Monday, March 9, 2009

Along The Way #11

My son Douglas was one year and had just learned to walk. He had the cutest way of starting off, he would crawl to whatever was the closet to him, climb up and turn around, for just a moment he would look around, grab his shirt and take off. He did this for about two months, but he was getting better at walking. When he fell down, even in the middle of the floor, he put his hands on the floor and almost jumped to his feet and start there, I was so proud of him, he had no hearing in his right ear, they say your balance is from your hearing, but this never stopped him.

The apartment we found in town was perfect for us, but I missed living out a ways. I just want to clear my husbands name, he is Charles Wayne Cloud, some people call him by his first name and others by his middle, he wanted me to call him Wayne, even though I liked Charles. Our apartment was by the store he had found work. We moved within six months because the landlord lived in the front apartment and their kitchen was on the other side of our bedroom wall. Their cupboards also was on the wall up against our wall and she slammed dishes all the time and we did not get much sleep.

Doug had a cute thing he did while playing, he would go in his room and push his toy box up against the door so I could not get in. I actually had to go outside and look in the window to make sure he was okay, he looked so smug sitting there getting one over on ole mom. While living here his uncle spilled a very hot cup of coffee and Doug just happened to be sitting on his lap. Doug had a long sleeve shirt on and it soaked up the coffee fast. He had a very bad burn, about four inches, the doctor said put nothing on it and watch for infection, I was amazed how fast he healed and the big blister never broke, so he had no scar.

Our next apartment was half a block from a school, it had a imitation fire place, looked just like flames coming from the fake coal. One day I was in the basement washing clothes, Doug was sitting on the top step watching me he was eating a cookie. I finished loading the washer and turned to go up the steps and no Doug. I ran through the apartment looking for him with no luck. We lived three houses from the school yard so I went that way and all I saw was a school yard full of kids., it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. I ran back home to call the school and see if they would help me, my heart was pounding like a drum. I decided to go out in the yard one more time and when I looked between the houses there he was, I was too happy to be mad at him, I just hugged him to me and sat down on the ground and cried, I was so happy to have my son safe and sound. He did not know what all the fuss was, after all he was only one and a half years old.

We moved a lot the first four years and I really was getting tired of it, we never had the money for a down payment because Wayne could not find a job that paid good. Our next apartment was upstairs and I worried about Doug falling down the steps because the only way outside was steps on the side of the house, no inside way out, I also worried about a fire, what would we do. Our car went on the fritz so Wayne had to walk four miles to work and back. One thing happened there that made us start looking for another place, in a hurry. The owners of the house lived down stairs, you could not want for a better landlord, they spoiled Doug rotten and were so good to us. Phil, their son liked Doug a lot, when Phil would come home from school, if Doug was out he would push him on the swing or just sit down and play with him. So you can imagine our shock when we read the paper, Phil had killed his girl friend. We became afraid at first and then we wondered what would make such a nice person do this. The paper said they got into an argument in the car, he choked her but he said she was not dead. He was going to leave her, then he became afraid she would tell on him, so he finished chokeing her, she was sixteen and he was seventeen years old. What a waste of two lives, we really felt sorry for both families.

It did not take long to find a little house to rent and so back out to the country. I became pregnant for my second time, I was glad because Doug would have a brother or sister to play with, even though there would be almost three years difference in their ages. I picked out for the girls name Susan and if a boy Ronald, I always wanted a girl but just wanted the baby to be healthy. We only stayed the summer in this house, it was too far from my husbands work, so we started looking again.

18 comments:

Patty said...

My goodness you did move a lot those first few years. I've often thought perhaps we didn't move enough. We started out in a furnished two room apartment, then went to a three room, with a basement furnished apartment, even the basement could be used during the hot weather. Then we moved to a small house in a small town, lived there five years and then came to this house, it will be 47 years this coming Dec. I don't think I could handle moving too often. LOL

What a shame and surprise about the young boy named Phil and yes what a tragedy. Does make you wonder why, what really set him off. I wonder if he's still in prison or perhaps dead himself.

Will be waiting to hear about the next pregnancy.

