I've said it before and I'll say it again--wait for it--Vick's Vaporub!
I love the smell of Vick's!
In fact, I just found a product, do-Terra, and I bought the Physician's Kit and it has all the organic smells that I love: lavender, lemon, peppermint, melaleuca, plus frankincense, and others that just smell good to me.
I am very scent-sensitive. Perfume can send me to the hospital. The chemicals are too much for me. I have to move and get away from people wearing perfume or cologne. But organic smells, like lilacs and roses and hyacinth--and whatever Vick's Vaporub is made of--just intoxicate me!
What does it bring to mind...ha-ha...being sick!?
Actually, I think of it as a healthy smell. Smelling Vick's is going to make me get better.
There.
My second choice is honeysuckle. I remember Laurie Mundy and I walking through the woods and picking flowers off the vine and sucking the tiny bit of honey in the pale yellow flower and smelling that wonderful nature perfume that filled the air as we walked. Deep breaths! Laurie then proceeded to tell me it was against the law to pick honeysuckle. Luckily we were embedded in a particularly dense forest while we did it. ha-ha...In fact, I just planted a honeysuckle vine right next to my front door. I hope it grows and grows and has lots of flowers. If it's June, it must be honeysuckle season! I love that I can have the scent from my childhood here with me in Utah where, apparently, it is not against the law to grow domestically.
Sound? hmmm...I'll have to think about that one. Crickets chirping? Cicadas? They remind me of summer. I wonder if they have those sounds in Utah. I know they don't have lightening bugs. Bummer.
What about you? What smell takes you back to your childhood?
Any sound that reminds you of anything from kidhood? I'd like someone to give me some ideas.
1 Nephi 1: 1, 3
...therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days. And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.
^^That pretty much explains this blog.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
Did You Have a Favorite Book or Story?
Wow...this is a hard one. I love books. I think my favorite book was whatever I was reading.
When we moved to Scott Drive, my dad took us to the Coatesville Public Library on Main Street one Saturday after school let out. I got my very own library card, and we could pick out three books a week. I had just finished first grade. He put his hammock from the Navy up between two trees and I laid on the hammock and read my library books.
I grew to like the classics because I remember, in third grade, I stayed up all night and read "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. I have that same book still. It was my dad's from 1935. It was a child's book, but it has 241 pages!
It was late, like midnight, and I challenged myself to not stop reading until I finished the book. I remember waking up, lying across the end of my bed the next morning. I had done it! I was on the last page. I don't know that I retained an awful lot of it, but it was interesting and I just wanted to say that I stayed up all night to read a book.
Another tome that really influenced me was "Little Women."
I marvelled that I was in all the characters. I was the oldest sister, like Meg; a writer (wannabe), like Jo; I played the piano like Beth and I painted like Amy. I could relate to all of them. I said before, I found an old typewriter in the attic that used to be my mom's. It was from the 1940s, I think. I carried that black manual typewriter, in its black canvas case, up to Pike's Peak and sat down and typed out my novel. I was in sixth grade, I think. I remember letting Nancy Antol read it and she said it needed more adventure in it. I can't remember what I wrote about, but after Nancy's critique, I had a skiing accident in there somewhere. I scoured the map of the United States to see where my novel would take place and I picked Hagerstown, MD. Little did I know that I had ancestors who lived in that very place. I wasn't sure if people skiied in Hagerstown, so the novel went on the back burner while I painted--probably.
I read "Lives of the Saints" and was very taken with religious writings. I read about "Theresa, the Little Flower" in third grade and I decided I wanted Theresa to be my Confirmation name. If I'm not mistaken, my friend and former babysitter, Theresa Pahira, was my sponsor when I was confirmed. I loved her. I missed her when we moved to Scott Drive.
I also read about "Helen Keller." It was about the time the movie, based on the stage play, with Patty Duke came out. I stayed overnight at my grandparents' house and Mona and I re-enacted the scene where she and Annie Sullivan were in the dining room and Helen was eating off everyone's plates. Mona was Annie and threw herself into the part. I believe I had bruises and scratch marks after the re-enactment. I hope she was given as good as she got, but it was for the play!
Being in high school rather ruined me with reading. I didn't particularly like the books we had to read: "The Scarlet Letter," "The Red Badge of Courage," "Great Expectations," "Moby Dick..." Classics, all, but not my taste. Once I got out of high school and college, I could read whatever I wanted. That, I liked! I got to choose the classics that suited me.
I still love classic literature--"Jane Eyre," "The Count of Monte Cristo," "Little Women (still)," "Gone With the Wind," "To Kill a Mockingbird..."
I've said it before, "Jane Eyre" is my favorite book of all time. I don't know why. I just like it.
What are YOUR favorite books or stories?
When we moved to Scott Drive, my dad took us to the Coatesville Public Library on Main Street one Saturday after school let out. I got my very own library card, and we could pick out three books a week. I had just finished first grade. He put his hammock from the Navy up between two trees and I laid on the hammock and read my library books.
I grew to like the classics because I remember, in third grade, I stayed up all night and read "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll. I have that same book still. It was my dad's from 1935. It was a child's book, but it has 241 pages!
It was late, like midnight, and I challenged myself to not stop reading until I finished the book. I remember waking up, lying across the end of my bed the next morning. I had done it! I was on the last page. I don't know that I retained an awful lot of it, but it was interesting and I just wanted to say that I stayed up all night to read a book.
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| This engraving is on p. 131 of my copy of the book |
Another tome that really influenced me was "Little Women."
I marvelled that I was in all the characters. I was the oldest sister, like Meg; a writer (wannabe), like Jo; I played the piano like Beth and I painted like Amy. I could relate to all of them. I said before, I found an old typewriter in the attic that used to be my mom's. It was from the 1940s, I think. I carried that black manual typewriter, in its black canvas case, up to Pike's Peak and sat down and typed out my novel. I was in sixth grade, I think. I remember letting Nancy Antol read it and she said it needed more adventure in it. I can't remember what I wrote about, but after Nancy's critique, I had a skiing accident in there somewhere. I scoured the map of the United States to see where my novel would take place and I picked Hagerstown, MD. Little did I know that I had ancestors who lived in that very place. I wasn't sure if people skiied in Hagerstown, so the novel went on the back burner while I painted--probably.
I read "Lives of the Saints" and was very taken with religious writings. I read about "Theresa, the Little Flower" in third grade and I decided I wanted Theresa to be my Confirmation name. If I'm not mistaken, my friend and former babysitter, Theresa Pahira, was my sponsor when I was confirmed. I loved her. I missed her when we moved to Scott Drive.
I also read about "Helen Keller." It was about the time the movie, based on the stage play, with Patty Duke came out. I stayed overnight at my grandparents' house and Mona and I re-enacted the scene where she and Annie Sullivan were in the dining room and Helen was eating off everyone's plates. Mona was Annie and threw herself into the part. I believe I had bruises and scratch marks after the re-enactment. I hope she was given as good as she got, but it was for the play!
Being in high school rather ruined me with reading. I didn't particularly like the books we had to read: "The Scarlet Letter," "The Red Badge of Courage," "Great Expectations," "Moby Dick..." Classics, all, but not my taste. Once I got out of high school and college, I could read whatever I wanted. That, I liked! I got to choose the classics that suited me.
I still love classic literature--"Jane Eyre," "The Count of Monte Cristo," "Little Women (still)," "Gone With the Wind," "To Kill a Mockingbird..."
I've said it before, "Jane Eyre" is my favorite book of all time. I don't know why. I just like it.
What are YOUR favorite books or stories?
