What I'm going to put down are my memories of my life so far. It's not pretty but it's true as I remember it. When I don't remember completely, I will try to say that so anyone reading this can be as confused with my thoughts as I am.
Born 01.06.1963 it was a Sunday. Baby #5 for our household, one more will arrive in 2 years to complete the set. Children thus far: boy, girl, girl, girl, me, girl. We were poor, I didn't know it at the time but we were. We had plenty to eat and we cleaned up our plates, like it or not.
Food.
We all ate at the table, the table for 8 crammed inside a kitchen that was about 10 by 12 feet. One corner, a wood burning cook stove, this is what was used to heat the kitchen and bathroom - corner diagonally across the room, electric cook stove. The refrigerator moved often around the kitchen, not much else did. A portion of the wall was painted with green chalkboard paint, this is where messages were left and sisters were teased. Another portion had a small sheet of pegboard where the pots and pans were hung.
So, it's meal time, the children gather around and take their assigned seats, dad at one end, mom at the other. Boy at dad's right then me then #6. At dad's left #3, #2 then #4. No one ate until Dad was seated. No blessing was said, Dad was part native American and didn't go in for that religion nonsense. Dad got to eat the butter, we had margarine. Sometimes Dad didn't finish all his toast and it was sort of a mad dash to get his left overs. You had to move fast in a family this size.
Both of my parents had been married before although I didn't know this until I was 16 years old. So #3 was my dad's #1 biologically. I never changed my thinking about my siblings, they are my siblings. I don't care for some of them at this time in my life. What I know of #1 I like, he's quiet, kind and structured. I worry about #2, financially, I would take care of her if I had the funds, hell, right now I can't even get a job. #3, just like her siblings, needs medication. I take it, #4 takes it. She's been high on weed for 40 years which is fine but she is also bi-polar and needs help. I keep my distance to keep the peace. #4 and I had an argument about a year and a half ago, I worry about her cancer coming back. #6 well, she's a bit different. She needs to be on "hoarders" we don't talk because all I want to do is "clean her house". It's true, I've tried to clean it but there are 5 of them in that pile of shit they live in, I'm no match for that.
School and the neighborhood.
Stevens elementary. My teachers: Mrs. Hork, Mrs. Hyde, Mrs. Hyde, Mr. Manor, Mrs. Cole Mrs. Sanders. It really was about a mile to and from school and yes, I walked it. Rain, wind, snow. I loved school, you got cool stuff and to do cool stuff if you got the answers correct. Read a book each day at home and you get to take out a piece of playground equipment at lunch recess - - I got a ball every day. EVERY DAY!! I was in a room with way more kids than were crammed into that tiny bungalo called home but I was now a star, if you will. I had the right answers, to me, it was easy. Oh, the teachers loved that I got it easy. I sit with the slow kids and help them. Every teacher through Jr High did it. Sift through the pile of test papers, find #5's, double check, yup all correct....write the word KEY on the top and use it to correct the others.
Neighborhood. The family that lived behind us "F"were who we were closest too growing up. A girl for #4, a boy for me and a girl for #6. We usually paired off this way. Then were those fabulous times when we got everyone outside for mayhem or just some baseball. Tina and Kevin K. Jeff W (always referred to as "Jethro Nixon" or whomever the president was at the time. Jeff lived at his grandmothers, I don't know who else lived there) Linda W and her sister. Pam J, Victor S. Dennis C. even #3 would join in. We built forts, threw rocks, flew kites, hide n seek, red light green light, mother may I? We had a blast. Someone was always banned from someone else's yard. The F Father would routinely nail his back gate shut to keep out whoever was currently banned. Mainly me, I think. He didn't want us climbing his big, old, great for climbing maple trees. He didn't want to get sued. blank stare I climbed up one of the maples and carved my name in it with a pocket knife I'm not sure where I got or if anyone knew I had it. I never fell out of that tree or any other tree. We were allowed to play with Tina and Kevin but not at their house. They had older brothers that my parents thought were bad, for what I have no idea. Yeah, went over there anyway. They never bothered me. Other random kids moved in and out of the hood, but the core of us were there through high school.
Random memories:
going to get commodity meats. I understand now that it was government surplus, to me it was dinner an my mom could always make stuff taste good. Her famous "mop and pail" special. We all wanted this recipe as adults. Mom always chuckled. It was bits and pieces of leftover meat, leftover potatoes and leftover gravy. But boy oh boy did I love it.
riding my bike all over our assigned play area: Mission to the River\\\Regal to Greene
I always had a transistor radio playing, I loved music
birthdays: mom would make the cake you wanted and Dad would always find the coolest gifts at the White Elephant.
Don B stopping by after filling up his gas tank, he would bring the little animal figurines they gave out to us kids even though he had his own kids. Noah's arc was what we were trying to build. I think I still have a couple of those stashed away somewhere
playing with my Fort-tote-away. A little box with the lid connected. Inside the box was the fort, the lid lays down to make where the Indians come in for the attack. My original set is long gone but I did acquire two on ebay. I still love it.
