When her dad went into the USN during WWII, she stayed with
us during the week while her mother was working. Her brother
Jackie was several years older and in school so he stayed
at his home which was close enough to the school that he
could ride his bike rather than the school bus. We had some
great times and managed to get into a little mischief at times.

We were outside the basement entrance once when my dad
came around the side of the house from work and caught
us trying to smoke Indian cigars! He very calmly said,
"What do you think you are doing?" and continued
into the house. I almost wish it had been my mother who
had caught us instead - somehow her switchings were
easier to take than the guilt we felt knowing we had let
my dad down.

One summer when we were in high school, we went to car
shows and races with a couple of the guys in the neighborhood.
One night when we got home, Hans pulled into a neighbor's
driveway to turn around and we learned the next day that he
had not judged his distance too well and when he backed up
a big clump of hedge had caught in the bumper and been
taken along with them down the street. *S*

We have always had wonderful times together and
never had the problem many kids today have with everything
being "BORING". We could always find something to do like
hiking up the mountain, walking over town to take in a movie
walking to High's Ice Cream for a sundae, helping her mom bake
goodies for Christmas parties and just visiting with friends.

Over the years we have become a little tamer but I will
have to admit that we have talked each other into doing
a lot of things that we would not otherwise have done.
Tootsie and I talked Betsy into making porcelain dolls
which my dad's sister Dealie had talked us into doing when
we retired. I talked Betsy into taking a class in ceramics
to do the old world Santas and got her hooked. When her son
and his wife were blessed with Quads - three boys and a girl,
Betsy talked us into helping her make "Dammit Dolls" aka
Raggedy Ann and Andies for them. AND our moms were always
telling us when we were kids and wanted to try things
like this, "Oh, you can't do that!"

I am sure Betsy's mom would be surprised to know that
her daughter has learned to do so many creative things. She
took to making dolls and ceramics like a duck to water. She
is also a great cook and when her DH who is a pilot for
USAirways was transferred to this area, they bought a home very
near us and she has done a wonderful job of decorating it.
We also enjoy touring antique shops, shopping the local
farmers' market and all the little speciality shops.

If I had to pick one characteristic to describe
Betsy, it would be caring. When I was in the hospital for
about a month in 1986, Betsy and her mom came and stayed
with me after the surgery and she, her mom and her son
Mark came for frequent visits afterwards. Bill, her older
son who was at the Citadel at the time, helped to
brighten the days with adorable cards which he made for me.
She is always doing thoughtful things for others - you
never know what little surprises she might pop in with at
any time - for no special reason. Her DH Pete is also
rather special - he has helped my nephew Joey with his
travels by getting him tickets to fly. Pete, like Betsy, has
so much patience with children -even to letting Mattie play
his drum set. In addition to playing a mean guitar, Pete
also is quite the self-taught computer expert who helps me
quite a bit with my computer problems.

Betsy & Pete now have a new grand-son to keep them busy.
Mark and Mariah have been blessed with a beautful little
boy - Samuel Edward Jamison!

Marilyn's Hideaway ~ Cancer Site ~ Children ~ Computers
Critters ~ Domestic Violence ~ Good Old Days ~ Holidays
Humor ~ Inspirationals ~ Katrina ~ Miscellaneous
Patriotic ~ Poetry ~ Women ~ Norma Marek's Poetry

Cathie Designs © January 2002

Made with love June 16, 2002.