the children hopped out of the car and helped me look…there they were, right where we had parked. One was a little bent but it was quickly bent back to shape. I was happy to have them back. On to Willow Springs to meet my brother Louis and cousin Dale who were coming for Memorial Day.
When I drove in to the driveway at the folks it looked pretty quiet. Mom was usually fixed up and the cake would be on a stand, decorated and beautiful. She was in her old clothes and no make-up….she had been crying. I couldn’t figure what had happened….they had both wanted me to come for my birthday so much and now it was like I was an uninvited guest. Dad came in from outside and told me that “Billie” had died that morning. They were both broken up about it. Billie was their pet parakeet and a marvelous little guy. He had a large vocabulary because mom had worked with him so much. Mom hadn’t baked the cake and didn’t have any supper prepared. Well this was going to be quite the birthday. First I lost the earrings and now Billie was dead…..the folks were in serious mourning. I would have to help get them back on track. We went out to supper and Louis and Dale came later in the evening.
Oh my gosh!! Was Dale a good looking kid in his Navy blues. Our three kids stuck to him like glue for the whole visit. Dale’s parents had moved to Willow Springs when uncle Ted retired. We all headed for the lake to ski, fish and camp. It was always a hoot to get that many of us together….the stories started flying when the day was done and we gathered around the camp. Some of my fondest memories were born at Norfork Lake.
The children loved being in the water and there was a roped off place for them to splash and play. I decided they needed to learn to swim and when we were home again I stood in a long line of mothers to sign George and Becky up for Red Cross swimming lessons. I think it’s important for everyone to know how to swim. I made it my habit to take the three of them swimming every afternoon and I enjoyed it as well.
We returned to the lake again in July when my brother and the Powell’s came to visit mom and dad. We also went to the Shepherd of the Hill’s area and took in some beautiful country. Of course we spent time with Grandma and Grandpa Strain going and coming and caught up on the news around Cabool. It was always good to touch base with our families.
By the time we got home from our vacation it was almost time for school to begin once more. This was the year John had been waiting for….he was going to get to go to kindergarten. Dr. Eubank’s recommended sending him to the Kansas State School for the Blind which was over in Kansas City, Kansas. A good friend of ours from church taught school there so we had a leg up on how it all worked. He drove back and forth every day and told us John could ride with him if we would like. He just lived up the street from us so it would pose no problem. I took John to register and meet his teacher. She was a jewel of a lady and we’ll be introduced to her tomorrow.
Until then,
Essentially Esther
