from week long hospital stays, from beaded bracelets that were pink or blue and contained beads that spelled out the baby's last name. From gleaming white, high ceiling hospital rooms with starched sheets and a lingering incense smell from the Chapel down the hall. I am from cloth diapers, belly bands and shirts that tied with little strings on the side, shirts will long sleeves worn by both summer and winter babies.
I am from an era of baby contests, both beauty and 'look alike'. I am from a time and place of being a Junior Princess in a Baby Sandy 'look alike' contest. I am from so long ago that no memory of this exists anymore. I am from a 3 adults family, from being an only child for nearly 7 years.
I am from hair worn in pigtails with ribbons,and little cotton dresses for all seasons,from scratchy wool sweaters and long brown or white stockings. I am from tangled garter belts with twisted shoulder straps to drive you crazy. I am from nickle photo booths in dime stores to capture memories. I am from corner grocery stores with squeaky wooden floors that slant and slope, from penny candy counters where a nickle went so very far. From regular business hours and closed on Sundays. From fresh butchers meat counters and nickle tablets and penny pencils. I am from 8 crayon colors in my box. I am from comic books and paper dolls.
I am from first day of school pictures, from hanky pinned to your dress, and ribbons to match what you wore. I am from dusty, chalk filled blackboards and President Washington on the wall. I am from Pledge of Allegiance to our flag, and from "Duck and Cover" drills. From wooden school desks with pencil holder across the top. From recess on the playground and games of hopscotch and jacks. From swings on iron chains and merry-go-rounds. I am from ringing school bells on old red brick school buildings, and cinders on the playground. From elderly spinster teachers in dresses smelling faintly of perspiration and Mum antiperspirant, in it's white cream form. From sensible brown shoes that laced and tied and blue jeans that zipped on the side. From all that and so much more, in the years from 1940 through 1945.
from week long hospital stays, from beaded bracelets that were pink or blue and contained beads that spelled out the baby's last name. From gleaming white, high ceiling hospital rooms with starched sheets and a lingering incense smell from the Chapel down the hall. I am from cloth diapers, belly bands and shirts that tied with little strings on the side, shirts will long sleeves worn by both summer and winter babies.
I am from an era of baby contests, both beauty and 'look alike'. I am from a time and place of being a Junior Princess in a Baby Sandy 'look alike' contest. I am from so long ago that no memory of this exists anymore. I am from a 3 adults family, from being an only child for nearly 7 years.
I am from hair worn in pigtails with ribbons,and little cotton dresses for all seasons,from scratchy wool sweaters and long brown or white stockings. I am from tangled garter belts with twisted shoulder straps to drive you crazy. I am from nickle photo booths in dime stores to capture memories. I am from corner grocery stores with squeaky wooden floors that slant and slope, from penny candy counters where a nickle went so very far. From regular business hours and closed on Sundays. From fresh butchers meat counters and nickle tablets and penny pencils. I am from 8 crayon colors in my box. I am from comic books and paper dolls.
I am from first day of school pictures, from hanky pinned to your dress, and ribbons to match what you wore. I am from dusty, chalk filled blackboards and President Washington on the wall. I am from Pledge of Allegiance to our flag, and from "Duck and Cover" drills. From wooden school desks with pencil holder across the top. From recess on the playground and games of hopscotch and jacks. From swings on iron chains and merry-go-rounds. I am from ringing school bells on old red brick school buildings, and cinders on the playground. From elderly spinster teachers in dresses smelling faintly of perspiration and Mum antiperspirant, in it's white cream form. From sensible brown shoes that laced and tied and blue jeans that zipped on the side. From all that and so much more, in the years from 1940 through 1945.
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16 comments:
Isn't it amazing how much things change? And, yet, somehow how much the human condition stays the same. Thank you for sharing!
What wonderful detailed memories. It's always fun to walk down memory lane with you.
I think kids today really miss something in a classroom that only has a dry erase board. There is just something about the sound of chalk (or even fingernails *eek*) on the board. There's also something rewarding about banging those erasers to remove the dust - whether by volunteering in hopes of scoring points with the teacher or as a punishment for some classroom crime. I say it often - but it really is the simple things *S* Thanks for reminding me.
Enjoyed the trip down memory lane.
Being born in 1941...i can relate to many of those things.
Amelia
I enjoyed your walk down memory lane. I'm not quite as far down that lane as you, but my children have never known 8 track tapes, vinyl records, black and white televisions with tv antennaes and a handful of channels, or life without a microwave or computer. But I think we are more thankful for what we have than they are and I wouldn't change a thing. The memories are good ones. :o)
I really enjoyed your walk down memory lane - so much is missed in the fascination with the newfangled stuff - that people miss the important things that have happened. Thanks for the reminder,
Kris
I too, was born in 1941, so lots of memories for me in your post.The comment from Suzyquilter also brings back memories for things that our children knew....
I will soon have a birthday,so memories abound for me at this time... Thanks, Bobbin
1942 here!!! And I have a photo just like one of yours, sitting on the piano, same pigtails! I'll bet you also have one of yourself, sitting on a pony -- a pony whose owner came around the neighborhood, taking photos. 8-)
Another of your lovely walks down memory lane. In today's throw away society, kids haven't got the same sense of value as we had/have.
Gosh, I have gotten so far behind on blogging and blog-reading! I always NEED to read yours so am trying to get caught up. What a wonderful post. You really zeroed in on some memories for us 40s babies! Wow, do they even make Mum deodorant anymore? I'll have to check that out next time I'm in KMart LOL! Thanks for the memories.
And in the winter, we had to wear pants under our dresses, and take them off before the bell rang, cuz we weren't allowed to wear pants in school. And the brown shoes were Buster Browns if your Mom and Dad could afford them, otherwise you wore Red Ball Jets,from the Thom Mcghan store and your Gramma slit the back down when they got too tight after school got out. And somebody got to go to the Janitor's room and pound the erasers like crazy and yell in that room to hear the echos.
Ahhh, Finn, you do intice such sweet memories
Now I remember pigtails, plaid jumpers, finally being allowed to wear pants to school, and the smell of chalkboards . . . But I never got to take cover under my desk. Bummer.
'43 for me. On the other side of the world from you, yet many of the memories are the same!
Matching hair ribbons- I never had pigtails. My mother made matching knickers to go with my little dresses.
I didn't show up until 47, but things were pretty much the same. I wore long french braids that were my mother's pride and joy. In my black and white school pictures, I look sickly because my hair is pulled back soooooo tight! I remember the plaid dresses, someone always bought me a red one for the first day of school. Seems I started school in red plaid and they kept it up until I went to JR high and I said, "enough red plaid!" Enjoy the memory walks with you.
I wasn't even a twinkle in anyones eye in the 40's but growing up in extreme rural situations in the 80's sound very similar. Your imagery is wonderful. I can smell the chalk and see you grimace as your braids were tightened. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Born in '46 in Quebec, Canada but my memories are pretty similar to yours.----------------------
One memory that I cherish the most is seeing my mom putting out the clothes on the outside line to dry. Even in the winter she did it.
When the shirts were as stiff as a corpse, she would then bring them in and line them up upstairs on the line in the hall.
I can still smell it even after all those years.
Maria
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