Mish-Mash

I'm going to attempt writing more tidbits of growing up. I hope I don't repeat many things but I haven't re-read any of my entries on the subject of memories, so forgive me if I do. When I was young, til my mother passed away, clothes were always hung on the line to dry. Didn't matter if the weather was; freezing, scorching, or windy enough for the clothes to slap you in the face, my mother put them outside. She loved the softness and smell of them when she brought them in. Her fingers and hands would be frozen and beet red in the winter but she didn't mind. She also washed floors on her hands and knees. Never used a mop. If you were on your knees, you could see better and get right in those corners easily. Mother never dusted or vacuumed around things. They were always moved. I remember when the curtains were washed and put on a stretcher thing we had. There were little nail like things you attached the curtains to. Man did they ever hurt. CF may know what the name of it was. I always called it the "curtain stretcher" and I could not keep my hands off it. That's how I know it could hurt you. I liked to do things back then because I thought it was fun. Til I had to do it. Like rug beating. Mom would put the rugs on the clothes line and give them heck. So, I wanted to do it too. Man... your arms sure could get tired. My youngest sister and I had to share a bed and we did that until I moved out at 16. But most of the time, I didn't mind. She wasn't a blanket hog nor did she sprawl out all over the bed. We got along well, usually.

I lived with my older sister Joan, a couple of times. The first time I was in high school. I slept on the couch. One morning I had no idea I would be in for a rude awakening. My oldest nephew came over to me and BAM.......hit me right in the head with a metal truck. Oh yeah; I was ready for the day. It's funny now but I don't believe I was laughing very hard at the time. I think it was after that, my sister let me have the sun porch for my room. He was only a couple of years old. How mad could you get? And he was so cute. I used to let my 3 nephews wrestle around. The older and younger somehow always managed to gang up on the middle child. So, I would take him aside and tell him what to do. Still, with 2 against 1, it was hard. Eventually I had to stop that activity. When I moved to my brothers house, to take care of his 3 girls, what a difference it was. One time, my oldest niece was around 9 or 10, I believe, she came into the house crying. I asked what was wrong. Her friend that came to play with her slapped her in the face. And she came in the house crying?? Oh no. Don't think so. I got hold of her, but her friend left by then, probably ran home. I told her at that time the next time anybody hit her she was to lay them out or she would be when she got home. If anyone ever hit her after that I never knew about it. And my niece was no lightweight. She wasn't heavy but she could have held her own with anyone.
Times were fun back then. Well for some of us, anyway. I'd love to hear how your younger years were. Let me know.