Sometimes I get down and feel sorry for myself. This is usually proceeded by something said or not said by a person in my life. You must understand that I have very tender feelings and my heart has been broken more than once by something someone said or did not say. They might not have actually said anything, but they may have looked at me and I thought maybe they were thinking about saying something. To say I am a tad bit paranoid may be an understatement, if you get my drift. I am sure that it all harkens back to the poverty days of my childhood. I take comfort in the fact that my momma did the very best she could. I did make a vow when I became the sole support of five needy little children, that I would do the very best I could. And I did.
Working meant leaving the kids in the care of a babysitter a lot. I hired a single lady from the south end to stay with the kids while I worked. Bless her heart she tried. Sadly the woman had a facial hair problem so did not fit in normal society. In the beginning the kids were scared of her due to the fact that she had a pretty full beard! She always wore an apron and in the pocket was 5 pieces of candy. This, at least, got her in the door! One for each kid. I do not know what they did all day while I was at work, but the house was still standing and there were no injuries to anyone, so I was good with that.
The kids had pretty much become accustomed to her when the boss's son was sent to Viet Nam and his wife needed a place to live. Exit Ida Mae, enter Janice, a live in babysitter. A match made in heaven, or so it seemed. That lasted about 2 weeks. Sam turned up with a long thin bruise on the side of his face. Seems like Janice had struck him with the edge of a wooden ruler. Exit Janice and enter a long string of temporary workers. I do not remember the string of temporary workers that went through my revolving door until finally the kids were old enough to want to go stay alone. Susie was younger so she stayed with Mrs. Bensing. Then, one by one they decided they wanted to attend school in Deerfield and later in Lakin, where their dad lived in Western Kansas.
And then I married Charlie and we moved to Colorado. Susie started school at Jefferson Elementary. Then I divorced Charlie, married Henry, divorced Henry, married Kenny and moved to the Mesa And now it is 40 years later.
After the kids graduated they mostly came back to Colorado. They migrated back and forth beween here and there. And here we set.
I am on the Mesa, a widow of 20 years.
Debbie is in Longton, Kansas married to Hammer who did 2 tours in Viet Nam. She has one son , one granddaughter, and 2 grandsons.
Patty is in Longton, Kansas. She has 2 daughters, one granddaughter, and 3 grandsons.
Dona is in Lakin, Kansas. She owns a beauty shop. She lost one son in an accident and has one living and 2 granddaughters.
Sam is in Dallas, Texas. He is married to Allen. They will take care of me when I get old, next week.
Susie is married to Tim and they have 4 dogs. She lives across town.
I have come a long way from Strong Street, but it is all good. Or at least I think so. I some times get confused and wonder what the hell I was thinking, but like I said up above...
It will all come out in the wash!!
Peace!
