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Directions:I have so many memories - probably because I'm really getting up there in years... But here are some of my early memories.
I remember Grandma & Pop Shultz. Mom & I lived with them the first 3 years I was alive. I remember the "old homestead" at 917 W Canady St in Springfield, Illinois. We visited often, even after Mom remarried & we moved into our own house. At Grandma's, I loved to play with the Lincoln Logs, poker chips building towers & roads, pick up sticks, and Grandma taught me how to play Bunco with her dice. - a fascinating game for a young one.
I remember MY Uncle Bob - he took me on a date to the movies with he & his girlfriend once, and it made me feel oh so grown up! I must have been about 7 or 8 years old.
I remember my beautiful Mama, who was always there to kiss a boo boo, give a hug, or listen to my "after a date excited chatter" when I was a teenager.
I remember going to visit with my father, John Lockwood, and seeing & playing with my two sisters who were born at that time, LaJuana (Wannie) and Carol. Val was yet to be born. I remember Dad John gave me my very first camera - a Kodak Brownie, I think.
- - and going to visit, meet my sister Val and get reacquainted with "my Illinois family" when I was a single Mom of 2 and Dad John was so very sick.
When I was about 7 or 8, I remember taking tap and ballet lessons (neither of which I was very good at), and piano lessons from Mrs. Hughes across the street. That lasted about 9 months until we moved to Calif.
I remember Mom, Daddy Ralph, Bob & I on the VERY long train ride from Illinois to California when we relocated - when I was 10 years old (and 56 lbs). I remember living with Grandma & Poppy Shultz at the "egg ranch" for a while, (yes, 1500 laying chickens) , then moving into a 2 bedroom apartment over a 4 car garage behind the "big" house. We were only about 2 or 3 miles from Knotts Berry Farm - a truly fascinating place.
I remember the neighbor kids, Bob & I walking through the orange groves to the Lincoln Drive-In Theater, spreading an old quilt in the last row of the trees, and turning on all the speakers in the last row of the theater (so we could hear the movie), running back & sitting on the quilt & watching the movie before trudging back home when the movie was over.
When Grandma & Poppy moved into Anaheim, we moved back into the "big house" for a time. Grandma Rouland relocated from Illinois & lived with us the remainder of her life. She loved to play the piano & I spent many hours sitting beside her on the piano bench singing songs (mostly Church hymns) or at the dining room table while she taught me how to play Canasta.
I remember a special girlfriend in Loralee Pauls - later to become Loralee May. We were great friends, attending Centralia Elementary School, and later, Anaheim Union High School together. She is still a very dear friend after all these years. Isn't it amazing how a special friend touches your life in such vibrant ways to still be in your heart and remain close to you after 60 years? The lesson here is to choose your friends well!!
I remember taking hula dancing lessons from about 11 with costumes that I was just in awe of. I remember my teacher, Val Moore, going to Hawaii every year for new routines and ideas, which I thought was amazing. I remember 1dance performance on television when I was about 12 or so. Boy, did I ever think we were really special & awesome dancers.....
I remember moving into Anaheim, attending high school and sitting on the front porch of our house at 866 S. Philadelphia St, - - - knowing that Disneyland was being built. Disneyland opened the year I graduated from high school and many summer evenings were spent sitting on the porch, watching the Disneyland fireworks displays at 9 pm every summer evening.
I remember sitting at Dad's feet, watching football games on TV, cause Mom wasn't a football fan and Bob was too busy. I did love football & tried never to miss a high school game.
I remember walking to the neighborhood market (1 1/2 blks away) with my brother, Bob (who was almost 6 years younger than me) and he kicked the leg of a boy who was teasing me - then ran like the dickens so the kid couldn't retaliate.
I remember when I was 11, getting up before dawn & riding to Long Beach with my grandparents to take Poppy to work, and back again after school to pick Poppy up. Grandma's health wasn't good & Mom thought I was old enough to at least call the operator on a payphone for help if she got really sick.
I remember sitting on Grandma Shultz's front porch with her when I was about 15 and her saying "I'm getting old, kid. I'm getting old", which I knew wasn't true at all.
I have so many memories - but none can compare with my hubby, Bill, 4 wonderful children, 4 amazing in-law children and 11 perfect grandchildren and 1 (so far) beautiful great granddaughter.
The Lord has really blessed me - and I'm grateful every day. . |
This recipe for Special old time memories is from