Donna remembers her childhood

Our Houses:  Haphazard.  Usually roomy and the kitchen a central place.  Mother presiding - otherwise we all scattered, indoors and out.  Saturdays: navy beans boiling and mother washing clothes on a washboard.  We little ones liked to be out of the way on Saturday - workday.  You didn’t want to mess with our gentle mother on washday.

Did we sit together to eat?  With 9 kids and 2 parents, a total of 11 - the three little ones, Betty, Donna and Barbara had no chairs so we stood to eat.

Piano:  I didn’t participate much there, but just loved lying in bed - my pallet on the floor, and hearing sisters playing: Ruth “Rustles of Spring”, and Mary, “AC’s Death”, Betty playing “Sunrise Serenade”

Chores:  Betty, Barb and I took turns washing and drying dishes.  That is the only chore I remember.  Yes, we did them.   One day I determined not to cooperate and I told Betty I wouldn’t wash dishes that time, and if I gave in and washed them she was to cut off my arm!  But, I washed the dishes.

School:  I was too seriously bashful to like school.

Fight:  I just remember two fights - big ones - with Betty.  I was surprised how strong she was when she threw me through the screen door.  We were probably about 9 and 12 - she being the older, and stronger.   The other occasion she pushed me into the wall, and the next morning I woke up with a sore jaw - turned out to be the mumps.  But mostly I thought everything she did was just right.

Did Mother sew?  With 9 children, plus herself to dress, she kept that sewing machine humming.  Pedal machine of course.  I mostly remember her cooking, sewing and canning fruit.

Dad?  He was gone a lot on the road as a salesman - and since we thought he was strict, it suited we little ones for him to be gone.  But he was loving - a sort of a philosopher I thought, and very loving when we were sick.  He usually brought us ice cream.  His hobbies at home - mostly reading.

Sleeping arrangements?  Again the little ones slept on the floor.  Milton, being the only boy, had his own private bed - and probably private room too.

Dolls:  I liked dolls, and usually named them “Nancy” because I thought it was such a pretty name.

Mother to me:  “Be sure your sins will find you out.”  “A soft answer turneth away wrath.”  She had to say that often to me.

Dad:  Fun stuff about Dad was when he would dance a little jig and play the fiddle.

Secrets?  Ho ho, better keep them locked up.

Barb Remembers:
Of course I have memories of Donna, since she’s Mom to me.  Problem is, I have so many, I can hardly remember one.
She used to blow on and kiss my feet right after taking off my shoes and socks.
Her and Gail always told me to “sit up straight!!!”  I still slouch ... I always was rebellious.
I was a tough child to raise.  I was a delight (wasn’t I?) until those teen-age years.  She must have done OK though because I am a model citizen now (tee hee) and love her more than ever!
I get to see her in a new light now that she’s a grandmother (gran-ma-doe) to my kids.  She loves them sacrificially and unconditionally and they bet to go to her house.  Truly, grandparents are one of God’s greatest gifts to humanity.

Lois Remembers:
Her aura is one of refinement and elegance – a lady.

Lynne Remembers:
When I watched her at the business college, she could really run the mimeo machine and “slip sheet” fast.  Sometimes she would let me help.  She took me home with her for some real home-cooked meals while I was attending NNC.  Donna got  a typing job for me at District Assembly in the basement of College Church (and told me a “good” secretary should keep her “nose powdered” so she always looked professional).  Donna and Mom loved to shop and came to stay with me in Portland when I first moved here.  They shopped all day while I worked.  I loved the smell of their coffee!  She and Mom so loved each other!  I have her wonderful watercolors.  She does things so effortlessly and she whistles while she works.
Dad’s May 1943 letter from Camp Campbell, KY to Mom says,  “If you want to, Sweet, we could name it Donna.  This is of course, if it fools us and is a girl.”

Robin Remembers:
Donna was the aunt I was around the most.  Decorate, decorate, decorate, and all the other stuff I could never know about.  Every sister should have a sister they love as much as Mom and Donna love each other.

Diane Remembers:
The house smelled like coffee – she and Mom sat at the kitchen table, drank coffee, dunked cookies, and talked.  Donna liked to gnaw on pork chop bones.  Gail and I used to make clothesline tents, play in the irrigation water, and practice kissing on Donna’s big black ceramic African head. 

Copyright © 2003-2008 Phil Frisk
Last modified: March 31, 2008