MY PERSONAL CHILDHOOD WEB

My mother died when I was four leaving no memories of her.  Except that she was a school teacher in a rural setting and everyone spoke highly of her.

My father became a very angry person after her death.  He left many scars that had to be healed. 

My Grandfather, my dad’s dad was the kindest man, gentle, hardworking and treated everyone as if they were special.  During harvest time, I would get up at 4 a.m. and go out with him to milk the cows.  That time was mine and I treasured it.  He taught me how to can food, how to garden and how to be a quiet gentle person.  He shielded my siblings and me from much of my father’s anger.

My Aunt Elsie, my dad’s sister became our primary care giver.  She, along with Grandpa, kept the household together. She read to us in the evening and played games.  She gave her whole life to raising all of us. In the household there was Grandpa, Elsie, my cousin Jay, two of her younger brothers and my dad and four of his children. She taught me that no matter what the circumstances are be happy and work hard. 

My cousin, Jay, was a young teenager living in the household because his mother had died at his birth.  Jay was my best friend, he laughed with us, and he took us for rides in an old Model T car that was at the farm.  He taught me to enjoy life.

My brothers who are 2 and 3 years older took on some of Dad’s anger.  Even to this day they do not show much caring.  Last year, when I had breast cancer surgery, neither one of them came to see me.

Aunt Bertha, my grandfather’s youngest brother’s wife was another aunt that was very encouraging.  She always had the family Christmas at her house.  That was such a fun time.  She had other dinners and parties for us.  She was a very correctly gentle woman.