Born 01.06.1963 it was a Sunday. Baby #5 for our household, one more will arrive in 2 years to complete the set. Children thus far: boy, girl, girl, girl, me, girl. We were poor, I didn't know it at the time but we were. We had plenty to eat and we cleaned up our plates, like it or not.
Food.
We all ate at the table, the table for 8 crammed inside a kitchen that was about 10 by 12 feet. One corner, a wood burning cook stove, this is what was used to heat the kitchen and bathroom - corner diagonally across the room, electric cook stove. The refrigerator moved often around the kitchen, not much else did. A portion of the wall was painted with green chalkboard paint, this is where messages were left and sisters were teased. Another portion had a small sheet of pegboard where the pots and pans were hung.
So, it's meal time, the children gather around and take their assigned seats, dad at one end, mom at the other. Boy at dad's right then me then #6. At dad's left #3, #2 then #4. No one ate until Dad was seated. No blessing was said, Dad was part native American and didn't go in for that religion nonsense. Dad got to eat the butter, we had margarine. Sometimes Dad didn't finish all his toast and it was sort of a mad dash to get his left overs. You had to move fast in a family this size.
Both of my parents had been married before although I didn't know this until I was 16 years old. So #3 was my dad's #1 biologically. I never changed my thinking about my siblings, they are my siblings. I don't care for some of them at this time in my life. What I know of #1 I like, he's quiet, kind and structured. I worry about #2, financially, I would take care of her if I had the funds, hell, right now I can't even get a job. #3, just like her siblings, needs medication. I take it, #4 takes it. She's been high on weed for 40 years which is fine but she is also bi-polar and needs help. I keep my distance to keep the peace. #4 and I had an argument about a year and a half ago, I worry about her cancer coming back. #6 well, she's a bit different. She needs to be on "hoarders" we don't talk because all I want to do is "clean her house". It's true, I've tried to clean it but there are 5 of them in that pile of shit they live in, I'm no match for that.
School and the neighborhood.
Stevens elementary. My teachers: Mrs. Hork, Mrs. Hyde, Mrs. Hyde, Mr. Manor, Mrs. Cole Mrs. Sanders. It really was about a mile to and from school and yes, I walked it. Rain, wind, snow. I loved school, you got cool stuff and to do cool stuff if you got the answers correct. Read a book each day at home and you get to take out a piece of playground equipment at lunch recess - - I got a ball every day. EVERY DAY!! I was in a room with way more kids than were crammed into that tiny bungalo called home but I was now a star, if you will. I had the right answers, to me, it was easy. Oh, the teachers loved that I got it easy. I sit with the slow kids and help them. Every teacher through Jr High did it. Sift through the pile of test papers, find #5's, double check, yup all correct....write the word KEY on the top and use it to correct the others.
Neighborhood. The family that lived behind us "F"were who we were closest too growing up. A girl for #4, a boy for me and a girl for #6. We usually paired off this way. Then were those fabulous times when we got everyone outside for mayhem or just some baseball. Tina and Kevin K. Jeff W (always referred to as "Jethro Nixon" or whomever the president was at the time. Jeff lived at his grandmothers, I don't know who else lived there) Linda W and her sister. Pam J, Victor S. Dennis C. even #3 would join in. We built forts, threw rocks, flew kites, hide n seek, red light green light, mother may I? We had a blast. Someone was always banned from someone else's yard. The F Father would routinely nail his back gate shut to keep out whoever was currently banned. Mainly me, I think. He didn't want us climbing his big, old, great for climbing maple trees. He didn't want to get sued. blank stare I climbed up one of the maples and carved my name in it with a pocket knife I'm not sure where I got or if anyone knew I had it. I never fell out of that tree or any other tree. We were allowed to play with Tina and Kevin but not at their house. They had older brothers that my parents thought were bad, for what I have no idea. Yeah, went over there anyway. They never bothered me. Other random kids moved in and out of the hood, but the core of us were there through high school.
Random memories:
going to get commodity meats. I understand now that it was government surplus, to me it was dinner an my mom could always make stuff taste good. Her famous "mop and pail" special. We all wanted this recipe as adults. Mom always chuckled. It was bits and pieces of leftover meat, leftover potatoes and leftover gravy. But boy oh boy did I love it.
riding my bike all over our assigned play area: Mission to the River\\\Regal to Greene
I always had a transistor radio playing, I loved music
birthdays: mom would make the cake you wanted and Dad would always find the coolest gifts at the White Elephant.
Don B stopping by after filling up his gas tank, he would bring the little animal figurines they gave out to us kids even though he had his own kids. Noah's arc was what we were trying to build. I think I still have a couple of those stashed away somewhere
playing with my Fort-tote-away. A little box with the lid connected. Inside the box was the fort, the lid lays down to make where the Indians come in for the attack. My original set is long gone but I did acquire two on ebay. I still love it.
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