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.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
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!)
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Fall 1955 at Ft. Riley Elementary
We moved into a basement apartment in Junction City - which wasn't a good idea because of my asthma. We lived there about a month. Our landlady thought she could come downstairs into our apartment at any hour. That really didn't work, so we found a little house to rent. This worked out much better - no landlady coming to bother us.
Chuck returned to Kansas State as a sophomore. He hated the required classes and just wanted to get down to the nitty gritty in Engineering.
The teachers met for a couple of in service days before school started. One of the kindergarten teachers decided she wanted to get to know me. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Her name was Betty and she is a dear friend.
My first day of teaching found me in my room - terrified! The first student to come in the room at Ft. Riley Elementary was a tiny little girl who was even more scared than I! I still remember her name!
The year started out with 22 students. This really helped me get "my feet wet" as a teacher. As the year progressed, the "Big Red One" returned from Germany. The class size at the end of the year was 36! That was really a challenge. Grading papers happened at home in the evenings.
One of students, a girl named Blair, was so smart she could have taught the class. The kids had traveled all over the world. I'd never been out of the US except for visiting Tiajuana, Mexico.
Back then teachers dressed up for school. I usually wore heels, straight skirts and blouses or sweaters. I don't ever remember teaching in slacks. I kept sneakers under the desk for recess because I played ball and other games with the kids.
One boy, Mike, was the orneriest I ever met - he could talk your arm off and did lots of talking during class.
With such a variety of learning abilities, teaching math and reading was really challenging. Some found learning so easy and others found it really difficult. There was one who had genius IQ and others with low IQs. It was hard for me to understand kids not being able to spell. Of course, I was a good speller and had to learn that not everyone could spell.
During the first six week of school the teachers had to visit each family in their homes. So we made the phone calls to set up the appointments and visited. Thank goodness for the 22 students at the beginning of the year! Some of the parents were very well-educated and others, not so much.
The children were "army brats." Their fathers were sargeants to Generals. The one exception was the fire chief, he was a civilian. His child was in my class.
My teaching certificate had to be renewed each year. I needed nine hours credit. So Saturdays, evenings and summer school classes were part of my year.
My friend Betty and I belonged to a car pool. I didn't have a car to drive so I paid to ride. I was the last one picked up and the first one dropped off. I hated to wait!
Betty and I usually had lunch together; sometimes in her room, sometimes at the PX with the other teachers.
The buses arrived with the kids shortly before 9 a.m. Then the students were picked up at ll:30 for lunch and came back shortly before 1 p.m. That 90 minute lunch hour was lovely! Then school was out between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.
We were paid monthly. So quite often we took the pop bottles back to the store the night before payday. We'd have enough money to go to a movie. My annual wages for the 1955-56 school year were $2,850! Yep, you read right, I did say Annual!
Chuck returned to Kansas State as a sophomore. He hated the required classes and just wanted to get down to the nitty gritty in Engineering.
The teachers met for a couple of in service days before school started. One of the kindergarten teachers decided she wanted to get to know me. This was the beginning of a lifelong friendship. Her name was Betty and she is a dear friend.
My first day of teaching found me in my room - terrified! The first student to come in the room at Ft. Riley Elementary was a tiny little girl who was even more scared than I! I still remember her name!
The year started out with 22 students. This really helped me get "my feet wet" as a teacher. As the year progressed, the "Big Red One" returned from Germany. The class size at the end of the year was 36! That was really a challenge. Grading papers happened at home in the evenings.
One of students, a girl named Blair, was so smart she could have taught the class. The kids had traveled all over the world. I'd never been out of the US except for visiting Tiajuana, Mexico.
Back then teachers dressed up for school. I usually wore heels, straight skirts and blouses or sweaters. I don't ever remember teaching in slacks. I kept sneakers under the desk for recess because I played ball and other games with the kids.
One boy, Mike, was the orneriest I ever met - he could talk your arm off and did lots of talking during class.