Do You Remember a Favorite Toy?
Yes! My Chatty Cathy doll. You pulled a string in the back of her neck and she spoke! I thought it was the most marvelous and magical doll! She had blonde hair and my mom made clothes for her. She was my favorite, favorite toy to play with for a long time.
I decided then I wanted to be a hair dresser when I grew up.
Alas, when I was in about 4th grade, my brother, whom will remain nameless (but his name begins with W), pulled the string right out! My Chatty Cathy was voiceless. *sigh* I was devastated...
I also liked to play with Paper Dolls. I started to play with Paper Dolls when I was about 4-years-old. My friend, Mona, and I would spend hours cutting out the dresses for our dolls, then pretending with them. But I think the fun part was the cutting. It was a wonderful device for teaching a child how to use scissors correctly. If you wanted to play with them, you had to first cut out all the parts. I was diligent and endeavored to never go out of the lines to ruin the clothes for the dolls. I believe it was the precursor to my love of Scherenschnitte (Pennsylvania Dutch term for "scissors cutting")!
I had paper dolls of Janet Lennon and the Lennon Sisters, Dorothy Maguire and the Maguire Sisters (I think my mom liked them) and I even had Dinah Shore and George Montgomery Paper Dolls!!! ahhhh! And remember the FREE Betsy McCall paper dolls in the McCalls magazine every month?
I wish I could talk to my friend, Mona, and see if she remembers what other paper dolls we had.
And, of course, the BIGGEST thing to come out in the 50s was BARBIE!!!!! I remember wanting a Barbie doll so much, but my mom said we couldn't afford it. At $3, it was expensive in 1959. So she first bought me a knock off doll. Her name was Babette--NOT a Barbie. I wanted a brunette Barbie with a pony tail--a classic.
Then, one day, a few years later (yes, YEARS I had to wait), I got a Barbie--an ash blonde Barbie with a "bubble cut." *sigh* Oh, well...at least it was a Barbie. I still kind of get a tingle when I think about it . . .
(This is the first Barbie commercial that first aired during Mickey Mouse Club!)
I didn't have a Ken doll either until one day, my friend, Laurie Mundy, gave me her old Ken doll that a dog had mauled. It had no hair and only one hand. We said he came back from the war, and I was content. Then my brothers got GI Joes and that was even better than a Ken doll. So Barbie, and later, Tressy, had GI Joe boyfriends.
Tressy was the doll whose hair would grow when you pushed a button on her back (or was it her stomach?) "Short, or long, or in-between; Tressy's hair makes her a queen!" "It's grows and grows!"
What was YOUR favorite toy to play with when you were young?
Sunday, June 19, 2011
In Honor of My Ancestor Fathers
I see I honored my ancestor mothers on Mother's Day. Now I will honor my ancestor fathers on this Father's Day, beginning with my dad.
My father was born in New Orleans and he and his parents never really felt 'at home' in the Northeast. They were southerners through and through. Many times my dad would refer to his offspring as 'you Yankees,' though he had lived most of his life in Pennsylvania.
During the Great Depression, my grandfather lost his job at Lukens Steel Company in New Orleans. My grandmother said he tried to make a go of selling stationery, but only made $2 a week. Her exact words, "He only made $2 a week selling carbon paper." He was hired on at Lukens in New York, and, three years later, moved his family to East Orange, NJ while he commuted into the big city every day. He was then transferred to Lukens Steel in Coatesville, PA at the home office. I believe my dad was about eight years old when he moved to New Jersey. Wouldn't that make him a Yankee, too?
On my trip to NOLA in 2001, I found his obituary and looked him up in the City Directory.
OBITUARY: TOBELMANN--At the residence, 2647 Cleveland Avenue, on Saturday evening, September 5, 1936; at 10:40 o'clock, HENRY R. TOBELMANN, in his 67th year, beloved husband of Susan Hoerner, father of Charles, Henry J., Mildred and Elfreda Tobelmann and Mrs Frank P. Deegan (Olga) and brother of August L. and Laura Tobelmann of this city and Mrs. A. E. Ewing (Ernestine) of Shreveport, La. Relatives and friends of the family, also officers and employees of sewerage and water board, of The Times-Picayune and Louisiana State Board of Health, are invited to attend the funeral, which will take place from the funeral home of Pat J. McMahon-Coburn Company, 2305 Canal Street, corner North Miro, on Monday, September 7, 1936, at 4 o'clock p.m. Interment Greenwood cemetery. (THE TIMES-PICAYUNE, MONDAY, SEPT. 7, 1936)
New Orleans, Louisiana Directories, 1890-1891: Henry Tobelmann; Edison Electric Illuminating Co.; dynamo tender; (Location 2) 308 Gravier, New Orleans LA 1891.
I know he owned a bar, too. My dad said he was an ornery man. As his grandfather, he used to chase his grandchildren away and they were afraid of him.
I went on a genealogy trip to NOLA in 2001 and went to the New Orleans Public Library. I found the Obituary for Charles Tobelmann and his death certificate.
OBIT IN TIMES-PICAYUNE, N.O.L.A.: "He was a native of Germany and a resident of New Orleans for many years. He died at age 55. Mr. Tobelmann started life as a steward on the steamers plying between Bremen, Germany and New York. When the Civil War was inaugurated he remained in this country and in 1866 came to New Orleans. He engaged in the grocery business and remained in it until six years ago. At this time he retired from active life.
Birth place Wagenfeld, Germany."
I have a picture of Charles in his Mason garb. He looks so familiar. Family.
Wursten was originally a Frisian Land, and was a free peasant republic until 1525 (non-feudal). It is located on the right bank of the Weser estuary, just north of Bremerhaven, the main German port through which emigrants left for the US.
Henry J. Tobelmann, Jr.
b. February 3, 1926, New Orleans, LA
d. November 14, 1989, Palm Coast, FL
My father was born in New Orleans and he and his parents never really felt 'at home' in the Northeast. They were southerners through and through. Many times my dad would refer to his offspring as 'you Yankees,' though he had lived most of his life in Pennsylvania.
My beloved Grandfather, Henry Joseph Tobelmann, Sr.
b. December 16, 1896, New Orleans, LA
d. May 4, 1968, Coatesville, PA
During the Great Depression, my grandfather lost his job at Lukens Steel Company in New Orleans. My grandmother said he tried to make a go of selling stationery, but only made $2 a week. Her exact words, "He only made $2 a week selling carbon paper." He was hired on at Lukens in New York, and, three years later, moved his family to East Orange, NJ while he commuted into the big city every day. He was then transferred to Lukens Steel in Coatesville, PA at the home office. I believe my dad was about eight years old when he moved to New Jersey. Wouldn't that make him a Yankee, too?
My grandfather's father was Henry Rudolf August Louis Fritz Tobelmann
b. February 2, 1869 in New Orleans, LA
d. September 5, 1936 in New Orleans, LA
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The picture of the children is Henry Rudolf with his two surviving sisters, Ernestine (center) and Laura.
He also had a much younger brother, August, who wasn't born at the time this photo was taken.
Henry R. had two siblings that died within days of each other in February of 1882. I couldn't find any supporting documents on their deaths. I assume an epidemic, illness or maybe an accident. I know of no family stories.
