Who was your first girlfriend?
Louise was my first girlfriend. She and I went to grade school and Sunday school together.
Tell about the Valentine's Day festivities at your school.
My country school had from 15 to 20 students. Each student gave everyone a valentine. That way I got from 15 to 20 valentines.
Tell about a special valentine you once gave.
I can't remember any special valentine I gave. I'm sure that there was one at one time tho'.
Tell about a special valentine you once received.
The special valentine I received was in (the) shape of a beehive. The wording on it was, "Honey Bee My Valentine."
Tell about your first date.
I don't remember my first date exactly, but there were different girls I had dates with.
Tell about your first kiss.
About my first kiss, well that is private. "Oh boy."
Monday, May 17, 2010
Celebration of a life - part 5
Tell of someone you envied, and why.
I can't think of anybody that I envied.
Do you remember the first movie you ever saw and who starred in it?
The first movie I seen was about John Deere machines. I do not remember who starred in it.
What was your favorite meal as a child?
My favorite meal was escalloped potatoes. I also liked pork sausage, on bread with yellow gravy on top. I also liked homemade mincemeat pie.
What were you doing to first smash a finger?
I don't think I smashed a finger, but I did cut my thumb with a pocket knife, trying to cut a peach seed. I still have a scar on my left thumb.
Who was the most famous person you ever met as a child?
Evangelist Rev. Frank Mangs was a native of Sweden, who spoke in a local church in Red Oak, Iowa. He spoke through an interpreter, as he could only speak Swedish.Tell about a big fib you told.
I can't remember telling a big fib. I know that lying is wrong.
Did you ever hop a freight train? Explain.
No I never did hop a freight train.
(Grandpa did ride one, though. Yesterday he told me that when he was a boy he wanted to ride a train, so he rode one from Essex to Shenandoah, about 5 miles, and his dad drove alongside in the car.)
Tell of a nickname given to you by friends or classmates.
I was given the nickname "Andy".
I went to an aviation trade school in Omaha, Neb. in the fall of 1940. There the other students called me Andy. The nickname Andy stayed with me all of the 41 years at Beech.
Celebration of a life - part 4
Relate an experience or memory of a cousin.
I remember my cousin because he and I visited together and talked about different subjects. My cousin Marvin lived in Poplar, Wis. and he would visit us where we lived on a farm near Essex, Iowa.
Did your mother work outside the home?
No, my mother did not work outside the home.
Great-grandma did teach school before Grandpa was born, though. She's in the middle of the picture below, holding the pump handle.
What did you and your brothers or sisters fight about the most?
I can't think of any major thing that we fought about. I suppose the normal fuss between brothers and sisters.
What was the dumbest stunt ever pulled by you and a brother or sister?
We were shooting firecrackers on the 4th of July. My sister threw a lit firecracker and it went in my pocket. My leg got burned real bad after the firecracker blew up. I really jumped around.
Tell about the worst winter storm that you can remember as a child.
On Jan. 2, 1936 the snow storm was very bad. Roads drifted shut so could not use cars. Used horses and bobsled. Had to use field instead of roads, to get to town for food supplies. The storm lasted from2 to 3 3 to 4 weeks.
What did you use to go sledding down a hill in the snow?
We used sleds to (go) down a hill. Some sleds were named American Flyers. They were store bought. We also had a homemade wood sled.
What extras did you use for your snowman's face, buttons, arms, hat, etc?
I can't think of anything that I used extra when building a snowman.
I remember my cousin because he and I visited together and talked about different subjects. My cousin Marvin lived in Poplar, Wis. and he would visit us where we lived on a farm near Essex, Iowa.
Did your mother work outside the home?
No, my mother did not work outside the home.
Great-grandma did teach school before Grandpa was born, though. She's in the middle of the picture below, holding the pump handle.
What did you and your brothers or sisters fight about the most?
I can't think of any major thing that we fought about. I suppose the normal fuss between brothers and sisters.
What was the dumbest stunt ever pulled by you and a brother or sister?
We were shooting firecrackers on the 4th of July. My sister threw a lit firecracker and it went in my pocket. My leg got burned real bad after the firecracker blew up. I really jumped around.
Tell about the worst winter storm that you can remember as a child.
On Jan. 2, 1936 the snow storm was very bad. Roads drifted shut so could not use cars. Used horses and bobsled. Had to use field instead of roads, to get to town for food supplies. The storm lasted from
What did you use to go sledding down a hill in the snow?
We used sleds to (go) down a hill. Some sleds were named American Flyers. They were store bought. We also had a homemade wood sled.
What extras did you use for your snowman's face, buttons, arms, hat, etc?
I can't think of anything that I used extra when building a snowman.
Celebration of a life - part 3
Did you ever have an imaginary friend?
Not that I can think of.
When you needed punishment as a child, which parent corrected you?
My father was the one that corrected me.
What type of punishment was dealt you?
My father dealt with me in a stern and understanding voice.
Tell about the naughtiest thing you ever did.
I disobeyed my father and went to Shen. (Shenandoah) with a class from school. My father had told me not to go.
If you got caught, describe the consequences.
When I come home from Shen my father was waiting for me. Itold asked my father to forgive me and he did.
Not that I can think of.
When you needed punishment as a child, which parent corrected you?
My father was the one that corrected me.
What type of punishment was dealt you?
My father dealt with me in a stern and understanding voice.
Tell about the naughtiest thing you ever did.
I disobeyed my father and went to Shen. (Shenandoah) with a class from school. My father had told me not to go.
If you got caught, describe the consequences.
When I come home from Shen my father was waiting for me. I
Celebration of a life - part 2
Tell a family nickname that you had.
The family nickname I had was Glennie. I didn't like it at all, so I wasn't called it very long.
