Four Score and Five

I do not remember very much what happened 85 years ago but 80 years ago (1933) I began to remember more and more. Some things I would like to forget and other things I wish I remembered more clearly.

My mother passed away in 1931 so I vaguely remember her death or much about her personally. With regrets now, I should have asked my father more questions. I do remember that he was reluctant to talk about her and the next thing I know, I knew little. So, in case you have forgotten to ask strategic questions, do so while you can. The clock is ticking.

Let me reminisce a little which I also recommend while the clock is still ticking. I remember my one-year younger sister who was nicknamed Sister, or Sis. I saw a name plate recently which gave the clerk’s name Sis. It opened an interesting conversation.

I remember my father going to visit my mother in the hospital. I was ten. He came home with her clothes in his arms. I was horrified because I thought she had died. But no, I had a little sister. Two years later we had twins but then my mother could not hide her pregnancy. Remember, that was long ago, before the emancipation of many children.

I remember the family visiting my step-mother’s home 500 miles away. All seven of us rode in our 1937 vehicle. My father, in the dead of night, made a wrong turn down the railroad tracks. Realizing his mistake, with mom’s help, he tried awkwardly to back up as in the distance we saw the lights of a train. I am here to tell this so you know we all survived.

I remember my magazine route which I delivered all over the West side of town on my bike. Delivery was easy; collecting was not. But when I did, my profit of a nickel bought a triple-dip ice cream cone. This paved the way for a paper route with $2.20 weekly and no collection. I felt rich even though my meager allowance ended.

I remember spending summers on the farm in Minnesota. The homestead of 120 acres included ten children but only two when I was resident. At first I simply played but gradually learned to milk cows, run the tractor, haul hay, cultivate corn by a single horse as well as tractor, and saw the world from the top of windmill.

Ah, such memories. Have you reminisced lately? Or asked questions before too late?