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OBITUARY: TOBELMANN--At the residence, 2647 Cleveland Avenue, on Saturday evening, September 5, 1936; at 10:40 o'clock, HENRY R. TOBELMANN, in his 67th year, beloved husband of Susan Hoerner, father of Charles, Henry J., Mildred and Elfreda Tobelmann and Mrs Frank P. Deegan (Olga) and brother of August L. and Laura Tobelmann of this city and Mrs. A. E. Ewing (Ernestine) of Shreveport, La. Relatives and friends of the family, also officers and employees of sewerage and water board, of The Times-Picayune and Louisiana State Board of Health, are invited to attend the funeral, which will take place from the funeral home of Pat J. McMahon-Coburn Company, 2305 Canal Street, corner North Miro, on Monday, September 7, 1936, at 4 o'clock p.m. Interment Greenwood cemetery. (THE TIMES-PICAYUNE, MONDAY, SEPT. 7, 1936)
New Orleans, Louisiana Directories, 1890-1891: Henry Tobelmann; Edison Electric Illuminating Co.; dynamo tender; (Location 2) 308 Gravier, New Orleans LA 1891.
I know he owned a bar, too. My dad said he was an ornery man. As his grandfather, he used to chase his grandchildren away and they were afraid of him.
According to Margaret Deegan Conner, his granddaughter (my dad's first cousin), Henry R. loved full-blooded fox terriers. That probably explains why Dad and Mom bought a fox terrier. Tippy was my first dog. According to Margaret, he also had a canary. He grew peppers in his garden, and he paid his grandchildren a penny a worm to get them off the peppers.
I remember my grandfather used to recite all his names for me and I couldn't get past Rudolf because I thought of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. When I met up with Margaret in NOLA in 1993, she recited all of his names, to my delight! Henry Rudolf August Louis Fritz. I now have them all documented. She said he was named after all his uncles, but I haven't found evidence of that.
I remember my grandfather used to recite all his names for me and I couldn't get past Rudolf because I thought of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer. When I met up with Margaret in NOLA in 1993, she recited all of his names, to my delight! Henry Rudolf August Louis Fritz. I now have them all documented. She said he was named after all his uncles, but I haven't found evidence of that.
In the bowler hat is my great-great-grandfather, Charles (Adolph Carl Friedrich August) Tobelmann, The Immigrant.
b. February 12 or 15, 1844 in Wagenfeld, Hannover, Germany
d. April 13, 1899 in New Orleans, LA
OBIT IN TIMES-PICAYUNE, N.O.L.A.: "He was a native of Germany and a resident of New Orleans for many years. He died at age 55. Mr. Tobelmann started life as a steward on the steamers plying between Bremen, Germany and New York. When the Civil War was inaugurated he remained in this country and in 1866 came to New Orleans. He engaged in the grocery business and remained in it until six years ago. At this time he retired from active life.
Besides his wife, he leaves four children, Mr. Henry Tobelmann, now in business in New Orleans, Mrs. A. E. Ewing of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, Miss Laura Tobelmann and Master August Tobelmann. Mr. Tobelmann was a member of Germania Lodge #46 F. and A.M. and was buried by that order. He was one of ten original stockholders of Jax Beer [Jackson Brewery]." (Times-Picayune obit., April 14, 1899, p.3, col.4)
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Death Certificate for Charles Tobelmann, found in New Orleans Public Library, Loyala Street, NOLA, Microfilm #FF650, 1899.
"Be it remembered, etc., etc. ., J. Duffy, undertaker appeared before the recorder of births, deaths and marriages, etc., who herein declares that Charles Tobelmann, (white), a native of Wagenfeld, Hanover, Germany, aged 55 years, 2 mos., departed this life yesterday (13 April 1899) at [home?] Valence and Baronne, this city [New Orleans].
Cause of death: Sarcoma of Cervical Glands (cancer of the throat, I believe)
Certificate of Dr. F. Loeber
Deceased was married and 33 years in city.
I have a picture of Charles in his Mason garb. He looks so familiar. Family.
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The first old house photo is the birthplace of Charles Tobelmann, Wagenfeld, Hannover, Germany.
This place is still in Wagenfeld and has been renovated, kept up and passed down through the Tobelmann lineage.
Georg Tobelmann is the proprietor of what is now an exclusive restaurant and tavern.
The picture, hanging in the Hofschanke Tobelmann, was taken in 1900.
 
The Hofschanke Tobelmann in Wagenfeld as it appears today, taken while my brother John visited Wagenfeld in about 2006.
The house on Valence and Baronne in NOLA, was the home of Charles and Sophie Tobelmann, (photo taken 2001).
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Gloria Garrett (my father's second cousin), granddaughter of Ernestine Tobelmann, found abundant information on the ancestors of our Charles Tobelmann. She hired someone in Wagenfeld, Germany to extract information on the Tobelmann family. We found out, according to naming customs, we did not start out as Tobelmanns at all!
Charles' father was Friedrich Wilhelm (or Henrich) Auffurth. When he married his wife, a Tobelmann widow who lived at the Tobelmann farm, he had to take that last name because your last name came from where you lived. Thus, his children were all named Tobelmann.
My brother, John, was able to travel to Wagenfeld a few years ago and meet the Tobelmanns descended from Margaretha Dorothee Louise Dehlfing Tobelmann and her first husband, Georg Friedrich Tobelmann. They are our 4th half cousins. It was a grand reunion.
Cousin Gloria did the family a great service by finding all the information on our Auffurth ancestors back to 1714.
I don't understand why anyone would want to locate to New Orleans--it is stinkin' hot and humid there most of the year--but Charles had a plan, I guess. He married Sophie Droge, whose parents came from Germany as well. I do have pictures of her and her parents.
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The four generation shot is of Sophie Droge Tobelmann, holding her great-granddaughter, Rheba Steadman. Her daughter, Ernestine Tobelmann Ewing and granddaughter, Regina Ewing Steadman, mother of the baby, are in the photo. Gloria Garrett sent me a copy.
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Catherine Sophia Droge, b. July 3, 1845, New Orleans, LA, d. June 26, 1931, NOLA
The little house with the wrote iron fence was the home of Sophie Droge Tobelmann after the death of Charles, at 1021 Foucher St., NOLA, (photo taken 2001 by me).
Sophie's Parents were Elisa Haustermann Droge, b. March 9, 1820, Land Wursten, Amt of Dorum, Kingdom of Hannover, Germanym d. December 26, 1882, NOLA, and Nicholaus (Claus) Droge,
b. March 4, 1812, Land Wursten, Amt of Dorum, Kingdom of Hannover, Germany, d. May 12, 1879, NOLA.
Gloria sent me those copies too, but they're not very good. But I'm happy to have them.
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Rheba Steadman, the baby in the photo above, was a great genealogist. She left her work to her sister, Gloria Steadman Garrett. Many thanks to caring cousins who shared their hard-earned information.
I am grateful to all of my ancestor fathers (and mothers) without whom I wouldn't be who I am today. I can't imagine the sacrifices they had to make to leave their country and start new lives here in America. I am grateful to be born in this land of freedom. I don't know what I did to deserve it, but it couldn't be done without those who went before. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you...
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Happy Mother's Day 2011
In honor of Mother's Day, I thought I would give a little genealogy tour of all my ancestor mothers.
I'll start with me!
These are my children at Zannah's wedding in 2011, on my birthday, March 11. From left: Jewely, 21, me holding a picture of Elder Tim Knight, 19, on his mission at the time in Chicago; newlywed Zannah, 25, Alexander, 27.
I am the oldest of eight surviving children, from left sitting: Christine, 12; Susan, 25; Andrew, 19;
Standing: Jeffrey, 13; John, 15; Kathy, 17; Warren, 18; Henry, 22. July 1979.
My mother is Edith Catherine (Kay) McNelly Tobelmann Doran. Below is my favorite picture of my mother. She was Harvest Queen her senior year of high school, 1950-51.
