All the incoming freshmen had to take apptitude tests within the first few days. Those are always an adventure!
My plan was to major in English and become an English teacher. I discovered that I had enough money to pay for two years of college. So I decided to major in elementary education because I could become certified to teach after two years.
There were several phone calls from home. Mom and Bill wanted to know what I was thinking. They agreed it was the smart thing to do after we discussed it calmly!
There were four general education classes that included 3 hours of lecture and one hour of classtime. Most students had to take three of the four classes. However, the lucky folks majoring in Elementary Education had to take all four!!! The classes were "Man in the Physical World," "Man in the Social World," "Man in the
Cultural World." I think the fourth one had to do with science.
My schedule always had one of these lecture courses at 8 a.m. three days a week. We all loved those 8 a.m. classes!! The classroom time would be on Tuesday or Thursday.
It was always nice to have no classes after 2 p.m. on Fridays - just in case one had a ride home for the weekend!
One of the challenges was going from a small school, being in the top ten of the class, was competing for good grades. I am not sure I really knew how to study or how to write a paper. I took US History before 1865 the first semester. It was really tough. At five weeks, I was failing and shocked! At mid-semester I was doing better. At the end of the semester I got a "B" on my final. My grade for that class ended up being a "C" - and I was glad to get it!
A little sidelight on that History before 1865 class: I sat by a football player who played in the line every week. When test papers were handed out, he would write his name in the proper place. When he handed the test in, all that was on the page was his name. Would you be surprised to know that I can still remember his name??
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
September 1953
I had the opportunity to attend band camp and Girls' State. So I had been away from home and family a couple times. However, it was different when I went to K-State at Manhattan.
Mom and Bill helped me move into Northeast Hall, one of two freshman girls' dorms. They took Jeanette, Ruth and me out to dinner. When that was over, they dropped us off at the dorm and drove away - whether Mom shed any tears or not, I don't know. It felt like I had been abandoned!
There were five guys, besides the 3 of us girls, from Ness City. There were two girls from Brownell. There may have been others from Ness Co but I don't remember.
My roommate was a great gal. She came from a very small town (yes, even smaller than Ness City!) not far from Manhattan. Her folks owned a cheese factory so we usually had a wheel of cheese in the closet. We had crackers, too.
Our room was on the third floor. So we tromped up and down the stairs a lot! There was a cafeteria in the dorm. We ate most of our meals there. Sunday evenings we were on our own because the cafeteria was closed. Then we usually hit the cafes in Aggieville.
I went home three times during the first 6 weeks at school - boyfriend in Ness, you understand. That third trip, Mother told me I had to stay at school until the Thanksgiving break which I did.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Music
I really enjoy playing the piano - not necessarily practicing! I bought my first piece of popular sheet music in 1949. I think it cost 35 cents! The name of the song was "My Happiness."
"String of Pearls" and "In the Mood" were two of my favorites to jitterbug to. Glenn Miller's musical arrangements were great.
Some of the popular songs by year were: 1947 "Near You" 1948 "Buttons and Bows" from the Bob Hope movie "The Paleface" was a big hit for Dinal Shore 1949 Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra had a huge hit with "Ghost Riders in the Sky" 1950 Patti Page had a hit with "The Tennessee Waltz" 1951 "Cry" A song written by an amateur songwriter was a hit for Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads. Johhnie Ray had a hearing problem so it was amazing that he would have a hit record. 1952 "You Belong to Me" sung by Jo Stafford was a No. 1 hit; Dean Martin and Patti Page also had hits with it. 1953 "Vaya Con Dios" was a hit for guitarist Les Paul and his wife songstress Mary Ford. He was an amazing guitarist. 1954 "Little Things Mean a Lot" was a big hit for Kitty Kallen. 1955 "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" was a hit for Cuban band leader Perez Prado.
The guys and gals who sang these songs were well-scrubbed and rather straigh-laced. When the veterans came home after WWII, they yearned for a simpler time and the world was becoming more complex.
Growing up back then, we listened to the radio program, "Your Hit Parade," where they played the top-ranked songs.
Many different singers recorded some of the same songs. Some were big hits for more than one singer. We always had favorites and our favorites weren't always the #1 hits.
Nowadays we play CDs. Back the we had 78 RPM records, 45 RPMs and later 33 1/3 RPM records. After that there were 8-track tapes but I don't know anything about them.
Time passes and new things come into being. It is interesting to know that some of the popular songs of the 50s had been popular many years before - and some of them came around to popularity again many years later. "What's old is new again."
"String of Pearls" and "In the Mood" were two of my favorites to jitterbug to. Glenn Miller's musical arrangements were great.
