Growing old … and older
My mother had this story. Daughter is twisting my arm. “Write your memoirs,” she says. That sounds too final, too complete. Besides, what interesting memoirs do I have to write?…
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Raising chickens
My great-grandmother Howard passed down instructions on raising chickens. Here are her instructions: All livestock requires seven-day-per-week, 365- or 366-day-a-year care. Owner is tied to home base or has substitute…
A dog story
Here’s Mom’s story about our dogs. Many years ago before there were any children to keep me company, Dad bought me a pup. I forgot where we went – seems…
Linda the scapegoat
My older sister had a playmate named Ponteen when she was very small. Ponteen lived in the corner of the kitchen along with a broom and mop. I always had…
Can’t make it up
We often say in the office you can’t make these stories up. One time a friend, who was to provide cooking services at the Strawtown Auction Mart, was unable to…
Living with a saint
My own mother wrote about growing older: Soon I will have my 85th birthday. It has been nearly two years since this thought occurred to me: I spent several years…
Polka dots & happiness
My grandmother wore navy blue for dress, but for everyday her favorite color was red. One year she had a red dress with white polka dots. Granddaughter was a preschooler….
Letting my mom tell her history
My mother wrote about her personal history. She told the following story. Sterling, a small village in Fountain County, Indiana, was my birthplace. Sterling lies next to Veedersburg, which being…
Hiding place
My little sister skipped gaily into the house bursting with news of her exciting discovery. “Mama,” she exclaimed, “I’ve found a secret hiding place!” It was one of those golden,…
Grandpa Carl
Mom wrote this story about her father-in-law, Carl George Adler. He was a big man: tall and broad. He said he never asked for shoes when he went to the…