My great-grandmother's mother: Lydia T. Smith Boggs, 1850-1927, standing next to the chair.
Lydia's mother, my great-great-great grandmother:Frances (Fannie) Cochran Smith,1814-1895
There are many more for which I do not have photos. This is just one line of my ancestral mothers. I have many more that I am proud of, and hope I do them justice as part of their posterity.
I'll start with me!
These are my children at Zannah's wedding in 2011, on my birthday, March 11. From left: Jewely, 21, me holding a picture of Elder Tim Knight, 19, on his mission at the time in Chicago; newlywed Zannah, 25, Alexander, 27.
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I am the oldest of eight surviving children, from left sitting: Christine, 12; Susan, 25; Andrew, 19;
Standing: Jeffrey, 13; John, 15; Kathy, 17; Warren, 18; Henry, 22. July 1979.
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My mother is Edith Catherine (Kay) McNelly Tobelmann Doran. Below is my favorite picture of my mother. She was Harvest Queen her senior year of high school, 1950-51.
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Sunday, May 1, 2011
As a Child, What Were Your Chores or Responsibilities?
I was the oldest of eight children.
For a long time I had a notion that my parents adopted me to be a babysitter. At 10-years-old I was watching my brothers and sisters while my mom left and did errands. I would never do that to a 10-year-old, but she figured my Aunt Grace (we called close friends and neighbors "Aunt" in those days) lived right next door if there was any trouble.
At 10 years old I could diaper a baby with real diaper pins and wring out the diaper in the toilet. In fact, when I had my own kids, I vowed I would never put my hand in another toilet with a poopy diaper. You can imagine I was the choice babysitter for everyone in the neighborhood as well. When I was 13 I was getting babysitting jobs over 16-year-olds because of all my experience with babies. At least I got paid for watching those kids...
I had to dust and vacuum and keep my room neat (hardly ever accomplished). My mother must have had a thousand knickknacks and bric-a-brac and she wouldn't just let me dust around them. I had to take them off the tables and hutches and dust the shelves and then dust the knickknacks, too.
She had a ceramic rooster collection. I will never have a rooster collection!! I hated those roosters, especially the fighting cocks. What were they thinking?!
On Saturdays I had to clean the bathroom. OK...I had five brothers! Can you imagine what the bathroom looked like after a week? And we had these tiny pink tiles on the floor and bigger pink tiles on the walls. Tile is impossible to keep clean in a bathroom full of grout. Yuk! It's the reason I slept late on Saturdays, or tried to.
I mainly had to take care of whatever baby was drinking a bottle or needed to be fed in a high chair. I realized, when I left home, I didn't know how to cook (except peel potatoes, which I also vowed I would never do again--and never have!) because I always fed the babies while my mother cooked.
If I could, I would sneak out the door quietly, but if ever my mother caught me sitting and reading a book, she would yell at me to do something helpful/useful!
I figured out at an early age that my mother would never disturb anyone in the bathroom. You guessed it. I did most of my reading in the bathroom.
Still do!
For a long time I had a notion that my parents adopted me to be a babysitter. At 10-years-old I was watching my brothers and sisters while my mom left and did errands. I would never do that to a 10-year-old, but she figured my Aunt Grace (we called close friends and neighbors "Aunt" in those days) lived right next door if there was any trouble.
At 10 years old I could diaper a baby with real diaper pins and wring out the diaper in the toilet. In fact, when I had my own kids, I vowed I would never put my hand in another toilet with a poopy diaper. You can imagine I was the choice babysitter for everyone in the neighborhood as well. When I was 13 I was getting babysitting jobs over 16-year-olds because of all my experience with babies. At least I got paid for watching those kids...
I had to dust and vacuum and keep my room neat (hardly ever accomplished). My mother must have had a thousand knickknacks and bric-a-brac and she wouldn't just let me dust around them. I had to take them off the tables and hutches and dust the shelves and then dust the knickknacks, too.
She had a ceramic rooster collection. I will never have a rooster collection!! I hated those roosters, especially the fighting cocks. What were they thinking?!
On Saturdays I had to clean the bathroom. OK...I had five brothers! Can you imagine what the bathroom looked like after a week? And we had these tiny pink tiles on the floor and bigger pink tiles on the walls. Tile is impossible to keep clean in a bathroom full of grout. Yuk! It's the reason I slept late on Saturdays, or tried to.
I mainly had to take care of whatever baby was drinking a bottle or needed to be fed in a high chair. I realized, when I left home, I didn't know how to cook (except peel potatoes, which I also vowed I would never do again--and never have!) because I always fed the babies while my mother cooked.
If I could, I would sneak out the door quietly, but if ever my mother caught me sitting and reading a book, she would yell at me to do something helpful/useful!
I figured out at an early age that my mother would never disturb anyone in the bathroom. You guessed it. I did most of my reading in the bathroom.
Still do!
Describe the Neighborhood You Grew Up In
I lived in the same neighborhood, though in two houses, until I was six-years-old.
First I lived with my grandparents, then moved a block away.
The neighborhood was safe and most of the houses were built in the 1940s-1950s, but they were new at the time.
My grandparents built their home new and we were the second homeowners in the next home down the street.
The neighborhood had either elderly people and empty nesters, or new families. It was safe. If we were walking around the neighborhood, we knew the neighbors would be looking out for us.
There was a small butcher shop about two doors down from my grandparents' house which was a mom and pop grocer. That was a great hangout out for popsicles and soda during the summer. My friend, Mona, would tap into her blue, plastic piggy bank and we would buy a twinsicle for a dime and split it. Sometimes we would go around the neighborhood and collect Coke bottles and other soda bottles in my red, metal wagon and we would take them to the butcher shop for pennies and buy Tastykakes or popsicles or Bazooka bubblegum. Tastykakes were 7 cents and you got three of them in a pack. Bubble gum was a penny. We loved to read the comic wrappers.
The butcher was in the back of the shop. I remember you went in and told him what you wanted and he would cut it up and wrap it all in brown paper that hung from a roll on the wall. Then he would tie it up with string that as also hanging from the wall. There was no milk in stores back then because we had milkmen deliver millk and leave it on our front porch during the night. I remember almost every day, my mom opening the front door to retrieve the milk from the silver, metal milk box. We also had a dry clean guy that drove to pick up my dad's white shirts. And we had a bread man, too. I remember always begging my mom to buy sweet rolls. She did sometimes, but not every time.
Mona Trace was my best friend. We played on her swing set in her back yard which overlooked the railroad tracks. When engines would go by we would pull our arms down and up and the engineer would wave and blow his whistle at us. What fun! We did acrobatics on the bars of the swing set and pretended we were princesses or acrobats or girlfriends of astronauts that were in a TV show we liked. Commander Perry! And there was a western, Laramie, and Mona would be the girlfriend of the blonde guy (she was blonde) and I would be the girlfriend of the brunette guy (I was brunette). I think his name was Jesse.
Sometimes we would play with Eddie Short next door. He lived with his grandmother and they had an apple tree. We loved to pick the green apples off the tree in the summer before they were ripe. To this day I love green apples. Maybe because they remind me of my happy childhood.
One time we got caught in Mona's garage. It was set off away from the house. For some reason we pulled the door down and we couldn't get it back up again. We started pounding on the side of the metal garage and screaming "Help! Help!" Then Eddie started crying! Mona and I laughed. We just thought it was so funny that a boy, who was about three years older than us, would start crying and we, girls, didn't. All of a sudden, Mrs. Trace opened up the garage door. I don't remember her yelling at us or anything, but I'll never forget Eddie Short crying!
