My cousins, Troy and Tommy Poore, always came to visit at Grandma’s in the summer. I looked forward to their visit and we had many exciting adventures. Grandpa started hiding his tools in advance of the visits, because the boys always borrowed them for their projects. Then he would have to hunt for sometime after to find them. Nothing escaped their notice and I remember when they showed me that Grandpa kept a shiny revolver under his pillow. We stared at it in awe, but were smart enough not to touch it.

There were several incidents that related to my walk home from school that always stayed on my mind. My Grandma McLane made my underclothes and my Mother put lace on them that Grandma Medbourn had made with her tatting shuttle. The little Jewish girls, who lived a block from us, walked with me. They were so impressed when they saw my underclothes that they insisted I come in their house and show their Mother. They wore bloomers made from flour sacks with the printing still on the material. I was quite embarrassed, but it made me appreciate all the work my Grandmas and Mother had gone to on my clothes.

It was quite a long walk from school to home. When it was very cold somehow my bladder couldn’t take it and it was very difficult to take the last half block with crossed legs! My Mother always was watching for me because she knew my problem. She was prepared to pull me in the door, pull down my underclothes and plunk me on the chamber pot! What blessed relief! I can appreciate it, as that is how cold weather still affects me!

Along the side street by the corner tavern was a hitching rail of iron. We kids loved to skin the cat on it a few times as we were going home from school. Lyle Baker, who lived a little on the other side of our house, was taunting me when my dress flew up. I was so mad that I whacked him on the nose. It began to bleed furiously and I was filled with remorse. I thought I had really hurt him badly. We were fairly good friends after that!

Speaking of Lyle Baker reminds me of another time when he entered my life. Some group came to town and arranged to put on a Tom Thumb Wedding. My two aunts, Helen and June, persuaded my Mother to let them take me to the try-outs. I was about 4½ at that time. We went along with a lot of others and I was chosen to be the bride and Lyle Baker the groom. The performance was held in the library basement, which had a small stage. All the children were dressed in miniature adult clothes. The guests were called after prominent people in the town. I, as the bride, in fancy bridal gown was kept out back in a little room until time for the wedding march. I was frightened, alone and getting pretty grumpy. After the “ceremony” all the little adult couples were served ice cream and cake. By now I was pretty disgusted with the whole bit and let my ice cream slide off on the floor. I was still Papa’s darling though and he made it all right by stopping at Slattery’s drugstore on the way home, where I really enjoyed an ice cream treat.

This wedding brought us a laugh later when Harry told our good friends, Margaret and Elvin Johnson, that I had been married before. They looked so surprised and shocked when Harry insisted I tell them about my marriage and first husband. They really believed until we exposed the episode!