Tell of any other nicknames in your family.
My brother Elroy was called "Ely." My brother Delbert was called "Deb." These nicknames of us three brothers was called at home, not in public, or with our friends. Viola was called "Vi."
What did your father do for a living?
My father was a farmer all his life. Before he started farming he worked in his brother's drug store in Clarinda, Iowa. He was 18 years old then. He worked in the drug store a year or so. Then he farmed the rest of his life.
Name the towns you lived in before you were 20.
I lived in the country all the years before I was 20.
Tell a fond memory of your Grandpa.
My Grandpa died before I was born.
Tell a fond memory of your Grandma.
The fond memory of my Grandma was that she could only talk in the Swedish language.
Tell about a favorite Aunt.
My favorite aunt was Aunt Alice. She lived to be 99 years old. Died the spring of 1995. Aunt Alice was my mother's younger sister.
Tell about a favorite Uncle.
My uncle Oscar was a carpenter. When I was growing up I wanted to be a carpenter also. My uncle Oscar was my mother's younger brother.
Did any relatives ever live with you?
No we didn't have any relatives living with us. Come to think about it, we did have an uncle that stayed with us, once in a while.
The family nickname I had was Glennie. I didn't like it at all, so I wasn't called it very long.
Tell of any other nicknames in your family.
My brother Elroy was called "Ely." My brother Delbert was called "Deb." These nicknames of us three brothers was called at home, not in public, or with our friends. Viola was called "Vi."
What did your father do for a living?
My father was a farmer all his life. Before he started farming he worked in his brother's drug store in Clarinda, Iowa. He was 18 years old then. He worked in the drug store a year or so. Then he farmed the rest of his life.
Name the towns you lived in before you were 20.
I lived in the country all the years before I was 20.
Tell a fond memory of your Grandpa.
My Grandpa died before I was born.
Tell a fond memory of your Grandma.
The fond memory of my Grandma was that she could only talk in the Swedish language.
Tell about a favorite Aunt.
My favorite aunt was Aunt Alice. She lived to be 99 years old. Died the spring of 1995. Aunt Alice was my mother's younger sister.
Tell about a favorite Uncle.
My uncle Oscar was a carpenter. When I was growing up I wanted to be a carpenter also. My uncle Oscar was my mother's younger brother.
Did any relatives ever live with you?
No we didn't have any relatives living with us. Come to think about it, we did have an uncle that stayed with us, once in a while.
Celebration of a life - part 1
On Christmas Day, 1995, I gave Grandpa a book to record his memories in and return to me. It was dated Jan. 1 to Dec. 31 and had questions for him to answer each day. He gave me the book back, filled out, on Christmas 1996 - 7 weeks after Grandma had died. I think a lot of people would enjoy reading some of these memories, so I'll post them here, and we can celebrate Grandpa together.
What was your day and date of birth? Where were you born? Be specific.
I was born on Friday, August 10th, 1917. I was born in a country home approximately 6 miles northeast of Essex, Iowa. The house was about 1/2 mile from the main road.
Do you know any other circumstances of your birth (who was present, who delivered, etc.)?
The only thing I can think of is that a neighbor lady took care of my mother. Also I think my grandmother was there.
If you have a childhood picture for me, put it in this space:
This picture of me, I was 6 years old. Notice the leather strap on the bib of my overalls. I got a new pocket watch. Was I ever proud of it.
Name your brothers and sisters.
Viola, Delbert, and Elroy
Glen, Elroy, Viola, Delbert - "Sometime before 1942, because I married your Grandma in 1942."
What were your mother's and father's full names?
Anna Odelia and Nathaniel (no second name)
What was your mother's date and place of birth?
My mother's birthday was Dec. 29, 1884. She was born in the town of Essex, Iowa. The house that she was born in is still be lived in. I have a picture of the house.
What was your father's date and place of birth?
My father's date of birth was Feb. 8, 1885. As far as I know, he was born in the country. Near to the town of Essex, Iowa (6 miles northeast). I learned later that my father was born in the same home I was born in. He was born on Feb. 8, 1885 and I was born Aug. 10, 1917 - thirty-two years after him.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
just plain klutzy moments
Some friends and I entered a movie once after it had started. It was very dark in the theater, and we hurried to sit down and get out of everyone's way. I followed my friends down a row with empty seats at the end and sat down when I saw them sit. I miscalculated, however, and to my great surprise (and probably his), I sat smack down in a man's lap. "Well hello there!"
And there's the time I entered a school with a large, heavy bag on my back, and the school door closed faster than I expected. It caught the bag but I kept moving forward and was jerked backward, one leg still in the air for the next step, arms flying straight out in front of me like a marionette.
Loved the time I dropped a bag full of small, plastic animals I'd bought for my niece and had to crawl around the parking lot to retrieve them - including sticking my rear up and my arm out as far as they would go to get one that had rolled under my car.
And the time I got stuck crawling into my car from the passenger side because I couldn't get the driver's side door open.
And the time I was carrying something sort of expensive and navigated over a curb and pothole beautifully and thought, "I'm as graceful as a ballerina!" then immediately tripped.
And there's the time I entered a school with a large, heavy bag on my back, and the school door closed faster than I expected. It caught the bag but I kept moving forward and was jerked backward, one leg still in the air for the next step, arms flying straight out in front of me like a marionette.
Loved the time I dropped a bag full of small, plastic animals I'd bought for my niece and had to crawl around the parking lot to retrieve them - including sticking my rear up and my arm out as far as they would go to get one that had rolled under my car.
And the time I got stuck crawling into my car from the passenger side because I couldn't get the driver's side door open.
And the time I was carrying something sort of expensive and navigated over a curb and pothole beautifully and thought, "I'm as graceful as a ballerina!" then immediately tripped.
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