Moving and Schools

At the age of 5, Mary Jo and I skipped happily off to Kindergarten at Clinton Elementary School. Mom had prepared me well for Kindergarten as I could tie my shoes, print my name, and knew my address and phone number. I loved bringing home gold stars on my report cards. However, I learned my second hard lesson in life. Remember, number one was that Dad could not get me the moon? Whenever Daddy would leave for work, and I would put up a fuss, he would say, "I have to go to school to get a paycheck." Well, lesson number two, I didn't get a paycheck when I went to school.

In 1949 my world collapsed. Mom and Dad decided the house at 1336 North 25 was no longer where they wanted to live. They may have had good reasons, but to me it was devastating. I had to leave the gang and change schools. The process of buying and selling a house did not go smoothly. Mom and Dad found themselves with the house on 25th street sold; however, the deal for the house they had wanted to buy fell through. The house at 626 South 48th was hastily purchased. We moved in time for me to start 4th grade at Hawthorn Elementary School.

I made life difficult for Mom and Dad stressing how badly I felt about leaving my friends. Mom and Dad started shopping for another house almost immediately. My opinion was they should simply move back to North 25th street; however, Mom and Dad did not agree. Another hard lesson in life; I could not choose where we would live.

The next house we bought was 3215 C Street. I finished my fourth grade year at Randolph Elementary School as well as 5th and 6th grade. The transition of moving to C Street was not quite so difficult. Two of my cousins lived just a few blocks away and also attended Randolph. Cousin Kathy and I became good friends. Some of my classmates and I were in Camp Fire together, and we had some good times. I had one other good friend during this time, Diane Geier.

Next came Irving Junior High. My group of friends became a clique. I soon found out I just didn't fit in any more. This didn't happen overnight; however, by the end of my 8th grade year I was a very unhappy teenager. My friends dropped out of Camp Fire and joined Jobs Daughters. That wasn't for me. They primped and experimented with makeup; I had so much acne, I wasn't interested. Cloths became so important from Cashmere sweaters to Pendleton jackets and skirts. Our family budget didn't allow for such things. I participated in the inter-mural sports at Irving; they were appalled that I could be such a tomboy. Appreciation for women's athletics was a thing far into the future. To sum it all up, my memories of those days are YUK and double YUK. Many adults say the same thing about the dreaded teenage years.

Hallelujah

During the summer of 1954, we moved to 3319 Orchard Street. I was back in Mary Jo's territory and happy as a pig in slop! I attended Whittier Junior High that fall and have nothing but the happiest memories of my 9th grade year at Whittier and the summer of 1954 and 1955.

Matriculation to high school meant I would attend Lincoln High. I had yearned for the day I would finally be a part of the school where my dad taught and coached all of my life. The school I had cheered for at basketball, football and baseball games since my memories began would be where I would attend. I would play in the band and march at the football games. The red and black had always flowed through my blood. What happened? Why didn't I graduate from Lincoln High? I did attend one dance while in the 10th grade. A friend Nancy and her boyfriend Jim along with Don and I attended a Sadie Hawkins Dance. At the beginning of my 11th grade year, I married Don; Cindy was born the following May and my school days were put on hold for many years. The good thing about the whole sad tale was that Don and I did attend adult classes. We graduated from Adult High School in May of 1958; the same year our class graduated.

All was not completely lost. At the age of 38, I decided to add to my education and started attending classes at Southeast Community College. I was a wife and mother. I had to scratch for the money for tuition and books on an already limited family budget. Working on call for Kelly Girl helped but limited the number of classes I could take. In March of 1980, I graduated with honors with my Associate Degree in Administrative Secretary.