With such a variety of learning abilities, teaching math and reading was really challenging. Some found learning so easy and others found it really difficult. There was one who had genius IQ and others with low IQs. It was hard for me to understand kids not being able to spell. Of course, I was a good speller and had to learn that not everyone could spell.
During the first six week of school the teachers had to visit each family in their homes. So we made the phone calls to set up the appointments and visited. Thank goodness for the 22 students at the beginning of the year! Some of the parents were very well-educated and others, not so much.
The children were "army brats." Their fathers were sargeants to Generals. The one exception was the fire chief, he was a civilian. His child was in my class.
My teaching certificate had to be renewed each year. I needed nine hours credit. So Saturdays, evenings and summer school classes were part of my year.
My friend Betty and I belonged to a car pool. I didn't have a car to drive so I paid to ride. I was the last one picked up and the first one dropped off. I hated to wait!
Betty and I usually had lunch together; sometimes in her room, sometimes at the PX with the other teachers.
The buses arrived with the kids shortly before 9 a.m. Then the students were picked up at ll:30 for lunch and came back shortly before 1 p.m. That 90 minute lunch hour was lovely! Then school was out between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m.
We were paid monthly. So quite often we took the pop bottles back to the store the night before payday. We'd have enough money to go to a movie. My annual wages for the 1955-56 school year were $2,850! Yep, you read right, I did say Annual!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Summer 1955
When school was out, I returned to Ness City. One of the first places I went was Grace Hospital in Hutchinson to have a tumor removed from my upper left side below the base of the neck and a couple inches from the spinal column. It was approximately 1.5-2" long but with no "fingers" of tissue growing down into the muscle. Best of all, it was benign. For many years, one could play tic-tac-toe on the scar. It is not so visible now but there is an indentation in that spot. My left arm was immobilized for the term of healing.
So when Old Settlers Reunion came around in early June, I could not dance because of the sling. That was always an important part of Old Settlers - meeting old friends and classmates - dancing - visiting and catching up with each other's lives.
During the summer months, I did my "Methods of Teaching" correspondence class. I passed it and was certified to teach in the fall.
Mom and Bill continues to pressure me to give up the idea of marriage and teaching and return to K-State for my junior year. I am sure Chuck's parents tried to cinvince him to change his mind, too. However, both of us had made up our minds that we would get married.
Friends in Ness were very generous with useful gifts even though there was no shower. We made arrangements with Rev. Henry Jongema in Cimmeron to officate at a small, private, family ceremony on Sunday, August 21, in the Cimmeron Methodist Church, before the early church service. Rev. Jongema had been the past at the Ness City Methodist Church when I was in high school.
Mom, Bill, Chuck's folks, brother and sisters were there. I believe Bob and Inez may have attended and Chuck's Aunt Doris. After the ceremony, we drove to Ness in the 1932 Chevy coupe Chuck's father gave us. We packed up all our worldly goods and headed to Junction City for life as Mr. and Mrs.
The photo was taken by Chuck's father in his Coldwater studio. I wanted it to be at the end of the blog - but I haven't figured out how to do that!!!!! :(
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Jewelry Favorites
The six-strand necklace and earrings were a gift to Patti. These necklaces are made with seed beads, Swarovski crystals of many colors, and some little silver beads. I love this particular clasp. I have made seven of these six-strand necklaces; five belong to individuals and two were given for silent auctions. Of course, the first one I made is mine! Stringing the six strands takes about 3 hours. Then Don puts the finishing touches on by adding each strand to the clasp.
The bracelet is another "caterpillar" and belongs to me. The clasp is a button from my Mom's button box. The crystals are amethyst, violet, dark sapphire, chrysolite (pale green.) There are Czech fire polished beads, pale green and light amethyst pearls, and seed beads. These are the embellishments on the top of an amethyst seed bead base. This bracelet takes about 6 hours to make.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)