• What is a fond early memory of your mother?
My mother and grandmother would take turns rocking me. In the house on the farm, Eva, my mom, would put a thin piece of cloth over the top of my crib at night to keep me from breathing dust. We were on a farm and the houses in 1930’s were not as air tight as the ones built today. When I was around 4-6 years of age, Eva and I would go with other family and look at clothing in expensive stores. She could look at the clothes in the store, go purchase fabric and sundries, and make the dress from memory for me.
• What is a fond early memory of your father?
Dad would tend to me before bed so Eva could clean up dinner. He would rock me and/or warm my feet in front of the pot belly stove. When Eva was pregnant with my brother Oscar Lee, dad would put me in his farm truck put it in low gear. I would play like I was driving while he was in the back pick forking and throwing out hey to the cattle.
• Who was a close childhood friend, and what did you enjoy doing together?
Our childhood friends were normally family, cousins. I spent quite a bit of time with my oldest cousin, 12-14 years older than me. Name???? I spent a lot of time with her they lived on my Aunt’s farm. She would often time baby sit me.
• Other significant life events in childhood that you remember?
Between me and my brother was four years, my mother lost a boy in between and carried it full term, he was still born. My mother’s first boy is in the Panhandle cemetery somewhere. I don’t remember his name except Thorp Baby or Baby Thorp. I will look to see if they named it or had pictures of the grave.
• What was your hometown like?
• What was Saturday morning like in your neighborhood?
• What did the local kids do for fun?
• What did your hometown smell like? (This may seem a little odd, but the experts tell us that a story is better if it makes use of all the senses – taste, touch, sight, smell, and sound.)
• What did you like to do to pass the time?
• What childhood family vacation memories would you like to share?
• Who did you look up to as a child?
• Share about family get-togethers and traditions.
• Name one enjoyable memory with each of your siblings.
• Who were your heroes?
