Monday, October 2, 2006

A Stroll down Memory Lane

This morning my Rebecca says to me, "Mommy what was your favorite cartoon when you were a little girl?" Well, I knew right away how I would answer that question. I told her, "Betty Boop honey." I loved getting up early on saturday mornings before the chores were in need of doing and watching that pretty lil lady work her magic on our black and white tv. She was magnificent. Well, in my opinion she was. My other brother's and sister's wanted to watch their favorites such as Yosemite Sam or the Road Runner, but being I was the oldest and I'd kick their butt's if they tried to change the channel, lol I watched my Betty Boop. It was only on for about 30 minutes on saturday mornings, but it was a real treat for me. Afterward's I would put on the pot for oatmeal to feed everyone breakfast, then clean up the dishes then it was laundry time. We didn't have a washer or dryer so I washed everyone's clothes by hand outside in an old wash tub and washboard. Then hung them on the line. Yep, I did that. I cooked all our meals on a cast iron wood burning stove that had 4 burner compartments and an oven. A separate compartment to burn the wood to heat everything. We had an electric stove, but I wasn't allowed to cook on that until summer when it was too hot to use the woodstove. We heated dish water and bathwater on the stove because we had no hot water heater in this old farm house. The kitchen sink had an old handpump where I could pump it for cold water. At night we did'nt use electric lamps for light. My Dad would light the kerosene lanter's and that's what we used. It was sort of like being in the serie's called, "Little house on the Prairie." We had an old barn where we had rabbit's, ducks, chicken's and a pig named Frank. He was so big and friendly he would let us sit on his back and ride him. One day we came home from school and my dad and the neighbor had butchered Frank. My brother's and sister's and I were so upset. Dad killed our pet, our friend. None of us would go near any of the meat that came from Frank. Dad would beat us with a belt, stick, extension cord, but we still wouldn't eat it. He ended up giving it away to the neighbor's. He would say you either eat it or tomorrow you starve all day. The next day we went hungry. He got a pony for us a few month's later. But that didn't last long. He lost his job and we needed money so he sold the pony to the neighbor. We never knew what store bought meat tasted like as kids. My Dadwas a hunter and our frezer was always full of rabbit, squirrel and deer, wild bird's like pheasant or wild turkey. To this day I won't eat another piece of wild game. If it doesn't come from the grocery store, I ain't eatting it, lol. Our vegetables were grown all summer long in a big field. When it came time for picking, Dad and all us 6 kids were outside in the garden. I did alot of canning during the summer and fall and alot of freezing of the veggies.  We had a blue berry field, an apple tree and a pear tree and I will make preserves, and jam's with that fruit. I melted wax to pour into the jar's to seal them. I hated that wax. Yep, as a child I had a rough life, a pioneer life you might say, compared to society now. When I was 15 I got a job as a dishwasher, in a little restaurant on the White Horse Pike in Cologne, New Jersey called the Country Kitchen. That restaurant is still there. There's new owner's, but it still looks the same outside. I worked from 4:30am til 11:am, then I went to school from 12:00noon til 5:30pm. We shared the school with another school. My school was Absegami, and the other was Oakcrest. We would alternate diferent times each year. And at 6:30pm I was back at the restaurant until sometimes 11:pm. The money I made was used to pay my dad 25.00 a week to let me work, and the rest I spent on my brother's and sister's for clothe's and for christmas or their birthday's. I always made sure they had a nice christmas or birthday back then. When I turned 17, things were starting to get to me. My Dad was always drunk, the kids were getting bigger and not listening to me anymore. I had enough. I packed my things and I left with no one knowing I did so. I slept anywhere I could find a place to sleep. Abandoned houses or trailer's, even slept in a mossolium in a grave yard for a month or so. I washed and dressed in a rest room at some old sleezy gas station. I walked the streets during the day looking for food. I was a BUM!!!!!!!!! Then I went to a families house who I loved and adored and who loved me. They took me in as if I was one of their own children. I lived there for a few month's. I paid rent, because I paid into unemployment while working the past 2 years, so I collected and paid them rent and food money. I wasn't gonna be a bum anymore. I finally wrote to my Aunt and asked her where was my Uncle Eddie and my Aunt Marge. She wouldn't tell me but she did contact them and told them I was looking for them. They called me, and I was so happy. I moved in with them and stayed there until I met my husband Jim. That was in March of 1979 on the 3rd day of the month. Jim and I were married in March of 1979 on the 24th day of the month. Three whole weeks after the day we met, we were married. Talk about fast huh, lol. But hey it must of been meant to be because it is now the year 2006 and we are still together. And guess what? I still love Betty Boop, lol. I have 5 dvd's of her old cartoons and I love watching them. I went on a scavenger hunt over the internet this morning and found so many wonderful graphics of her. Here is just a couple that I found that I really like.

So, there you go, my stroll down memory lane as a child and now as an adult, lol. Hope you all have a nice day and enjoy some sun. It's beautiful here in Philadelphia today.