Some of the popular songs by year were: 1947 "Near You" 1948 "Buttons and Bows" from the Bob Hope movie "The Paleface" was a big hit for Dinal Shore 1949 Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra had a huge hit with "Ghost Riders in the Sky" 1950 Patti Page had a hit with "The Tennessee Waltz" 1951 "Cry" A song written by an amateur songwriter was a hit for Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads. Johhnie Ray had a hearing problem so it was amazing that he would have a hit record. 1952 "You Belong to Me" sung by Jo Stafford was a No. 1 hit; Dean Martin and Patti Page also had hits with it. 1953 "Vaya Con Dios" was a hit for guitarist Les Paul and his wife songstress Mary Ford. He was an amazing guitarist. 1954 "Little Things Mean a Lot" was a big hit for Kitty Kallen. 1955 "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White" was a hit for Cuban band leader Perez Prado.
The guys and gals who sang these songs were well-scrubbed and rather straigh-laced. When the veterans came home after WWII, they yearned for a simpler time and the world was becoming more complex.
Growing up back then, we listened to the radio program, "Your Hit Parade," where they played the top-ranked songs.
Many different singers recorded some of the same songs. Some were big hits for more than one singer. We always had favorites and our favorites weren't always the #1 hits.
Nowadays we play CDs. Back the we had 78 RPM records, 45 RPMs and later 33 1/3 RPM records. After that there were 8-track tapes but I don't know anything about them.
Time passes and new things come into being. It is interesting to know that some of the popular songs of the 50s had been popular many years before - and some of them came around to popularity again many years later. "What's old is new again."
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Nostalgia from the Year I was Born
Some of the headlines from 1935 were: "New Nazi Law Bans Jews From Politics;" "Lawrence of Arabia Dies in Motorcycle Accident;" "Mussolini's Army Invades Ethiopia;" "Will Rogers and Wiley Post Die in Alaska Air Crash;" "Social Security Signed into Law;" Dust Storms Devastate the MidWest."
A Mickey Mouse wrist watch with a leather strap or metal bracelet sold in a gift box for $2.95. Watches for grown-ups were also $2.95.
The Academy Award for Best Picture went to "Mutiny on the Bounty;" best actor was Victor McLaglen for "The Informer;" and best actress was Bette Davis for "Dangerous."
Some of the music from that year was "I Feel a Song Coming On," "Begin the Beguine," Lullaby of Broadway." "Red Sails in the Sunset," and "I'm in the Mood for Love." Interestingly enough, all of these songs were popular again when I was a teenager.
In sports news back then the Stanley Cup Hockey team was the Montreal Maroons; the Heisman Trophy winner was Jay Berwanger from Chicago; the NFL champs, Detroit; the Indianapolis 500 winner was Kelly Petillo driving 106.240 mph; and the heaveyweight boxing champion was James Braddock who defeated Max Baer.
The average income in 1935 was $1,632. A new car cost $625. and a new house, $3,400.
A loaf of bread was .08, a gallon of milk .47, a gallon of gas .10. Gold per ounce was $20.67, silver was .38 per ounce and the Dow Jones Average was 120.
The President was Franklin Roosevelt and the vice president was John Garner.
Life expectancy was 59.7 years and I was born on a Monday!
Some people of note born in 1935 were entertainers Herb Alpert, Johnny Mathis, Phil Donahue, Little Richard, Woody Allen, Julie Andrews, Dudley Moore, Robert Conrad, Gene Wilder, Richard Chamberlain, and Rafer Johnson the Decathlete.
Some items advertised were the Westinghouse Precision Radio, Aqua Velva, Iodent toothpaste, the Coolerator Air Conditioned Refrigerator, Bromo Seltzer, Chrysler 70, Quaker Flour, and Exide batteries.
And no, I did not remember all this stuff. I had a handy, dandy little booklet that gave me the information.
A Mickey Mouse wrist watch with a leather strap or metal bracelet sold in a gift box for $2.95. Watches for grown-ups were also $2.95.
The Academy Award for Best Picture went to "Mutiny on the Bounty;" best actor was Victor McLaglen for "The Informer;" and best actress was Bette Davis for "Dangerous."
Some of the music from that year was "I Feel a Song Coming On," "Begin the Beguine," Lullaby of Broadway." "Red Sails in the Sunset," and "I'm in the Mood for Love." Interestingly enough, all of these songs were popular again when I was a teenager.
