A FEW LOOKS BACK

I believe this was likely a typical chilly June Daily Vacation Bible School day when Mrs. Bumpus and a helper, with Kent on far right, and I near the center with dark coat and white hat…posed for this picture close to the helper. Suppose there was a reason both Kent and I were within arm’s reach of the energetic young woman? One look at Kent’s face might give a clue…and of course I was always a perfect little angel. (Not!)

    Twin girls who were in my class fascinated me. Their names were Leona and Leola Hughes.  I quickly learned to tell them apart because one had a mole on her face and the other didn’t.  We became pretty good friends while at school but lived too far away to visit in each other’s homes.  One day I did get to visit them at their house way out in the country though.  We rode the bus there after school had ended for the day.  Sounds pretty innocent, right?  But…I was sneaky!  I had a choice and some freedom. (Most of the time I walked both ways, and yes, some was “uphill” as the old folks would have you to believe!) My brother Lincoln had married Fran Jones.  Fran’s brother-in-law was John Simpson who was also the bus driver.  The bus was kept not far from our house so Mamma let me ride the bus around the loop after school if I chose. I got more time with my friends that way and I suppose Mamma got more peace that way, too.  The visit to the home of Leola and Leona had not been okayed by Mamma, but children were taken at their word, no permission slips needed, so Mr. John was innocent in all this!  After I had been at their house for a short while darkness began to fall.  (The days are often dark by 4 PM at the latest after the fall time change on the clocks.)  I started to worry about how I would get home.  We didn’t have a phone so I called our neighbor, Mrs. Titcomb, who lived across the street.  She took the message to Mamma and while I am sure Mamma was relieved to know where I was, she was definitely not pleased with my antics.  We had one Chevrolet pickup truck and Daddy was still at work for a while.  It must have created a hardship on them.  I do not recall the punishment for it but I do recall grumpy parents on the trek home.  I was never even tempted to do that again! 

     It seemed to be an appalling idea to my mother when I broached the wish that I have my hair in braids.  She never would braid it for me so one day when Barbara Webber was babysitting (having a babysitter at the house was an extremely rare event) I took full advantage and asked her to braid my hair.  I was very happy when she complied and even now can almost feel the weight of two braids on my shoulders when I recall the happening.  When Mamma came home and saw the braids she was not pleased!  Those braids came out very quickly once Barbara had taken her leave.  Looking back I think Mamma was very proud of my curls and was not willing to risk their being straightened in any way. 

Kent, Beverly and Marilyn on a typical winter day in Garland Village.

                                  (Damaged photo, not an alien object!)

     Part of the time following World War II Daddy worked plowing snow with Garfield Lord.  I remember being concerned for his safety.  Obviously, though young, I was aware of what could happen on slippery roads on stormy nights.  It was nighttime that I remember telling Mamma of my fears.  I do not recall how she comforted me but I probably didn’t bring much consolation to her when I voiced such fears.  Often when I woke in the night with bad dreams she taught me to think about little puppies and soft, fluffy kittens and this:

Little thoughts run to and fro.

Throw out the bad

And let the good ones grow.

That little poem, likely summoned up for the moment by my mother (who often spoke such things "just right for the occasion")has held me in good stead all these years.  From time to time I need that reminder!

Looking forward to your memories next!

Sending smiles ~

Marilyn Sue

GLIMPSES OF GARLAND

Hi Garland Friends and Friends of Garland Folks,
    With the advent of a couple of people contacting me from my grade school years, the idea came to me that each of us probably has memories to share from those long ago years. I know I do and I really hope you do. For some of you, it may be some stories your family members have told you about Life in Garland Village when they were "just a kid".
    With the years, we have moved on and met oh, so many people we have added as friends, and yet, those memories of the early days are still fun to look back and remember. After the passing of some of my loved ones, or even after our children had grown and left home, there were occasions (and still are), when I strongly feel, I wish these people I am with right now could have known this or that particular loved one because...well, simply because I just know they would so enjoy one another! That not being the case most of the time, how about we get together and bring out some of the stories that we have tucked away that someday others will be able to pull out to share, rather than keeping GLIMPSES OF GARLAND hidden?
    Writing on a blog is easy...you just talk! If you need help for this blog, through e-mail or Messenger, just contact me and I'll guide you through, but first I do need to add you as one of the writers, so I must include your e-mail address as one permitted. Please join me. I have tales to tell, but I don't want this to be entirely my stories. I want to know your remembrances, too,...please.
Looking forward with smiles,
Marilyn Sue (Libby) Moore