Snippets in the continuing waves of memories. . . . . .

As the woman thought back through her life, holding to the standards bestowed on her by her parents, then later forming her own moral compass that she would defend as if it were a badge of honor. As a child, life was many struggles however she didn't recognize them as such.

Being in a family of four, counting her older brother, it was if there were many more mouths to feed. Living pay check to pay check was a natural thing for her and a great many of her neighbors and friends

As her years were passing, one and then another there were piano lessons, school plays, singing in church, she begin to find her most cherished friend and never thinking perhaps her future.

She was a kind person and saw no purpose in being mean to anyone. Even if it were to defend herself.

Do not assume she could not, nor would not defend, if push came to shove. In fact, truth be told this child had a temper for such unfair actions.

With permission of her Mother she could begin babysitting at the age of nine only for children living nearby for safety reasons. She also mowed lawns with a reel mower that her father kept sharpened. She ran errands such as grocery shopping, pharmacy, etc. for the neighborhood elderly.

One memory to share with others would have been;

Many of the kids would meet at the end of the block in an empty field to play ball. Of course there was always the ritual of choosing sides and who would be on a team. Being the smallest, she was always picked last, which meant that team had no choice. The boy who brought the bat was a very demanding fella. Sometimes if everything didn’t go as he demanded, he would take his bat and go home. Needless to say, the game was postponed.

So, she would go back home, the boys conjured up something to do. Which most assuredly meant mischief.

Sometimes they would climb on a neighbor’s garage roof and slip into his back yard where he was growing a fig tree, yes a fig tree and pick a couple, just to get the poor man to come out and go into a rage, then they would run off giggling like silly kids were known to do. To them that was fun.

One afternoon, after a game postponement, the girls decided to join the boys to see how much fun they were having. Of course you can guess who was chosen to irritate the home owner. They all took their post to watch “the fun,” in back of the house. Being more aware of the reaction of her Mother than their ribbing, She calmly walked onto the porch of the house, knocked on the door. A very large, well-dressed man answered. She explained to him, she had heard of his fig tree and had never had a taste of one and asked if she could please pick one to try. He shocked her by saying in a quiet voice, “Absolutely, in fact if you want, pick a few for your family and take them to your Mother.

With shaking knees, she thanked him and walked to the gate leading to the yard and preceded to pick the figs. Though the eyes of her playmates were peeled on her, she could imagine what questions they would ask if given the chance.

So, she picked the figs and waved at the man watching from his window, she was homeward bound, and in a hurry.

Now there was Mother. Where did you get these? Did you have permission? All right then, did you thank the man? Phew! The girl promised herself never to do that again.

The girl lived exactly one and a quarter mile for her elementary school. The cities rule was that you could be provided a bus pass if you lived 2 miles from the school. So, walking was the rule of the day. They were given one hour to return home for lunch and return back to class.

The girl had several classmates along the route that would scurry across the street to walk in a group. The dress code was a skirt or a dress. Come the harsh winds of winter, the girls legs would be a frightful color of blue by the time they would arrive at school. Most homeowners tried to keep their walks cleaned so that the children didn’t have to endure walking in drifts of icy cold snow.

The girl spent 9 years in that school. With fond memories and not so fond memories.

A couple of fond ones was her second grade teacher Mrs. Lu, a very tall woman. At least to this small girl she was. Mrs. Lietner who taught 5^th grade English, or perhaps it was 6^th. She also loved roses. She would bring them into the classroom, encourage us to assist her in trimming them. The very first time, she had startled the girl by pulling out a hammer and beating the ends of the flowers. Noticing how it affected the girl she explained with a chuckle the purpose for that.

An art teacher Miss. Stausenburger gave a sarcastic review of the girls attempt at art that would stay in her mind forever.

The principal for those years was Miss. Sommers. She had a kind way of communicating with the students. Every morning she would be at the door welcoming each one back to school.

The 7^th and 8^th grade class were going to put on a play called “I Remember Mama.” The girl was called Dagmar and was the smallest of the family. Guess who got that part hands down. Right, our heroin. On the grand opening of the play, Mother said she was going to be there, that shook the girls’ confidence, but she knew her lines and everyone else’s too. Best of all, she was going to have a huge sucker as her prop!

The play went off without a hitch. Miss. Sommer came on stage to thank the audience and the classes for a wonderful evening, then without missing a beat, she turned to the girl and said "you can stop eating the sucker now. "

The auditorium erupted into laughter and applause