In sports news back then the Stanley Cup Hockey team was the Montreal Maroons; the Heisman Trophy winner was Jay Berwanger from Chicago; the NFL champs, Detroit; the Indianapolis 500 winner was Kelly Petillo driving 106.240 mph; and the heaveyweight boxing champion was James Braddock who defeated Max Baer.
The average income in 1935 was $1,632. A new car cost $625. and a new house, $3,400.
A loaf of bread was .08, a gallon of milk .47, a gallon of gas .10. Gold per ounce was $20.67, silver was .38 per ounce and the Dow Jones Average was 120.
The President was Franklin Roosevelt and the vice president was John Garner.
Life expectancy was 59.7 years and I was born on a Monday!
Some people of note born in 1935 were entertainers Herb Alpert, Johnny Mathis, Phil Donahue, Little Richard, Woody Allen, Julie Andrews, Dudley Moore, Robert Conrad, Gene Wilder, Richard Chamberlain, and Rafer Johnson the Decathlete.
Some items advertised were the Westinghouse Precision Radio, Aqua Velva, Iodent toothpaste, the Coolerator Air Conditioned Refrigerator, Bromo Seltzer, Chrysler 70, Quaker Flour, and Exide batteries.
And no, I did not remember all this stuff. I had a handy, dandy little booklet that gave me the information.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Family Trips
We usually visited family whenever we went on trips. We visited Daddy's brother, Chan. He lived near Raymond, KS, on the farm where he and Daddy and all their siblings grew up.
We had to drive across a short, wooden bridge that rattled as the car drove over it. That rattle always scared me. So I think I always sat on the floorboards of the car so I couldn't see the bridge or the creek it spanned.
Usually there would be quite a family group who got together on the farm at Uncle Chan and Aunt Mae's. There would be my parents and brothers, Uncle Chan's kids, and other cousins with their parents.
We also visited Mom's sister, Ruby, in Wiley, CO. It was a very small town. I think it was smaller than Ness. There would be Aunt Ruby (my Mom's youngest living sister) and Uncle Darryl and their son and daughter and our family. One time we went there for the son's wedding. I am not sure I had ever been to a wedding unless it was my twin brothers' weddings.
We visited California where Mom's parents, brothers, and sister lived with their families. I remember the trip in 1942; I think we went out on the El Capitan streamliner. I know we went out in 1953. There may have been one other trip but I am not sure.
We didn't take family "vacations" where we went some place to see the sights. We always visited family. We saw what sights there were to see on these trips.
We had to drive across a short, wooden bridge that rattled as the car drove over it. That rattle always scared me. So I think I always sat on the floorboards of the car so I couldn't see the bridge or the creek it spanned.
Usually there would be quite a family group who got together on the farm at Uncle Chan and Aunt Mae's. There would be my parents and brothers, Uncle Chan's kids, and other cousins with their parents.
We also visited Mom's sister, Ruby, in Wiley, CO. It was a very small town. I think it was smaller than Ness. There would be Aunt Ruby (my Mom's youngest living sister) and Uncle Darryl and their son and daughter and our family. One time we went there for the son's wedding. I am not sure I had ever been to a wedding unless it was my twin brothers' weddings.
We visited California where Mom's parents, brothers, and sister lived with their families. I remember the trip in 1942; I think we went out on the El Capitan streamliner. I know we went out in 1953. There may have been one other trip but I am not sure.
We didn't take family "vacations" where we went some place to see the sights. We always visited family. We saw what sights there were to see on these trips.
Society in a Small Town
I believe that most small towns had a "caste" system when I was growing up. Those who have money and/or social standing were the elite - my Mama referred to them as "the 400." The rest of the people were considered "common."
My family was not rich and, as far as social standing, - well, you could say we were members of the common folks. There were lots of folks in this group.
Sometimes a person could see that "the 400" and their kids were treated differently than the common folk and their kids.
Some school teachers were homegrown. They returned to teach in their hometown after they got their teaching credentials. Some were fair and square to all their students. Other teachers played "favorites" and their favorites came from "the 400." I can think of one elementary teacher in particular.
The only year Ness City High School didn't have a validictorian was the year I graduated. Those in "the 400" were not the very top students. So the school board (who were very aware of who was society and who was common) decided they would honor the "top ten" students in the class. The "top ten" were listed alphabetically on the graduation program.
This favored behavior often showed up in other areas, too. It sometimes happened with merchants who wanted to be sure that the common folk didn't have exactly the same "stuff" as "the 400." The more exclusive the store, the more it was visible. This behavior often caused bad feelings.
Even with the "caste" system, my little hometown was still a good place to grow up.
My family was not rich and, as far as social standing, - well, you could say we were members of the common folks. There were lots of folks in this group.
