RECENT POSTS
A Winter Love Story - Rollie & Penny December 21, 2021
Sisters AND Friends! August 04, 2021
Treasured Memories of Farm Life in Ohio… July 28, 2021
Sisters AND Friends!
"I was the youngest of five children – four girls and one boy – with my brother Charles being right in the middle! My two older sisters and Charles were too old to be my playmates, but my sister, Mary, and I played together often."
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Treasured Memories of Farm Life in Ohio…
“I was born in 1943, and at the age of two, my family and I moved to a 50-acre farm in Fowler, Ohio. Our family of six lived in a large farmhouse, and along the U-turn gravel drive there was a big barn, corn crib, and a chicken house. Upstairs there were three bedrooms. My older brothers shared one room, and so did my younger sister and me. We had to walk through Mom and Dad’s room to get to our room. There was no heat in our bedroom until Grandpa and Dad put a small radiator in the room. Boy, was that a great addition! In our playroom, I vividly recall a wall that had been papered using nothing but old calendar pictures.
In 1963, I Started Teaching Third Grade
“In 1963, I started teaching third grade at Sacred Heart School in Lombard, Illinois. At that time, you did not need a teaching degree in a Parochial School (I had begun pursuing my teaching degree, but I had not finished yet). My first class had 54 students.
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A Career Change - After 20 Years of Nursing!
As a child, I vacillated between wanting to be a teacher like my grandmother and wanting to be a nurse because of the cool uniforms. Nursing won out after I read the Sue Barton and Cherry Ames novels.
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"You can do anything by hard work, honesty, and love!"
"I’ve gone from no electricity or running water to knowing how to use Facebook and text on a cell phone!"
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The Day After Graduation
I enlisted a day after I graduated from high school. I chose the Army because I knew if I went in the Navy, I would get seasick, so the Navy was not a good choice for me. My vision wasn't good, so flying was not for me either. I believed enlisting was the responsibility of anyone physically able to serve their country.
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What's the most interesting job you've ever had?
"One day, I was talking to a fireman and he told me to put my application into the Battle Creek Fire Department. I was hired, and it started a wonderful career for me. I loved that every run was different and there were never any two alike.
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A Lifelong Passion for Cycling
“Biking has long been a favorite hobby of mine. I remember getting my first bike from the Marion Gamble Hardware Store as a birthday gift from my parents when I was in grade school. The picture on the right is of my father holding me when I was just a newborn.
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A Tribute to Mothers
As a four-year-old, when interviewed by my preschool teacher, this is how I described my mother:
My mommy works a lot, but I don’t know what. She just writes things down. I think she’s probably 31. Her favorite color is purple and pink, and her favorite food is pizza. She’s a good cook… sometimes! I like to go to meetings with her because I like to be with her. She’s pretty when she goes to meetings, and she’s not pretty when she’s wearing pants.
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My Most "Memorable" Teacher!
"My brother, Roland, was always my 'other dad' since he was 8 years older than me. He taught me how to ride a bicycle; catch a baseball; and later when I was driving, he helped me get a car unstuck and also helped with cleaning the spark-plugs."
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