Paul was seventeen months older than me, and we were always close. As a child I liked playing with Paul and his friends as well as my own. In high school he was popular, was prom king and I know girls were friendly with me just to get to know and be around Paul. Paul played football in high school and was very good, so he got a scholarship to Marquette University. We always got along well and he was a good brother. After we were married we remained close and saw each other as often as our busy lives allowed. Our children enjoyed each other and we all have fond memories of our days on the beach, along the shores of Lake Michigan.

Paul and his wife, Mary started going to the Gulf Shore and invited us to join them so we were usually with them there for a week in January. We would spend a week in Tequesta, Florida with Barbara and Frenchie, before going to Gulf Shore. Then Paul and Mary bought a place in Naples and always wanted us to visit so we continued to do this and still do. We have had great times together, as both Mary and Paul are such fun to be with. Paul and I still have fun sending each other birthday cards and valentines.

Carol was eight years younger and we never really were very close. She lives in Milwaukee with her husband, Howie and although I visit her whenever I am in the area they never visited us as we always lived a far distance away.

When I think of my childhood good memories rise up. Even though we didn’t have much money we did enjoy time together, playing games like Monopoly and Hearts. Often we would go for a ride to a lake for swimming and a picnic, always putting a ball and bat in the car for a game of baseball. On a Friday or Saturday night we would go to an area with many shops. I suppose for the weekly groceries, and my mother loved a certain candy called spearmint leaves and sponge chocolate candy.

My mother played the piano and I loved to sing along with her. Of course we didn’t have television but we did have our programs to listen to on the radio. Our favorites were Jack Armstrong, The All American Boy, at Christmas, Billy, the Brownie, Jack Benny, Fred Allan, George Burns, and Amos and Andy. I remember doing my homework at the dining room table, walking to the theater Saturday afternoon to see a movie for $.10, and going to the drug store at 9:00 at night without worrying about my safety.