Picnics Under the Eucalyptus

Mom fixed a picnic lunch and all seven of us kids walked with her all the way down Panama Ave. to the big old Eucalyptus tree, at the corner of McConnell, and had ourselves a big picnic under that tree.

Jesus

In the summertime, Grandmother Kramar invited each of us to spend a week with her in Redlands. It was Rachel's turn, and so I had to sleep alone in our room. I was scared of the dark. Mom came in and sat with me. When she tried to leave, I cried. She finally told me that if I had Jesus in my heart, I wouldn't be alone. So, I turned over onto my stomach, and with my face in the pillow, I prayed and asked Jesus to come into my heart. I was 6 years old.

Walking Alone

When my sister Rachel started Junior High, I was going to have to walk to school alone. I was really afraid. So, Mom walked all the way to Machado Grammar School with me the first day. Then, when I was on the school grounds and saw her walking back home, I felt ashamed, and ran all the way to catch up with her. She walked me back again. From then on, I had to walk alone.

Show and Tell

One rainy day, my sixth grade teacher offered to drive me home. I took her out to the side yard between us and the neighbors' and proudly showed her the new cesspool Daddy and the boys were digging.

Mother's Mouth

When Mom and I were walking along the dry riverbed out near the Boy's Camp in the San Gabriel Mountains, a briar caught Mom's stocking and scratched her leg. "Oh, Golly!" she said. That was the only time I ever heard her swear.

Whoopy-Ge-Hockle

That was my sister Mary's only swear word.

Manipulating Bill

When my brother Bill was dating Charlotte (they are still married to this day) he brought her home to meet the family, and someone suggested that it would be a good idea to ask him in front of her if I could ride his bicycle, because he surely wouldn't tell me, "No."