My Uncle Morrice Dean - we always say the Dean - was 10 years old when mama and daddy married. He was 11 when I was born and still young enough to get a kick out of pushing a giggling toddler around and around the house in a plain ole' cardboard box. Mama was only 16 when she married and left Oklahoma City and made her home with my daddy in Arkansas. Although she was welcomed by her new family, she was frequently homesick and would send for her baby brother to stay a few weeks with her. Clockwise from the top: Tallest is My Uncle Bob, My Grandpa, My Uncle Toby, My Mama Virginia, My Uncle Morrice Dean, My Grandma, My Uncle Ted. Morrice Dean was pretty much informally adopted by daddy's family and was a frequent visitor at the Middleton family home. He and Uncle Paul became great friends. He is most remembered by his always present glasses, wide smile, and free and easy disposition. Mama, Morrice and Paul (Paul says Mama's knees in his back really hurt) With
Somewhere there is a baby picture of me with my Mama and Daddy. They had me lying on a pillow in a straight backed kitchen chair outside Aunt Maggie's little house. They are both looking down on me and the photo does not show their faces. Of all these old pictures I have, I cannot find that one. It makes me sad. I can't find the picture of Greg and Cassie I have titled, "The Fish Story" either. So, instead I am showing a picture of my Mama with her Mama. Except Mama always had to call her Mother. She said she would not answer her unless she did. I always thought that strange as we never called her Grandmother. I don't know why Mama (and therefore me too) was so short. Grandma was fairly tall and Grandpa was a very large man. It is a funny thing about genetics, isn't it? I have uncles over six feet tall and my Daddy was only 5'7". And sometimes those blue eyes pop up in a family of brown eyed children.
Today is my sister's birthday. I was not quite nine and Mama was twenty five when she was born. Mama was much older at twenty five when she had Freda than I was when I had my daughter at that age. Mama was sick before, during, and for quite a while after this last baby was born. I remember she mostly ate only toast and jelly. Our OKC Grandma came to stay with us while Mama was in the hospital and stayed long enough to help Daddy move into a different house before they brought Freda home. We always rented. Speaking of rent houses...we looked at a really pretty house on Sevier Street while I was still in grade school. It had a big picture window and enough bedrooms that we would not have to share. Daddy said we could not get it because the rent was $100.00 a month. I do not remember what should have been the memorable event of bringing a baby sister home from the hospital. I do remember Grandma staying a little while and asking me to take a dish back to a neighbor at the end o
Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI wish that we could grow that variety here.
I've always wanted a big 'ol pitcher full of dried hydrangeas.
Have a good one :)
How pretty! I haven't had luck with those here.
ReplyDeleteneat to see them just starting like that!
ReplyDeleteLove hydrangeas but don't have any.I remember my grandmother had lots of them and no azaleas.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorites. Can't wait to see yours in full bloom
ReplyDeleteWe had to relocate ours and I am having to water it often. Hope it makes it!
I really need to move mine -- never do well where they are. Will love to see yours in full bloom!
ReplyDeleteI planted a hydrangea in our back yard when we lived in NC. I have always loved them! They wouldn't do well at all here. :-(
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