Our Life

The first 3.5 years of our married life found the two of us doing everything together. We were inseparable. We went to movies, to the lake with some of the teachers and their hubbies, to "ham" radio fests, shot at tincans with the .22 under the bridge, and just generally spent the hours we weren't working together.

Chuck was an amatuer radio operator. So I began studying Morse code with the idea that I might get my own conditional license. However, other things intervened and I never went forward with it.

I found out in summer school that I was pregnant. Morning sickness was no fun! I continued taking night and Saturday classes to renew my teaching certificate. I took an astronomy class in the evenings during first semester of 1958. We went to the teacher's house one evening where we were able to use his telescope to look at the stars and planets. It happened that Sputnik took its death fall that night. I was the first of the class to spot it. Our final test in Astronomy was supposed to be January 21 and that was my due date. The prof told me if I was happy with my grade, I didn't need to take the final. I agreed!

Every year there were students who made it easy to get through the day. In the fall of 1958, there was a delightful little girl named Patty Jo. Whenever I looked at here, she always smiled at me.

I taught until Christmas vacation and came back to the classroom when our baby was 6 weeks old. When I brought Patti to school to show the kids, they all looked at Patty Jo when I told them the baby's name was Patti.

We went to the Junction City Hospital January 14. Our baby girst was born at 2:07 a.m. and weighed 5 pounds 16 ounces. She had peach fuzz hair!

Her daddy wanted to name her Bonnie Eileen (after two of his old friends) He compromised and we named her Patti Eileen. The name Patti came from the little 4th grade girl. We spent a week in the hospital - and then one extra day because there was a snow storm.

Our life changed in a major way with a new baby to take care of. I found myself at home taking care of Patti when Chuck went off to do other things. That was hard.

Some more Jewelry

The abalone shell pendant came from a pair of earrings. I didn't like the earrings very well but loved the abalone shell. So I paired it with crystals with the colors that showed up on the shell. I really liked the outcome. Then I took the other earring and made another necklace for Patti. Actually, her necklace was prettier than mine because it had a bit more black showing in the shell.

The bracelet is another "sidewinder" bracelet. It is one of my favorite bracelets to make. This one belongs to my daughter-in-law Lisa. It is the prettiest one I created. - And it is not a color that I wear. The matching earrings are fun, too.

However, I am very pleased with the way the necklace, the "sidewinder" bracelet and earrings turned out.

Teaching

The class pictures were taken each year in the fall, I think. The first photo with a shawl was taken as a joke by my father-in-law - this was supposed to represent the "old maid" school teacher. The second was 1959; the third 1957; the fourth - ? -; and the last was 1955. (sorry I didn't put them in order)

I really enjoyed teaching at Fort Riley. My contract for 1955-56 was $2,850; 1956-57 $3,050; 1957-58, $3,250; 1958-59, $3,450; and 1959-60, $4,050. We were paid once per month throughout the nine months of school. Then in June, we would receive a check for June, July and August.

My first year one of my students had epilepsy and his parents didn't see fit to advise the school nurse, the principal or me. It was very short-sighted of them because their son had a seizure in class and it was very traumatic for everyone. It turned out OK but it was wrong that I wasn't made aware of this so I could be prepared if anything happened.

The first two or three years, my principal was a lady. I really enjoyed working with her. The final years, we had a man principal at Fort Riley. He was a joy to work for. Both of them were very good at their job.

There were several sections of each grade. There were three of us teaching 4th grade. One lady was the wife of a Colonel stationed at Fort Riley. She was very helpful and encouraging to me. The other was an older local lady - her demeanor to everyone was very forbiding. She seemed to be "looking down her nose" at young teachers like me.

I was one of the younger teachers since I started teaching when I was 20. The age range included some teachers in the mid-20s right on up to those who were probably in their 50s. I am not sure because we never discussed age.

I don't know whether I was a good teacher or not. All I can say is the school district offered me a contract with a raise each of the four years after my first year.

We had an older lady, who was probably in her sixties, who acted as our supervising teacher. She would visit our classrooms two or three times a year. That could be a little nerve wracking but she was a gentle person who offered suggestions to help us become better teachers.

The students ranged from very bright to those who had low IQs. It made teaching every subject challenging. We had two or three reading sections. There were those who could do everything requested of them and do it very well and there were those who could do very little. They were all different. Some were a joy to have in class and some were problems. It kept me on my toes!

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.