You certainly do have some memories.

Gigi Ann said...

I know the feeling when one of your children come up missing. I once had a similar experience. I was fixing lunch and my son was sitting in the kitchen playing on the floor and the next thing I know I couldn't find him. I hunted everywhere or so I thought. I called for help. When my husband came in for lunch he started to look and he found him in bed asleep on a bedroom off the kitchen. I somehow missed seeing him when I looked in there.

Will be looking forward to the next story of your life.

Ann

DeniseinVA said...

Hi Margaret, my goodness what an interesting life you've had. I have truly enjoyed your writing. I hope you make this into a book some day. You write so well and I always leave wanted to read more. I'll be back. Thanks for stopping by my blog. You have a great week also.

My Littel Island said...

when i was a kid me and my mo moved 13 times in one year thanks to my big drunk bro I love your storry it is like traveling back in time lol thanks girl

My Littel Island said...

ME AND MY MOM

Merle said...

Dear Margaret ~~ Great episode, but what a shame
about Phil. And luckily he liked your Doug.
You sure moved a lot but each apartment or house seemed to be better each time. And now for another
baby to complete your family. Still enjoying your story, my friend. Glad you enjoyed the jokes and got a smile from my jokes. Take care, Love, Merle.

Hootin Anni said...

I can just picture your son learning to walk. I agree with Denise from above in your comments tho, this would make a great book...your life!!!

Thanks for stopping by my Heads or Tails yesterday!! Have a glorious Wednesday.

Judy said...

I would have gone nuts if I could not find my child for that long! You are so lucky he was o.k. You all moved a lot but I can understand why you did. You life has surely been interesting. I have enjoyed reading all about it. You are a good writer because I enjoy every post you do.

momsbusy said...

doug was certainly a smart little fella! i started laughing about his keeping you out of his room. how resourceful for a little guy.

you could not have moved more often if you were in the military! at least you never got a chance to collect a bunch of stuff. makes for a tidier house.

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

A most interesting blog Margaret, we used to move around alot at one time, My daughter never crawled she used to get round on her bottom then quite suddenly she started walking.
I enjoyed the feel of your family, family to me is most important.

Thank you for visiting "My World......"

Take care of yourself.

Yvonne.

Anonymous said...

I lost my youngest once or so I thought. The neighbors and everyone were out looking for him. It was the worst 2 hours of my life. He was found safe and sound and had no idea what a stir he had caused.

Merle said...

Hi again Margaret ~~ Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. My pain is a little better again today, thankfully. I am so glad you enjoyed the jokes, esp the 92 year old and the teenager. Take care my friend, Love, Merle.

ancient one said...

Still enjoying your story of your life... in the first 10 years we were married, we moved 10 times...and probably never five miles from where we started...LOL My husband's family farmed (share cropped) and he was used to moving... my family always lived across the road from my grandmother.. we never moved... but moving so much got old in a hurry for me.. I was so glad when we finally bought a house in 1971... we're still here!!

Yankee Girl ~ Missy said...

Wow, that is a lot of moving. That's not a fun job with kids in toe. So many sad stories!!! Yet still can't wait to hear what happens next. You should write a book!

Sabrina, Sam and Simon said...

Hi Margaret and Charles! Sorry we haven't visited lately! We wanted to stop by and say hello, and ask how Logan and Dusty are doing! And we really enjoy learning about your life! We hope you have a wonderful weekend!
Purrs and headbutts,
Sabrina, Sam and Simon

caspersmom said...

My husband knows what it's like to have the kitchen next to his bedroom. I didn't even think about it when we first moved here. He said he thought I was tearing the joint apart and I was only making his coffee.

When our son was little he burned himself on the water heater and I didn't even know he did it because he didn't cry or say anything. The water heater was not out of sight like they are today. It was kind of a bad burn as left a prodominate blister. When I took him to the doctor I told him I wonder if he feels any pain cause he didn't yell or cry. When you broke the blister, he did both. Goodness, it looks like I have some catching up to do here with your story.

caspersmom said...

He burned the lower part of his leg

Margaret Cloud said...

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment.

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