Summer lasted forever when you were four and five. We never knew what humidity was. When you're a kid it doesn't bother you. We would go outside after breakfast, make a short stop home for lunch, then go back outside for the rest of the day until dinner. At night, sometimes we would have picnics and show slides on the side of our house on Olive Street and invite the neighbors. The kids would catch lightning bugs until bedtime.
When we moved to Scott Drive, it was a different type of neighborhood. It was in a suburban-rural-type area with no sidewalks and miles from town. You had to drive to get anywhere. There was no corner store and only a few houses. From the top of Scott Drive you could see all of Coatesville. It was fun to go there. I would ride my bike a lot and pretend it was a horse.
I had a good friend, Laurie Mundy, and we played Barbies and made dream houses with our mothers' Good Housekeeping and Better Homes & Gardens magazines. Our future selves were always Breck Girls. We each planned to have about 5-6 children and we glued our future living rooms, bedrooms, etc. onto construction paper. We tied it up with yarn and made booklets. It was our favorite thing to do on a rainy day.
Laurie had a Magic 8 Ball. I always wanted one. It was so much fun. It would capture our attention for a long time as we asked it questions--until the answer was one we wanted! Laurie also had a tall, thin black cat bank. Sometimes we would take out the stopper and empty out all her pennies and count them. There was no mom and pop grocer to go spend the money on, so we just counted the money and put it all back in.
During the summer we played with Laurie's brothers' friends and all the other boys in the neighborhood. We built forts in the woods. There was a lot of homebuilding going on and we would siphon wood and nails from the builders and contractors and confiscate our fathers' hammers and make forts in trees. One time we had 3 forts in a triangle and you needed a ladder to get up into them. We would collect acorns from the oak trees and put them in brown grocery bags and keep them in the forts, saved for acorn battles. Boys did things like that. Mainly Laurie and I would climb up there when there were no boys around and bring our lunches in brown lunch bags with sandwiches wrapped in wax paper.
Next door to my house they were building a new house where the McGhees would soon live, and there was a huge pile of clay dirt. One evening, my dad helped me build a fort out of that clay. We dug and pounded the dirt into tables and chairs and we even had lunch there, in the hard red clay dirt. I bet my mom loved that load of laundry! Our clothes were all red and muddy and dirty. But it was fun to do and pretend to have a house.
When I was older, I used to go up to Pike's Peak (the people at the top of the street, named Pike, had a big front yard that sloped down). There was a big boulder rock there and I would take my diary there or even an old typewriter I found in the attic, and I would pretend to be Jo in Little Women and write stories there. As I recall, I even wore a beret, just like Jo in the book.
Mostly I would go to Pike's Peak and ponder. There was also Spackman's Pond. I would walk down there, mostly with Laurie, and sit near the drain pipe and ponder. It was beautiful there. I wonder if Laurie remembers the time we were sitting on the cement by the pipe and throwing stones at a stick in the water. All of a sudden, the stick moved and a big, red snake peaked its head out of the water and stuck out its tongue and looked at us! We screamed and ran away up Moore Road as fast as we could!
What do you remember from your childhood neighborhood? Was it a safe place to live in? Did it have sidewalks? Did you live near stores? Did you play in the woods? Did you build forts or play with Barbie dolls?
First I lived with my grandparents, then moved a block away.
The neighborhood was safe and most of the houses were built in the 1940s-1950s, but they were new at the time.
My grandparents built their home new and we were the second homeowners in the next home down the street.
The neighborhood had either elderly people and empty nesters, or new families. It was safe. If we were walking around the neighborhood, we knew the neighbors would be looking out for us.
There was a small butcher shop about two doors down from my grandparents' house which was a mom and pop grocer. That was a great hangout out for popsicles and soda during the summer. My friend, Mona, would tap into her blue, plastic piggy bank and we would buy a twinsicle for a dime and split it. Sometimes we would go around the neighborhood and collect Coke bottles and other soda bottles in my red, metal wagon and we would take them to the butcher shop for pennies and buy Tastykakes or popsicles or Bazooka bubblegum. Tastykakes were 7 cents and you got three of them in a pack. Bubble gum was a penny. We loved to read the comic wrappers.
The butcher was in the back of the shop. I remember you went in and told him what you wanted and he would cut it up and wrap it all in brown paper that hung from a roll on the wall. Then he would tie it up with string that as also hanging from the wall. There was no milk in stores back then because we had milkmen deliver millk and leave it on our front porch during the night. I remember almost every day, my mom opening the front door to retrieve the milk from the silver, metal milk box. We also had a dry clean guy that drove to pick up my dad's white shirts. And we had a bread man, too. I remember always begging my mom to buy sweet rolls. She did sometimes, but not every time.
Mona Trace was my best friend. We played on her swing set in her back yard which overlooked the railroad tracks. When engines would go by we would pull our arms down and up and the engineer would wave and blow his whistle at us. What fun! We did acrobatics on the bars of the swing set and pretended we were princesses or acrobats or girlfriends of astronauts that were in a TV show we liked. Commander Perry! And there was a western, Laramie, and Mona would be the girlfriend of the blonde guy (she was blonde) and I would be the girlfriend of the brunette guy (I was brunette). I think his name was Jesse.
Sometimes we would play with Eddie Short next door. He lived with his grandmother and they had an apple tree. We loved to pick the green apples off the tree in the summer before they were ripe. To this day I love green apples. Maybe because they remind me of my happy childhood.
One time we got caught in Mona's garage. It was set off away from the house. For some reason we pulled the door down and we couldn't get it back up again. We started pounding on the side of the metal garage and screaming "Help! Help!" Then Eddie started crying! Mona and I laughed. We just thought it was so funny that a boy, who was about three years older than us, would start crying and we, girls, didn't. All of a sudden, Mrs. Trace opened up the garage door. I don't remember her yelling at us or anything, but I'll never forget Eddie Short crying!
Summer lasted forever when you were four and five. We never knew what humidity was. When you're a kid it doesn't bother you. We would go outside after breakfast, make a short stop home for lunch, then go back outside for the rest of the day until dinner. At night, sometimes we would have picnics and show slides on the side of our house on Olive Street and invite the neighbors. The kids would catch lightning bugs until bedtime.
When we moved to Scott Drive, it was a different type of neighborhood. It was in a suburban-rural-type area with no sidewalks and miles from town. You had to drive to get anywhere. There was no corner store and only a few houses. From the top of Scott Drive you could see all of Coatesville. It was fun to go there. I would ride my bike a lot and pretend it was a horse.
I had a good friend, Laurie Mundy, and we played Barbies and made dream houses with our mothers' Good Housekeeping and Better Homes & Gardens magazines. Our future selves were always Breck Girls. We each planned to have about 5-6 children and we glued our future living rooms, bedrooms, etc. onto construction paper. We tied it up with yarn and made booklets. It was our favorite thing to do on a rainy day.
Laurie had a Magic 8 Ball. I always wanted one. It was so much fun. It would capture our attention for a long time as we asked it questions--until the answer was one we wanted! Laurie also had a tall, thin black cat bank. Sometimes we would take out the stopper and empty out all her pennies and count them. There was no mom and pop grocer to go spend the money on, so we just counted the money and put it all back in.
During the summer we played with Laurie's brothers' friends and all the other boys in the neighborhood. We built forts in the woods. There was a lot of homebuilding going on and we would siphon wood and nails from the builders and contractors and confiscate our fathers' hammers and make forts in trees. One time we had 3 forts in a triangle and you needed a ladder to get up into them. We would collect acorns from the oak trees and put them in brown grocery bags and keep them in the forts, saved for acorn battles. Boys did things like that. Mainly Laurie and I would climb up there when there were no boys around and bring our lunches in brown lunch bags with sandwiches wrapped in wax paper.
