Category Archives: Family

Flashback From My Mom

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A few days ago, my Mom sent this story, a lot of stuff I never knew.  I guess I’ll have to read the two books mentioned…
My Mom said I could post this.

When I first came to DC in 1958, I lived in a boarding house on capitol hill called the Betty Alden Inn.  It was at 111 First Street, exactly across from the drive.  I was looking for a dentist and one of the guards, Mr. Ernie Joines, said, try Dr. William L. Walters on Connecticut Ave.  He doesn’t take many new patients, but maybe he will take you.  So.. I went to Dr. Walters and he began a two year appointment relationship of fixing my teeth.

As I got to know him better, I told him about my coworker who was into gemstones and the two of them became great friends over the years.
One day in his office, he said, Janet there is someone I’d like you to meet.  He introduced me to Alice Roosevelt Longworth.  She said a few pleasantries to me and that was it.

The reason I am remembering this, is that there is a new book out called “Hissing Cousins” by Dwyer. 

The reason Eleanor didn’t like cocktails was because she adored her alcoholic skirt-chasing father.  I believe on one occasion he left her sitting on the street for a long period before she went and dragged him out of the bar.

Alice chose my dentist because he lived in her neighborhood, DuPont Circle.  I later lived on 20th street in the DuPont Circle neighborhood. for 6 weeks study before going back to Boston.  I later lived about two years in Georgetown on Q street…  this is where I met Marvin.  . 

Neither woman made much success of motherhood.  Eleanor had five children who had a total of 17 marriages. and Alice’s daughter, Paulina, was commonly known not to be Longworth’s daughter but of someone named Borah.  She toyed with the idea of naming her daughter Deborah. Paulina apparently took her own life in 1957 at the age of 31.

The book review brings together a lot of old memories.

Another good book is “Boys in The Boat”  about WASHINGTON STATE Olympic team in 1936.  It is nonfiction and you willo not lay it down.

Enough nostalgia for today.!!!!!

Flashback Friday, Second Grade Hell

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This post doesn’t mean I’m not feeling great. It is inspired by a post by Candy’s Daily Dandy yesterday.

GLAD IT’S FRIDAY!!!!

In first grade, I liked school and I got A’s. Then we moved half way across the country over the summer.

In second grade, I got bussed to this old, nasty school. I hated it especially because there was a new school very near my house.

My second grade school was all brown, brown bricks, brown wood, walls and floor, brown desks. Everything seemed dirty and stinky and unsanitary. I remember sitting in my nasty brown desk, trying not to touch the desk or anything at all, except what I had brought from home.

I remember there was a secret panel in the hallway (I shit you not) and at lunch the secret panel was opened and it led down to the dungeon/cafeteria. It was white-green florescent lights in a windowless stinking hellhole. I didn’t want to eat any of the food because it seemed dirty and unsanitary. And the dungeon smelled like nasty food, steam, and dirty dishwater.

When I got home from school, every day my Mom said I stank. I knew it was from that dirty nasty school. She didn’t seem to believe me when I said how bad it was.

My teacher was Miss Bolware. To me she was a disgusting filthy hag. When she first saw me she gave me a hug, and I hated being touched by her. She didn’t stay nice long, she would yell and grab you by the arm and whack you with her filthy brown ruler. I hated it when she touched me with her nasty old witch hands.

I felt trapped, and I couldn’t run away because I was seven years old and didn’t even know where I was, just some nasty place on the other side of town. I lived in that town for ten years and I don’t think I ever learned where that school was. I don’t remember ever seeing it again.  I was in Junior High School before I saw any kids from that second grade year again.

From third grade on, I went to the new school, walking distance to my house. But I never got good grades. Second grade is probably what destroyed my relationship with my parents. I didn’t get good grades in second grade, and I got punished. Then I figured that if I started getting good grades, my parents would think their punishment was effective, so I didn’t get good grades, and was more or less in a state of constant punishment for bad grades till the 11th grade, (when I had a teacher I had a crush on, Mrs Berry, I got A’s in her class!)

Incredibly, we then moved again and I went to 12th grade and graduated from a different school. The idea crossed my mind that maybe we moved because I got some good grades again, but I didn’t really think that. But I got crappy grades in 12th grade too, just to be safe.

One year later, when I turned 18, I joined the navy, and got out of my parents lives as much as I could.

Good Morning Monday!

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🙂

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Here in sunny Florida, arrived Saturday night. The Wife and I flew into Miami, rented a van and spent the day shopping. I got an SD card reader and a new cool phone case. The Wife got one million new swimsuits and a lot of other stuff.

Then we drove to Ft Lauderdale and picked up the In Laws, Ma and Pa and Bro and Sis in laws.

We drove down to Key Largo, stopping for a steak on the way, and the arrived at our rented house on a canal. (Pics above, back and front) The plan yesterday was no plan, and except for a grocery excursion, we didn”t leave the house. We hung out by the pool, and not much else.

Today we’re driving down to Key West.

Sorry, I don’t think I’ll be commenting on blogs much this week, 🙁

Here Again, Monday

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My weekends are too short. Saturday I had a friend visit, Sunday we visited with the Bro and Sis In-Laws. I need some time to myself, to do nothing, go to the beach, think etc. After two days off, I’m really just getting settled down and rested. If I had my way, (And I’ve ALWAYS said this) the week would be four days long, 10 hours a day, instead of 5X8.

So today is back to work, and I don’t wanna go. It’ll be alright, once I get there, like it always is, but now, I got the Monday morning blues. (did I say that last Monday?)

Last night th’ in-laws, wife and I went to Copper Falls steakhouse. I got the Porterhouse, 28 ounces. I always wanted to see if I could eat it all and it was easy. I wanted to pick up the bone and gnaw on it, but didn’t because we were in a restaurant.

I might get the new scooter today. They agreed to let me test drive it. I also have the “Gonna spend a lot of money” nervousness. I’ve heard all good things about this particular scooter.

Anyway, HAVE A GOOD WEEK!