Thursday, March 12, 2009

To a New Town #12

We moved back into town, it was another upstairs apartment. It was September 24th., 1962 and we were getting ready to celebrate Doug's second birthday. My mom wanted to give the party to help us out, she has really changed since she could not drink, but her cancer was not getting better. Doug received a lot of nice presents, mom got him a tricycle, it was blue and white.

The kitchen door lead to the roof, it was flat, with a fence around it, high enough so Doug could not climb over, besides Doug was not a climber, it also had a gate to lock. My husband brought up sand for Doug to run his little cars in, the only time he could not play on the roof was in the morning, the sun made it too hot. Wayne had four sisters and a brother, boy did they love to play poker and cribbage, we spent lots of time visiting them, in those days we did not have a lot to spend., but we had a lot of fun.

It was June 10th, 1963. time for Ronald to be born, I got to the hospital at nine thirty and he was born four hours later. What a sweet baby, he had just fuzzy blond hair and blue eyes, just like his brother Doug. His blood and mine were not compatible, the doctor was going to order a blood transfusion at first but changed his mind. This kept us in the hospital one more day. Doug was glad we were home, he didn't pay much attention to Ron at first, he gave him a hug and a kiss on the head. My mom was so loving toward the kids but Wayne s mom was on the cold side, she hardly held the boy's at all. I was guessing she still held a grudge because her son did not go back to Jolene and the kids.

Wayne finally got a good job, it was with Railway Express, I don't know if you will remember this company. This company unloaded all their goods off the train and delivered it just like UPS does today, the only thing I don't believe UPS delivers the heavy things Railway Express did, for instance bath tubs, pool tables and etc., I believe UPS only delivers up to fifty pounds. They went out of business at the end of the 1960's, and that ended Wayne s job.

My husband went back to college, to learn illustrating, he went to school in the mornings and worked at the gas company in the afternoons. We had purchased a home in town, life was getting better for us. The kids were growing like weeds. Doug was five and the doctor said he was old enough to start ear surgery. One thing I didn't know was peoples ears stop growing at the age of five years, any way that is what the plastic surgeon told us. They could not at this time build him a ear , but they did a very good job, it took a little over a year to complete.

One thing happened while we were going to the hospital, we left early because we had to go about thirty five miles to another city. The museum was right by the hospital, so I thought Doug would like to go in and look around. They were having pioneer day's, and making lots of different homade items, like clothes, shoes, soap and etc. Before I could stop Doug he ran his finger across the lye soap and tasted it, I took him by the hand and told him what ever he did do not swollow, just keep spitting. We ran to a drinking fountain , turned it on and ran the water in his mout, all the time telling him not to swollow. I ask him when it was over why he did that, he said he thought it was a big cake with frosting. By the time we got to the hospital his tongue was bleeding a little, the doctor said it was a good thing I did what I did, the lye could of eat a little of his tongue, kids!

We lived on Glade Street for six years, when Wayne graduated from college he started looking for a job, he gratulated with a 4.o average, I was so proud of him. Some of the happenings on Glade Srreet were as follows. In 1968 Wayne had melanoma cancer on his face, and thank goodness they removed it all. 1969 we vacationed in the Upper Pensula of Michigan at Cooper Harbor, what a beautiful place that was. 1970 Wayne gratulated from college, he was one of the top students, he always felt odd because he was in his late thirties. 1971 we put our house up for sale, we moved in here in February, 1966 and now it is 1972, time to go, the kid's both started school from here.

One note about the grandparents, this was such a sad time for us. Wayne's dad had his last heart attack and passed away in 1963, he must had at least seven real bad attacks before he went, they had to tie his hands to his bed he was thrashing so. 1964, Waynes mom had a stroke at work, they put her on life support, she lasted three days and they removed it, she only lived for a few minutes. September 1965, my mom had cancer and was going back for one more surgery, blood clots developed and went into the lungs, the doctors could not save her. 1966 my step dad Leon. he had been battling cancer for a few years, he also passed away. We had four years in a row, the grandparents were all gone, we missed them and I was so sad for all the grandchildren that will never know them, because most of them were so young.

25 comments:

Gigi Ann said...

I must say you two moved a lot. We moved 2 times in 40 years. I can't imagine moving as often as you did! I'm glad your son's tongue healed and go alright. You have lead a very busy life.

Gigi Ann said...

"got" alright not "go" alright. LOL

Lily said...

Thank you i love your story it comes me down when i can't sleep U are grade story teller I wate as long as i can to read it so i wont be so long for the next one lol Thanks girl and god bless LOA

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

We moved around quite a bit in the early days, MY eldest child was born on 31stMay 1963 ......days before one of yours. A most informative blog and very interesting to read.
Take care.

Yvonne

Merle said...

Dear Margaret ~~ Another great post. Your Doug was lucky with his tongue as well as his ear.
And another move ahead. It is a good story, my friend. Thsnk you for your comment and I am glad you enjoyed all the jokes and the Neil Armstrong story. I hope this will be a great week for you. Take care, Love, Merle.

. said...

Hello Thanks for your comment. Always a great read. Denise

Lilly said...

