Chapter 1
.....................................
page 1 of 2
Granny's
Mother, Nina (left)
This
is what I remember, and would like to share with you about my life…
My mother never touched liquor or swore. She only had an eighth grade education, but seemed so intelligent. She handled the money and always helped us with our homework. When they lived in South Dakota and Doris was a baby, they had a fire in the kitchen, and Mom got third degree burns on her arm. I remember the scars always felt cool to the touch - I liked to lean against them in the summer.
Daddy was a barber and he worked very hard. It must have been difficult to stand on his feet all day. He never took a vacation other than to drive us to my grandparents’ farm in Hetland, South Dakota. We would stay a month and then he would return to drive us home. I have wonderful memories of being on the farm. We used to wear shorts on the way out, but shortly before arriving we would have to put slacks on, but after Grandma got used to us we could wear the shorts again. We would often arrive when she was in her long white nighty, her hair in a single braid down her back. I loved following her as she gathered eggs in the chicken coop, riding on the hay wagon, or swinging from a rope in the barn only to land in the hay.
I also remember having fun with our cousins, the Skerkinbacks, and aunts and uncles that were always so nice to us but lost track of them as distance separated us. I did so enjoy those vacations. I remember how on Saturday nights everyone went into town. I was usually there on my birthday and I have such fond memories of celebrating with a picnic.
My mother never touched liquor or swore. She only had an eighth grade education, but seemed so intelligent. She handled the money and always helped us with our homework. When they lived in South Dakota and Doris was a baby, they had a fire in the kitchen, and Mom got third degree burns on her arm. I remember the scars always felt cool to the touch - I liked to lean against them in the summer.
Daddy was a barber and he worked very hard. It must have been difficult to stand on his feet all day. He never took a vacation other than to drive us to my grandparents’ farm in Hetland, South Dakota. We would stay a month and then he would return to drive us home. I have wonderful memories of being on the farm. We used to wear shorts on the way out, but shortly before arriving we would have to put slacks on, but after Grandma got used to us we could wear the shorts again. We would often arrive when she was in her long white nighty, her hair in a single braid down her back. I loved following her as she gathered eggs in the chicken coop, riding on the hay wagon, or swinging from a rope in the barn only to land in the hay.
I also remember having fun with our cousins, the Skerkinbacks, and aunts and uncles that were always so nice to us but lost track of them as distance separated us. I did so enjoy those vacations. I remember how on Saturday nights everyone went into town. I was usually there on my birthday and I have such fond memories of celebrating with a picnic.