Sometimes a person could see that "the 400" and their kids were treated differently than the common folk and their kids.
Some school teachers were homegrown. They returned to teach in their hometown after they got their teaching credentials. Some were fair and square to all their students. Other teachers played "favorites" and their favorites came from "the 400." I can think of one elementary teacher in particular.
The only year Ness City High School didn't have a validictorian was the year I graduated. Those in "the 400" were not the very top students. So the school board (who were very aware of who was society and who was common) decided they would honor the "top ten" students in the class. The "top ten" were listed alphabetically on the graduation program.
This favored behavior often showed up in other areas, too. It sometimes happened with merchants who wanted to be sure that the common folk didn't have exactly the same "stuff" as "the 400." The more exclusive the store, the more it was visible. This behavior often caused bad feelings.
Even with the "caste" system, my little hometown was still a good place to grow up.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Friends
I have been thinking about friends lately. After Daddy died, I observed Mom and her friends. They were either married ladies or widows. They were all close in age to Mom.
I watched as she outlived each of her friends. It was then that I decided it would be wonderful and very wise to have friends of all ages.
People interest me. I like to get acquainted with many different people. I got acquainted with two ladies at the water department when I paid the bill. One lady became a friend and confidante. I believe she saw herself in me. I called her my Iowa Mom and spent many hours sitting on her sofa visiting with her. She enjoyed those visits and so did I.
I'm blessed with friends my age from my school days. It is fun to get together and talk about "old times."
Another lady and I taught school at Ft. Riley from 1955 through 1959. We often ate lunch together, played piano duets during lunch hour in her kindergarten room and sometimes went to movies. We have remained friends over all the years between then and now. She lives in Las Vegas; we have visited her there twice and she has been to our home.
Then there are those friends who were Patti and Tony's classmates. Some still call me "Mom Weber." They spent many hours in our home or else working with me in Band Boosters.
There is one more friend I'd like to mention. I've known him since high school. He had no sisters and I was very honored when he told me one day that if he had a sister, he'd want her to be just like me - and he calls me "Sis" to this day.
I am so blessed to have many friends. The younger ones help keep me young at heart and those my age keep me grounded. The ones older than I are a blessing still.
Friends come into our lives to fullfil specific reasons. Some walk beside us in the difficult times. They encourage us to hang in there and to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Some share joyful times with us. Some come into our lives and stay for a while and leave. Perhaps they move away and the connection is broken. Maybe I moved away, either emotionally or physically.
The blessing is that friends love us, pray for us, and offer wisdom that we may or may not heed. They don't get angry and give up on us because we disagree.
We have childhood friends, work friends, church friends. Some of these areas overlap. The best thing about friends is they accept us as we are and invite us to become better. They love us even when we stumble and fall. They give us a hand so we can stand up again.
Friends are blessings, indeed.
I watched as she outlived each of her friends. It was then that I decided it would be wonderful and very wise to have friends of all ages.
People interest me. I like to get acquainted with many different people. I got acquainted with two ladies at the water department when I paid the bill. One lady became a friend and confidante. I believe she saw herself in me. I called her my Iowa Mom and spent many hours sitting on her sofa visiting with her. She enjoyed those visits and so did I.
I'm blessed with friends my age from my school days. It is fun to get together and talk about "old times."
Another lady and I taught school at Ft. Riley from 1955 through 1959. We often ate lunch together, played piano duets during lunch hour in her kindergarten room and sometimes went to movies. We have remained friends over all the years between then and now. She lives in Las Vegas; we have visited her there twice and she has been to our home.
Then there are those friends who were Patti and Tony's classmates. Some still call me "Mom Weber." They spent many hours in our home or else working with me in Band Boosters.
There is one more friend I'd like to mention. I've known him since high school. He had no sisters and I was very honored when he told me one day that if he had a sister, he'd want her to be just like me - and he calls me "Sis" to this day.
I am so blessed to have many friends. The younger ones help keep me young at heart and those my age keep me grounded. The ones older than I are a blessing still.
Friends come into our lives to fullfil specific reasons. Some walk beside us in the difficult times. They encourage us to hang in there and to keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Some share joyful times with us. Some come into our lives and stay for a while and leave. Perhaps they move away and the connection is broken. Maybe I moved away, either emotionally or physically.
The blessing is that friends love us, pray for us, and offer wisdom that we may or may not heed. They don't get angry and give up on us because we disagree.
We have childhood friends, work friends, church friends. Some of these areas overlap. The best thing about friends is they accept us as we are and invite us to become better. They love us even when we stumble and fall. They give us a hand so we can stand up again.
Friends are blessings, indeed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)