The Couple

This picture was taken around our first anniversary in August 1956. My mother continued to make clothes for me. The dress in the photo was pastel pink. Mom made a second dress like it in pastel blue. She really did a nice job.

Spring-Summer 1956

Chuck dropped out of college because he didn't like the required classes - English and such. He was only interested in the engineering courses. So he got a job for the summer as assistant swimming pool manager. He also taught kids swimming classes in the mornings. By summer's end, his hair was bleached blond!

I drove the '32 Chevy from Junction City to Manhattan for my summer classes, held in the mornings five days a week. When I came home, we'd grab a bite to eat and then both of us went to the pool.

All the high school girls had crushes on the life guard. They asked me about him and were not happy to learn that I was his wife!

I was at the pool every day except for five days when I had a light case of the mumps - someone in one of my classes exposed the whole class. Several of us had the mumps! I only missed two days of summer school - because I was sick over the fourth of July!

The summer classes were challenging because many of the students were long-time teachers and they knew what they were doing. It put some of us at a disadvantage - because we had only been teaching for a year or so.

The '32 Chevy had windshield wipers but the switch didn't work. One day, it started to rain on the way home so I pulled over, stopped the car, got out and did whatever it took under the hood to make the wipers work. A fellow stopped and asked if I needed help - and I told him "No, thanks," and hopped back in the car and drove merrily on home! (needless to say, my lead foot didn't make much difference with the '32 - top speed was about 45 mph!)

First Visit to the In-Laws

Our first visit, as a married couple, to Coldwater was at Thanksgiving.

I know my family was not rich in material things. However, we did have a toilet in the house. My in-laws had an outdoor "johnny." This was very different for me.

Chuck had a younger brother and two little sisters. Alan was 2 years younger; Gena was ten years younger than I; and Jane who was 12 years younger than I. Alan and Jane looked like their mother with dark hair and brown eyes. Chuck and Gena looked more like their father. It was obvious to me, that the mom's favorites were the two who looked like her.

His dad was a "jack of all trades," who could reupholster furniture, repair shoes, and was an award-winning photographer. He was born in Pendennis, Lane County, Kansas. He had a few years of formal education. Anytime he did anything "out of line," he used his lack of formal schooling as an excuse. He really didn't know how to treat a young daughter-in-law and he never did figure it out. His mother had a rather "put upon" attitude and heaved great sighs very often.

Adjusting to in-laws was a very real challenge. When it came time to visit at Christmastime, I cried because I didn't want to go. We went anyway.

Some of my Jewelry

The bracelet is called the "goddess" bracelet. I enlarged on the bracelet and made a choker necklace for Jessica. She had requested it. The choker used the same beads as my bracelet.

The other photo contains my (first) six-strand necklace, a pair of red "crystal ball" earrings, a crystal bracelet, a two-strand crystal bracelet, two other pairs of earrings and my first caterpillar bracelet. I started the caterpillar in class with Jeanne, my teacher. It is made with a base of seed beads and embellished on the top with a variety of beads.

I really enjoy working with beads. It is relaxing and sometimes quite challenging! Don does all the clasps except the button ones I do. So we both have a hand in making the jewelry we give for gifts.