Cindy

16 comments:

  1. I have lots of her graphics & tags! Some people don't her...but I do!  :)
    TY for the memories.
    Hugs, Sugar

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  2. You had a tough life in the past, some of it reminds me of me, boiling up the clothes and using the washboard.  Betty Boop was never shown much over here so do not know much about her.

    http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/

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  3. Wow... Cindy..  You really had it tough, girl!  What a trooper you are/were!  Sometimes when I think I had a rough, I read about someone elses life, and realize mine wasn't so bad after all.  I guess we all do that from time to time.  I notice you didn't mention your mother.  You may have said something in the past about her and I don't remember (I read so many journals, it's a wonder I remember my own name..lol), but where was she when you were growing up?  It sounds as if you were the "mother figure" to your siblings, from what I can tell by reading this entry.
    I'm so happy that you met Jim, and you all are still together!  That in itself is a big deal, especially in this day and age, when people divorce right and left.

    I always liked Betty Boop too! lol  Now her head looks so big for her body that she reminds me of a bobble head doll! lol

    Hugs
    Jackie

    http://journals.aol.com/siennastarr/Hopefloats/

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  4. Sounds as if you had a rough childhood. We didn't have a tv when I was growing up and I remember the old cast iron wood stove and drawing water from the well with a bucket. I didn't have a bunch of siblings to have to take care of. Thank goodness. There was only my brother and myself plus my parents. We had it hard but not nearly like you did. Have a nice afternoon. Helen

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  5. i liked strawberry shortcake..lol

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  6. Cindy OMG what a rough start you had to your life ~ I am so glad you eventually met and married Jim and are still together ~ Loved the Betty Boop graphics ~ and even though to me it seemed sad I enjoyed reading your memories ~ Ally

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  7. Your life sounds a bit like my Appalachian Mountain start in Eastern KY.  It makes us so appreciative, doesn't it?  Betty Boop is so special and I like her too.
    Nelishia
    http://journals.aol.com/nelishianatl/WISHINGANDHOPING/

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  8. WOW what a childhood you had!! OMG what a difference from mine.  Mine was like Mayberry.  
    I've got a lot  of Betty Boop graphics. I love her too. If you want me to send you them I will. Just let me know as there are quite a few. ok?
    Pam

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  9. i am so sorry you had such a hard childhood:( i never got to watch betty boop before my time :) have a good week

    Deb

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  10. Now a days that would be called child abuse!!! You had it tough. No wonder your such a great cook.. Had to do it so young.. man I didnt do anything.. Just played..
    I hope that its something you can not hold grudges. It must have been real hard if you prefered sleeping on the streets. Im sorry about that. Do you have a relationship with daddy now?  ..Have a nice night and thanks for that story of your childhood. You told it beautifully!!
    Love Christine

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  11. You really  should write a book about your life. Very interesting and good remembering! Barbara

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  12. Cindy,
    I learn something new everyday. Wow you did have a hard childhood. That's a lot of responsibility for someone young to bare. We love fresh cow and pig, but that's about it. I don't get into wild game. My mom always wanted deer meat.. yuck. I didn't like it. My son could be a pioneer he loves weird game to eat.
    As far as marrying Jim that fast well when you know you know. Glad you two are still together making things work. I had always pictured myself with my husband for life, but he had other plans so that was that. But I remind myself things happen for a reason I don't know why yet, but there was a purpose.
    Take care, Chrissie
    http://journals.aol.com/nana0014/ALMOSTParadise/

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  13. WOW..this was amazing, and you really had it rough, makes me feel / realize how spoiled I was.  You must really appreciate things now like most people can't comprehend.  You sure had so much responsibility, way to much for a kid that age.  Your a wonderful person and someone I admire greatly ;)
    Much Love
    Angie

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  14. awww a nice stroll :) My dad and I use to watch Roadrunner every Saturday morning together growing up.

    Gretchen

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  15. GOD BLESS YOU MY SISSY AND I KNOW NO ONE HAS TOLD YOU THIS BUT I'M VERY PROUD OF YOU ......YOU DID WHAT NOT MANY PEOPLE ( myself included) WOULD OR COULD DO , AND YOU RAISED NOT ONLY YOURSELF BUT PAUL HARRY AND THE REST OF YOUR BROTHER'SAND YOUR SISTERS AND ALTHOUGH THE FAMILY DOESN'T SAY SO ...OR THEY JUST CAN'T SAY IT .....I WILL....THANK YOU THANK YOU .......THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART....I'M BLESSED BECAUSE I KNOW YOU......EVEN MORE BLESSED BECAUSE WEWILL BE FAMILY BEFORE TOO LONG ....right?
    TAKE THIS AS IT'S MEANT TO BE THEHIGHEST COMPLIMENT I CAN GIVE: YOU'RE THE VERY BEST FRIEND SISTER WIFE AN MOTHER ANDYES MOMMOM THAT GOD'S EVER SET UPON THIS EARTH AND I LOVE YOU SISSY
                  MUAHHHHHHHH LOVE NANCY

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  16. Wow, it sounds like you had a hard life.  It sounds a lot like my mother's except my grandpa didn't drink, but she had to help raise her brothers and sisters.  I'm always amazed at these stories.  I loved "Little House On The Prairie", the books though, my dad used to read them to me.

    Amy

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