This is an other great post. Enjoy reading it so much Margaret. Wow, you did lose all the grandparents in a couple years of each other. I am so glad your Mother got off the drink though in the end and got to enjoy her grandkids a bit too.

ancient one said...

Glad you shared this chapter of your life. I can imagine a little boy playing in sand on the roof. Perfect playspot... another perfect playspot is under a house playing in sand... you had a rough few years there, but also some good things. I know you were proud of your husband at his graduation! I'll be back for more ...

Back Through Time said...

I am so glad you are posting all of this!! Your family will love you for it and I think it is special that you share all these memories with us.
Michelle

Renie Burghardt said...

Those were busy years, weren't they Margaret? My 3 kids weere born in 59, 60, 63. And they kept me hopping, as little kids do. Doug was very lucky with his tongue! We had several emergency room incidents while mine were small. And that was great that your husband went back to school, and graduated with 4.0 average. How proud you must have been of him.

I enjoyed this installemnt of your story and look forward to the next. Have a great Tuesday.

Renie

Unknown said...

Fanks fer stoppin by so much - we blame the mom fer not keepin up wif blogs so its taken her furever to get to everyone.

Happy St Patrick's Day!

We is lookin forward to corn beef later if we can get it away from Jake the woofie first.

Anonymous said...

Wayne going to college and graduating at the top of his class was just so wonderful Margaret but so sorry you had so many losses in a few short years. Happy St. Patricks's day.

Margaret Cloud said...

Thank you friends for taking the time to post a comment, it means a lot to me. Happy St. Patrick Day to you all.

Kathleen said...

oh my word! I can't imagine tasting lye soap! I'm sure I did plenty to turn my parents' hair gray, too, but yech! I love reading your stories here, Margaret.

I'm glad those sad years came to an end, finally. It's so hard to lose a loved one.

Patty said...

Dear Margaret, sorry I haven't been around before now. I've missed out on a lot of blog reading. I've been so busy with one thing or another. And then since Abe sold his workbook in 2008, I had to start work on our taxes, because of the small profit he made from selling the book.

How terrible about losing all of the Grandparents within a four year span.

I didn't know the ears didn't grow anymore after the age of 5. I wonder why the ears on older people look so large? Because as large as some of them are, they surely didn't have that size ear at 5. LOL Maybe the rest of the face and head shrinks when you get older and that makes the ears and nose look so large. LOL

Glad Wayne's cancer cleared up. Also glad your son didn't suffer any ill effects from that lye soap.

We went to Copper Harbor back in 1965 I believe it was. Our then youngest was 3, the others were 7,8 and 9. The fifth child didn't come along until 1973.

Well I have dishes waiting for me, so I better get them done up, it will be time for the Granddaughter to be coming home before I know it.

Thanks for sharing your story. We use to play alot of Rook and Euchre with an aunt and uncle of mine. Still enjoy playing it, but can't find anyone that seems to know how or that enoys it.

Have a great week and Happy St. Patrick's Day.

Midlife Mom said...

I am enjoying your life story. Nice that you are getting it all written down. Make sure you print it off for those that want to read it in the future. Wow! Lye soap! That must have been scary!!! Have a wonderful St. Patricks Day!

Judy said...

Your posts about your life are very interesting. You sure have had some ups and downs. I love reading about your children. I never knew any of my grandparents! Happy St.Patricks Day.

Anonymous said...

Marget you've sure have a interesting blog.I love reading about your life.

Denise said...

Margaret , thanks for coming by my blog and checking on me and my parents......Sweet words you left help to warm my heart.....so many beautiful women out here in the blog world that have hearts of gold......... thanks for the kind words....... and I loved the story about your life........ It can sure have it's good and bad....... but always God

Kahshe Cottager said...

Thank you for visiting my blog Margaret. It is always so nice to have a new visitor. I am enjoying reading through your blog too. What a clever way to chronicle your family. I hope that you are also saving a printed copy - your family will treasure it I am sure!

momsbusy said...

lots of sorrow those four years losing the grandparents. i am so thankful my 12 year old daughter is still getting to be around her grandparents (they are 88, 82 and 72). she has some great memories w/ my parents especially. one of our favorites is of her (age 4) and my mom. they have switched sunglasses and are mugging for the camera.

the lye incident sounded so scary. i didn't know how dangerous lye soap was. and charles getting the melonoma on his skin removed. did it ever return?

Anonymous said...

How sad to read about all the grandparents. Didn't know that about lye soap. As always an interesting life you have led and there is so much detail for your kids and grandkids. Family history is so important. I wish I knew more of mine. You are giving them a great gift by writing all this down, a treasure beyond measure.

Becky said...

I haven't been visiting for a while, and I've missed your wonderful stories.
Take care.
B.

caspersmom said...

Who cares what age Wayne was when he graduated. He graduated on top and showed the younger ones how it was done. I didn't know about the lye soap either, but didn't really have to worry about it because it wasn't around when our kids were young. At least I didn't think it was. My grandmother talked about it though, have to wash clothes with it.

Margaret Cloud said...

I want to thank you for all your comments and I enjoy reading your posts also.

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