Next door to my house they were building a new house where the McGhees would soon live, and there was a huge pile of clay dirt. One evening, my dad helped me build a fort out of that clay. We dug and pounded the dirt into tables and chairs and we even had lunch there, in the hard red clay dirt. I bet my mom loved that load of laundry! Our clothes were all red and muddy and dirty. But it was fun to do and pretend to have a house.
When I was older, I used to go up to Pike's Peak (the people at the top of the street, named Pike, had a big front yard that sloped down). There was a big boulder rock there and I would take my diary there or even an old typewriter I found in the attic, and I would pretend to be Jo in Little Women and write stories there. As I recall, I even wore a beret, just like Jo in the book.
Mostly I would go to Pike's Peak and ponder. There was also Spackman's Pond. I would walk down there, mostly with Laurie, and sit near the drain pipe and ponder. It was beautiful there. I wonder if Laurie remembers the time we were sitting on the cement by the pipe and throwing stones at a stick in the water. All of a sudden, the stick moved and a big, red snake peaked its head out of the water and stuck out its tongue and looked at us! We screamed and ran away up Moore Road as fast as we could!
What do you remember from your childhood neighborhood? Was it a safe place to live in? Did it have sidewalks? Did you live near stores? Did you play in the woods? Did you build forts or play with Barbie dolls?
Describe Your Childhood Home
I had a few childhood homes.
My second home was right down the street at 1417 Olive Street. It was a 3-bedroom stucco Tudor-looking home with living room, dining room and kitchen on the main floor, 3 small bedrooms on the second floor and garage and basement on the first floor. The back yard was large. Funny how I remember the basement most of all from that house.
My mom would do the laundry down there and I would play with my dolls. She had a wringer washer/dryer. I can remember that thing moving up and down as it chugged the laundry clean. Then my mom would hold the laundry through the wringer to flatten it like pancakes. Then she would set up a clothesline in the basement during the winter to dry the clothes (summer was an outside line). All the while she would listen to soap operas on the radio.
Meanwhile, I had a knock-off version of a Betsy Westy doll. I had a bath-a-net for her and I would bathe Betsy while my mom did her laundry.
The basement was also where I had a place set up to do my painting.
I can also remember when my grandmother's dog, Pinky, had her puppies. I played down in the basement with the puppies there.
This photo is recent (2012). Our house didn't look like this. The bottom was brick, but the top was stucco with wood--Tudor style. I'm not thrilled with what this family did to the house. Orange siding with red brick . . . uh . . . no.
At the end of first grade we moved again to a home north of town at 1107 Scott Drive.
It was a 4-bedroom split level to accommodate our growing family of six at that time, soon to be grown to 10 in the next few years. It was red brick and wood siding. That is where I spent the remainder of my childhood. In the beginning I had my own room. When Kathy was born, I shared my room with her and any subsequent baby that was born, as a crib was incessantly in my bedroom. We always had two cribs, one in my room and one in another room that housed either my brother, Henry, or my grandmother when she lived with us for awhile.
Consequently, my dad made over the attic into a boys dormitory when I was about 16. I got my own room; Kathy and Chrissy shared a room; Henry got his own room, too; and the rest of the boys: Andrew, Warren, John and Jeffrey took over the dormitory. My parents, of course, had the master bedroom/bath.
We had 2-1/2 bathrooms. The main floor was the kitchen, living room and dining room. A few steps up into the bedroom area, then a few steps up into the attic dorm. A few steps down from the kitchen was what we called the play room or rec room. There was also a laundry room and a powder room. The 2-car garage was off the play room. In the beginning we did have 2 cars in there, but as my mom began her careers in Home Interiors and quilting, the garage was turned into a warehouse/workplace for her, then a quilt shop.
We had 3/4 acre in mostly oak trees and others like poplar and some evergreen. My dad was like a master gardener and built lots of gardens with all the stone that was dug out of our yard. He never could grow grass much because of all the shade trees, but he loved to grow flowers. We had beauties all over the yard.
With as big as our family was, it astonishes me that we didn't have a vegetable garden. That was something I undertook when I got my own houses later. But, like I said, we did not have much sun except in the front yard, so I guess my dad just stuck with flowers, which he loved.
As a result, a few of us siblings have green thumbs like my dad and his dad before him. Gardening is one love that runs in the family. I hope my children will inherit that love of plant, tree, flower and vegetable gardening.
How many childhood homes did you have? What did they look like?
I was born into my grandparents' home on Olive Street in Coatesville. That's me in 2012, with blonde hair, visiting back east. I had the front bedroom (the window far right), and my parents slept in the fixed up basement apartment (sans bathroom). My grandparents had the back bedroom, all were quite small. There was one bathroom, a living room, dining area and kitchen. It was a quaint 2-bedroom ranch house with an ample back yard for gardens and fruit trees. It was built with my dad's GI bill in about 1950 or so. I spent the first three years of my life there. It is very like my first purchased home in Telford, a ranch style, only we had three bedrooms.
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| Added 2017--the hedges and rose bushes are gone |
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| Added 2017--to the left is where the cherry tree used to be. My grandmother's clothesline is till there. |
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| Added 2017--this back yard used to be full of fruit trees and a big garden, and hedges all around it |
My second home was right down the street at 1417 Olive Street. It was a 3-bedroom stucco Tudor-looking home with living room, dining room and kitchen on the main floor, 3 small bedrooms on the second floor and garage and basement on the first floor. The back yard was large. Funny how I remember the basement most of all from that house.My mom would do the laundry down there and I would play with my dolls. She had a wringer washer/dryer. I can remember that thing moving up and down as it chugged the laundry clean. Then my mom would hold the laundry through the wringer to flatten it like pancakes. Then she would set up a clothesline in the basement during the winter to dry the clothes (summer was an outside line). All the while she would listen to soap operas on the radio.
Meanwhile, I had a knock-off version of a Betsy Westy doll. I had a bath-a-net for her and I would bathe Betsy while my mom did her laundry.
The basement was also where I had a place set up to do my painting.
I can also remember when my grandmother's dog, Pinky, had her puppies. I played down in the basement with the puppies there.
This photo is recent (2012). Our house didn't look like this. The bottom was brick, but the top was stucco with wood--Tudor style. I'm not thrilled with what this family did to the house. Orange siding with red brick . . . uh . . . no.
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| Added 2017--they added a front porch and a garden |
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| Added 2017 |
At the end of first grade we moved again to a home north of town at 1107 Scott Drive.
Consequently, my dad made over the attic into a boys dormitory when I was about 16. I got my own room; Kathy and Chrissy shared a room; Henry got his own room, too; and the rest of the boys: Andrew, Warren, John and Jeffrey took over the dormitory. My parents, of course, had the master bedroom/bath.
We had 2-1/2 bathrooms. The main floor was the kitchen, living room and dining room. A few steps up into the bedroom area, then a few steps up into the attic dorm. A few steps down from the kitchen was what we called the play room or rec room. There was also a laundry room and a powder room. The 2-car garage was off the play room. In the beginning we did have 2 cars in there, but as my mom began her careers in Home Interiors and quilting, the garage was turned into a warehouse/workplace for her, then a quilt shop.
We had 3/4 acre in mostly oak trees and others like poplar and some evergreen. My dad was like a master gardener and built lots of gardens with all the stone that was dug out of our yard. He never could grow grass much because of all the shade trees, but he loved to grow flowers. We had beauties all over the yard.
