Halloween in Ames, NY in the 1950’s and 60’s was simple, yet memorable. For me, the focal point of the scary season was the anticipation. Once the leaves started to fall and waist-high orange, [...]
“Mimi, I want to go parasailing with you. I think Max does too.” I embraced this leap of faith request from my seven-year-old granddaughter. She knew how much I enjoyed the summertime [...]
The Crick The big kids in Ames swam in the crick. I was not allowed. When I was little, my mother warned me not to swim in the tempting watering hole in the summertime. She said there were [...]
Mothers give directions and expect their children to follow them. My mother gave many directions. I listened to my mother and followed some. Others I ignored. “Don’t look under the paper [...]
Church. My family and I regularly walked there on Sunday mornings in Ames, New York, no matter the weather. Marching in a line, the six of us navigated the irregular slabs of the village’s [...]
The word athletic was only used once in my life to describe me and it appeared on a trophy. It will probably never be used again, but at least I had my moment. The lead up to my athletic [...]
Dear Santa, I need to know if you are real. My friend Joanie said of course you are real. She asked me, “Where else would all of the presents come from? Nobody has that much money!” She is the [...]
The frayed collar on my wool snow suit irritated my neck. My little fingers scraped the raw skin under my curls. There was no relief. The itching only made my neck bumpy and hot so I opened my [...]
My crinoline petticoat scratched the back of my skinny thighs. All ten of my tiny fingers reacted and dug into the plush velvet seat in order to carefully readjusted my skirt. I did not want to [...]
Initial Healthcare Birth: November 10, 1952 Location: Nathan Littauer Hospital, Gloversville, NY. Weight: 6lbs. 13ozs. Medical cost: $72.95. My Mom said mine was an uneventful birth. When my [...]