With the trip behind us we were busy getting settled back home, catching up with yard work and the neighbors. School was almost upon us for another year and the children were all moving up another rung. John was in fifth grade at the Kansas School for the Blind, Becky was in the ninth grade at Trailridge Junior High and George was a junior at West High. George began his mail route again and as for me, I started a new job.

Before we left on vacation, Floyd Hudson asked if I would be interested in office work. (Floyd was the one in charge of my students and my route.) He and a good friend of his had received grant money from the University of Kansas to fund an Educational Modulation Center at Olathe, Kansas. They were working on their Doctorate and had an innovative idea to co-ordinate materials for kids that were having difficulties in school. Their plan was for learning difficulties, physical handicaps of all sorts or mentally disturbed children.

They wanted to promote a “hub” of materials that schools could check out for help with problem kids. I didn’t know just how this was all going to work and told Floyd that I hadn’t had any office training and hadn’t done much typing since high-school and had forgotten all of the shorthand. It didn’t matter. He was impressed with my punctual delivery of the kids each day and the kindness I had shown them. He felt I would be a dependable asset to their office.

And so it happened. I began working for them the month we got home and it was a whole new experience for me. At first I did all of the things considered mundane in an office but I didn’t mind. I was learning as I went along and interested in the program. Gary Adamson was the director and Floyd Hudson was the assistant director. They each had a secretary and there were a good number of young men and women who came in and out continually, participating in some way, and also to advance their own educational endeavors. All were affiliated with Kansas University.

I always brought my own lunch from home and ate alone while everyone went out at noon. One day Gary was slow getting out and stopped by the table where I was eating. He wanted to know if I could type and I said I was pretty rusty...he casually said, “Why don’t you practice on the girl’s typewriters when they are out to lunch?” Surprised by his request, I told him I would and for a couple of days I did. Then one day when I sat down to type there was a note left on top of paper in the roller, reading “Don’t remove this page….I‘m working on it.” I complied and each day was the same with work left in the typewriter. One day Gary stopped by and asked how the typing was coming and I told him I hadn’t been practicing and why. He thought for a moment and said, “when you go home at night….take one with you and practice at home….bring it back the next morning.”

I loved that typewriter. It was a red IBM Selectric with the round spinning ball. I was in heaven working with that typewriter. I wrote letters on it, recipes, and anything I could think of to utilize my good fortune of having it for a few hours every night. My dream was to own one myself some day but for the time being I reveled in the use of that one.

I don’t know what happened. I don’t know if one of the girls quit or they let her go…whatever. Out of the blue Floyd told me I was going to be his secretary. I was bowled over and feeling pretty insecure about it. However, he persisted and said I’d get the hang of it and was patient and helpful through the early days. It was the beginning of a good working relationship. I enjoyed becoming more capable all the time and the responsibility of the job. Work was an experience in learning for me as well as the college students who came through our doors.

I was highly motivated and interested in the system they were hammering out for the Material’s Lab they were creating. They had audio and visual aids along with a system of cards that could identify a deficiency of a certain subject along with whatever handicap the child had. In moments we could determine the materials needed and find it. I was fascinated with the possibilities.

The months flew by and life had picked up speed with me in a full-time job and the children in so many activities. I didn’t want to miss anything they were involved in and it kept both of us running in two different directions at times. Becky had piano lessons, John had drum lessons; they had their Scouting and Camp Fire activities. George Jr. worked on homework constantly. Becky was in Drill Team and John played drums for their practice sessions. Life was definitely on the fast track. I was asked to help with the School Carnival at John’s school so I spent that day with him and to our surprise he won the drawing for the door prize, a white baby rabbit. Just what every mother wants. John was absolutely thrilled and came carrying the box back to our seats. “Mama, can I keep him? Can I??” I returned the age old remark mother’s give…..”we’ll see.” I knew I was doomed to have yet another critter.

Long story short….daddy got involved with making a hutch for him and he had a penthouse apartment in our garage. It was John’s job to feed and care for him….of course that job got old after so long. We got the right feed for him from a feed store over at Merriam and John named him, Thumper. (Pretty original, huh?) Thumper had a long and happy, sometimes puzzling life which I shall begin with tomorrow. For now, I think he should get used to being at the Strain house………

Until then,
Essentially Esther