With as big as our family was, it astonishes me that we didn't have a vegetable garden. That was something I undertook when I got my own houses later. But, like I said, we did not have much sun except in the front yard, so I guess my dad just stuck with flowers, which he loved.
As a result, a few of us siblings have green thumbs like my dad and his dad before him. Gardening is one love that runs in the family. I hope my children will inherit that love of plant, tree, flower and vegetable gardening.
How many childhood homes did you have? What did they look like?
What Are Your Special Gifts or Talents?
In my profile I say I am a "has-been" and it's true. When I look back on all the talents I had and which are not too great now, I think how lucky I was to have been able to do all these marvelous things. I can't carry a tune very much anymore, dancing is out of the question, my eye sight is horrible, so playing the piano is difficult and I don't do calligraphy anymore either. I still paint, and now I have been able to tell about my life through writing. Writing is my newest hobby. And I love blogging.
I think the first 'talent' or hobby I loved was.... coloring and painting. From the time I could hold a crayon I loved 'color.' It was such a treat to get a huge Crayola crayon box, remember? How many crayons were in that huge one--the one with the crayon sharpener? 96? Of course, it was only a few times we ever got a 96 box, huh?
I also loved to paint. Of course, I didn't know there was anything else besides paint-by-number. My dad used to do them and I pestered him to get me some. I think he was reluctant, but he got me some and I loved doing it. It was probably the first compulsion I ever had. I never went out of the lines!
I think I was getting over chicken pox in the first picture here. I must have begged my mom to let me paint. She set me up outside on the picnic table. I loved to do paint by number. My dad was proud of me when I did.
So painting and drawing. I loved it all. I used to sit up til all hours of the night drawing. When I heard my parents coming to bed, I would quick turn out the light and pretend to be asleep. Sometimes, if I dared, I would turn the light back on and continue. I was a night owl even then.
My first oil painting was done when I was in 8th grade. My mom was taking oil painting classes at evening school and I decided I wanted to try it, too.
I came upon my 8th grade sailboat painting only recently. I found it in a closet at my mother's house in Florida. I decided it was time to bring it home. I was 13 in that picture (for some reason, I loved that button-down shirt).
I also started piano lessons in first grade. I loved playing the piano, even though I had to take lessons from old Sister Gertrude Mary, God rest her soul. My grandmother gave me a tiny piano when I was a toddler and always praised me when I knocked out some noise on the little keys. I thought I was destined to play the piano and I swear that is why I wanted to play. I thought I had some talent! lol
I love the photo of me with my little piano my MeeMaw gave me for my first birthday. It gave me incentive to take piano lessons in first grade.
Then I got to high school and discovered I loved to sing. Funny story...I joined the Girls Glee Club in 9th grade. I was so shy (actually shocked and bewildered) when I got to public high school after being in Catholic School. I went from a class of 21 to a class of 656. Glee Club was something I looked forward to. We were singing "When You Wish Upon a Star" from "Pinnochio." At one point everyone stopped singing. I was watching Miss Wamsher and I didn't see her give any signs of stopping. Then I realized I was the only one singing. Everyone else had stopped. I was so embarrassed! She asked, "Why didn't you try out for Bel Canto?"
I answered, "I went to Catholic School and nobody came to audition us there."
Well, Miss Wamsher tried to change my schedule so I could be in Bel Canto. I was mortified! I was just starting to make new friends and feel comfortable. She couldn't change my schedule (I wish now that she could have because I missed a whole year of being in a choir), but the next year, she went to all the Catholic schools to audition the pupils there for Bel Canto. I did feel pretty good about that.
In 10th grade I was finally happily ensconced in Bel Canto. I also auditioned for Scott Singers and got in. I earned the Music Award that year. It gave me a lot of confidence.
Pictures: 1. Bel Canto, 1969-1970; 2. Scott Singers (I'm smack dab in the middle); 3. Wee Three: me, LuAnn Stern Glaister, Nancy Pollock Cole; 4. Meistersingers, 1971-1972; 5. My first District Chorus, 1971 . . .
Pictures: 1. Bel Canto, 1969-1970; 2. Scott Singers (I'm smack dab in the middle); 3. Wee Three: me, LuAnn Stern Glaister, Nancy Pollock Cole; 4. Meistersingers, 1971-1972; 5. My first District Chorus, 1971 . . .
Bel Canto 1969-1970
When I got to C.A.S.H. (Coatesville Area Senior High), I auditioned for Meistersingers. That was my life in high school--singing and performing.
In my junior year, I was 8th chair in 2nd soprano. In my senior year I auditioned and got 2nd chair, but the 1st chair was sick during Regionals, so I was 1st chair in 2nd sopranos during Regional Chorus. I couldn't believe it!
In 11th grade I auditioned for Laury in "Oklahoma" and got that part! I loved it! I decided then I wanted to be an actress on the stage! Musicals were the best!
Photos: 1. "Many a New Day," performed as Laury in Oklahoma!; 2. me and Fred Martin, who was Curly singing "People Will Say We're in Love;" 3. Chester County Junior Miss Talent Competition, 1971--I won the talent portion--and I got a big trophy! I sang a medley from "Showboat," I made my costume, and I recorded myself playing the accompaniment. I even did a little soft shoe. 4. 5. Bloody Mary in "South Pacific," 1972.
Laurie in "Oklahoma" performing "Many a New Day"
At the end of 11th grade I was asked to try out for the Chester County Junior Miss Pageant. I set my sights on winning the talent award. I figured I wouldn't be able to win the whole thing (due to my klutzy-ness, which didn't let me down during the evening gown competition when I tripped. . .but that's a different story), but the talent award, maybe.
That summer I made my own costume to sing a medley of songs from "Showboat." Unfortunately, sewing did not become one of my talents. But I played the piano accompaniment on a reel-to-reel tape and I sang "Cap'n Andy's Floatin' Show," "Old Man River," "Why Do You Love Me?" "Can't Help Lovin' That Man," and I made up a little waltzy-type dance to "After the Ball." I did win the talent award and I still have the trophy!
I also performed in "South Pacific" in my senior year as Bloody Mary. I sang "Happy Talk" and "Bali Hai."
I was in my glory on that stage. But I didn't want to be the comic relief. I wanted to be Nellie Forbush. But my friend Sally wanted to try out for Liat, so I told her I'd try out with her and do the Bloody Mary part with her. I could tell by the look on Mr. Daghir's face that he was pleased with my performance. I was so upset I slammed the door when I got in the car to go home. Sure enough. . .I was cast as Bloody Mary. But I have to admit, I loved it. It was so fulfilling to see people jumping to their feet when I came out for my bow. Oh, how we all wished we could perform it for weeks and weeks. Alas, we only had 3 performances. I decided right then I wanted to major in Theater Arts in college.
I love that last bit in ithe newpaper article. I guess I could do everything but chew gum!
After high school I hit a dry spell with performing, but I continued my art with a course in the Famous Artists School. A representative came from Connecticut to sign me up. I didn't want to. My mom wanted me to. I think SHE really wanted to take it, but I did it anyway, reluctantly. I had to paint what they wanted me to paint and I didn't like that. It was sort of like taking piano lessons. When I had to play the lesson I was bored. When I quit lessons, you couldn't drag me away from the piano. I felt it was like a duty to paint and it wasn't fun. I guess I was learning something (doubtful, though), but it was not fun. It was a chore. In fact, I only had a certain period of time to complete the course and, while I was in college, I also had to struggle to complete the paintings for this blasted course. It was hard to do homework and then paint. I completed the course and got a little certificate which probably doesn't mean anything now.
