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Recollections of Another Time
About 1978 or 79,
Ray, his family, and I went to spend Christmas at Grandma's.
By then, Grandma and Dad (Maynard) were the only ones living
there. Grandma was leasing the fields to the Fraziers who had
the farm immediately west of Grandma's place.
(It used to be the Loos farm).
Anyway, The parlor was once again a parlor.
It had been Grandma and Grandpa's bedroom when Ray and I lived
there. That was where the Christmas tree was set up. The old
spinning wheel was also there. Ray's daughter, Kjersti, was
about 3 or 4 and she was fascinated by the spinning wheel.
We had to watch her because she was too young to understand
about family heirlooms and antiques. I think it was the
following spring that the spinning wheel went to Aunt Ellen.
I really miss all the old stuff from the farm, especially
the people. Having been partly raised by grandparents,
I've always liked old folks. I remember aunts, uncles and
cousins of various ages and it was never a big deal. In
spite of all the jokes about aging, I've never found it
to be something awful, mainly because of the age mix I
grew up with. All those people were vital and active and
remained interested in the world around them.
Aunt Mabel and Uncle Bert who lived in the River Road house
were wonderful. They got a TV quite some time before we did
and Aunt Mabel would have Ray and me come over on Saturday
mornings to watch the circus and the Lone Ranger. I think
it was as much to give Grandma a break as to give us a
treat. If we were really good, she would take us upstairs
to see the bedrooms with the old furniture. Everything
was always neat and clean, as though someone would be
staying there that day. I was especially taken with the
glassware and china in the dining room. That may be where
the urge to collect was born. My goal right now is to have
a collection of glass and china like Aunt Mabel had. All
I need is a larger china cabinet and sideboard. And, of
course, money to indulge the collecting urge.
Ray and I always remained somewhat in awe of Aunt Mabel's
house. It was kind of a family treasury. She had old
photographs, dishes, furniture and all kinds of really
great stuff. There had been a conch shell on the fireplace
mantle as long as I could remember. Uncle Bert would
take it down and let us listen to the ocean. During the
Christmas trip in 78 or 79, we went over to visit Aunt
Mabel and I pointed out the shell to Ray. I was excited
to see it again but Ray didn't remember it. Aunt Mabel
said she and Uncle Bert got the shell in Florida on their
honeymoon in the 30s. She ended up giving me the shell
which I still have. Whenever I've had a fireplace, it
always goes on the mantle and heaven help anyone who even
thinks of touching it.
Well, sorry to have rambled on so much but I remembered
the spinning wheel and went off into some stream of
consciousness bit.
Stay well
Sylvia
G-24-111
  
 
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