In 1978 I joined a band. I met up with a friend who worked with me at Sam Goody at the time and she asked me to come and sing with her new band. The name was Syren and I was a singer and we performed in the Philadelphia and Wilmington areas. OK. . .MY DREAM COME TRUE!!! We sang original and cover tunes. I did percussion and sang and occasionally played guitar when they were singing my songs. I started writing songs about the time I picked up a guitar in 8th grade. When I was in Boulder I bought myself a good guitar and really started writing songs then. I was so happy the band was willing to perform them. I was a folky. We did folk, rock and jazz--Joni Mitchell, Jackson Brown, Steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, Bonnie Raitt, and more I can't remember now. Mostly our own songs. Wendi was the prolific writer.
Photos: 1. Syren, taken about 1978, from left: Henry Farkas, piano and moog synthesizer; Wendi Bourne, guitar and vocals; Jay Mitlas, bass; Ray Taglialatella, drums; and me, vocals, percussion, and some guitar; 2. Trio with Wendi and Henry playing at the Wheelpump Tavern in Flourtown, Pa., circa 1980; 3. Wendi and I at the radio station, Gene Shey show on WHYY--1980;
From the band was also formed a trio with Henry Farcus, the piano player, Wendi Bourne and me. We sang at the Wheelpump Inn every Wednesday and on weekends we weren't performing with the band.
We sang and played together, then each of us did solo performing so we could take breaks.
I played the piano and sang and played the guitar and sang when it was my turn.
Wendi and I also did a duo thing and sang at restaurants. It was so much fun. I was in my glory!
When the band folded in 1981, I was asked to join an Appalachian clogging team, the Skipback Cindies, another dream come true. Let's face it, I am a klutz. I've had more accidents trying to be athletic--swimming, diving, skiing, riding my bike--but Appalachian clogging I could do! YAY! I loved it! We performed all over southeastern Penna., Delaware, NJ, NY, Long Island. . .it was so wonderful being able to perform, and actually say I was a dancer!!!
Photos: 1. Cindy Dalrymple, me, and Sue Henderson Hay, waiting to perform on stage at Lincoln Center Outdoors, Summer 1981; 2. Skipback Cindies Summer Tour 1981--walking the streets of NYC, waiting for our performance time; 3. posing on stage--that's me in the middle in the purple dress--yes, I was that skinny; 4. 5. Southampton Park, Pa., July 4, 1983, a few months after having Alex. I wore the yellow, post-prego dress--Ha!; 6. Rochester, NY Folk Festival, 1984--my last dance; 6. Me, age about 4. I guess my dream of becoming a dancer came true--and I guess all those dance lessons finally paid off.
Photos: 1. Cindy Dalrymple, me, and Sue Henderson Hay, waiting to perform on stage at Lincoln Center Outdoors, Summer 1981; 2. Skipback Cindies Summer Tour 1981--walking the streets of NYC, waiting for our performance time; 3. posing on stage--that's me in the middle in the purple dress--yes, I was that skinny; 4. 5. Southampton Park, Pa., July 4, 1983, a few months after having Alex. I wore the yellow, post-prego dress--Ha!; 6. Rochester, NY Folk Festival, 1984--my last dance; 6. Me, age about 4. I guess my dream of becoming a dancer came true--and I guess all those dance lessons finally paid off.
Southampton Park, July 4, 1983
During all this time of being in the band and teaching evening school and dancing, I was also teaching piano lessons. I was a traveling teacher. I also sang solo at a piano bar in the Washington House in Sellersville. Background music, but I got tips! When I would play and sing at home growing up, my dream was to be able to sing in a restaurant and put a glass on the piano for tips like in the old movies.
Photo: Me and my little sister Kathy. I was 12 and she was 4. I adored her then and still do now. She is one of my best friends.
Photo: Me and my little sister Kathy. I was 12 and she was 4. I adored her then and still do now. She is one of my best friends.
When baby #1 (Alex) came along in 1983, I decided to teach piano at home. I lost about two-thirds of my students (I had about 25) but I also had a baby to take care of. I stopped singing solo, too,
because I missed my baby too much!
So when baby #2 came along, I decided to leave dancing and singing and teaching piano, and went back to art.
About the same time I was in the band and dancing, I took quilting lessons in Skippack. I am not a sewer, but I can sew a straight line to make a quilt, and wield a needle to quilt the designs. I love color and this satisfied my joy of picking out colors and patterns and making a useful throw or wall hanging. My mother was a quilter and sometimes she would make a quilt top and I would quilt it for her. I sold some of my quilts at a shop in Peddler's Village too, as well as some commission work that I picked up when I did craft shows on the weekend.
I began to take Calligraphy classes in Doylestown in 1980. The latter was right up my alley. I realized I never really felt like a true artist until I learned Calligraphy. I was able to go to numerous Calligraphy Conferences and taught classes through Souderton Areas School District's evening school/community education from 1982 until 2010. I also taught other classes pertaining to calligraphy and paper art as well as One Stroke Painting. I did decorative painting and sold my bird houses in Kathy Davis' cute boutique in the Montgomery Mall. I taught private art lessons at home, too, up until I moved to Utah.
The photo appeared in the Souderton Independent in March 1985, two months before Zannah was born. Ellen Jamison did an article on me because I had an exhibit hanging at a bank in Telford. In the picture I am working on adding names to an old family Bible that belonged to a Mr. Souder of Sellersville.
Again . . . in my glory.
About the time I found out I was pregnant with Jewely, in August of 1988, I was asked to audition for the lead in a Christmas Opera, "Amahl and the Night Visitors," the Reading Stake was performing in December 1988. I got the part, then the next day took the EPT. I called the director, Jane Kessler, and told her I would be about 5 months pregnant during the production, if she still wanted me. She said she didn't care. I would just look fat. Haha! It was the greatest thing I ever did musically. Whoever knew I could reach a high A? Never before or after! Thank you, Jane, for having confidence in me.
Photos: 1. The cast of "Amahl and the Night visitors." I played the Mother; 2. Me and 10-year-old Matthew Kammerer who played Amahl.That's little Zannah on the right in the background, coming up on stage to see me. She freaked out a little when I was battling with the kings over "All That Gold."
Later, I discovered writing. Long story, but I ended up being a newspaper reporter for about 15 years. I even won an award in 2005--second place in feature story writing--2005 Pennsylvania Keystone Award. Tim accompanied me to a banquet in Harrisburg and everything.
So you see, like George Baily. . .I've really had a wonderful life!
Some of my art pieces:
And then there's crochet. I am thankful my Granny Tobelmann taught me how to crochet when I was in 11th grade. I started making cloche hats, like the one Jennifer Cavileri wore in "Love Story." I made them for my friends too. It was good practice. She also taught me how to embroider--just in time for the fad of embroidering on your jeans. LOL.
Sarah Schoendorfer Huchstep's twins sure made great models for my cocoons. As newborns, they fit in the same cocoon, Two Peas in a Pod. Almost a year later, for Easter, I made them bunny and carrot cocoons, which they modeled beautifully.
This was a long read. I hope you aren't too bored, but my daughter Jewely wanted to know the answers to these questions in this book.
So, what are YOUR special gifts or talents? A talent doesn't have to be artistic. You can be a caregiver personality type and that is your special gift. You can be an excellent mom and that is your talent and gift. You can be a car mechanic, a cook, a financial advisor, a seamstress, a civil engineer, a nurse, a web designer. Everyone has different gifts. Think about what a boring world it would be if we all did the same thing.
The trick is to love what you do and be grateful for everything you have.
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