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3:20 p.m. - 2007-07-13
1944 - 1948
Friday, July 13, 2007

OATMEAL AND KISSES - 1944

Both the couples enjoyed their trip to California. All of them wanted to stay but the money was running out. They all decided that it would be best to return to their home states and families. Catherine and Russell returned to Minonk, Il. Donald and Patricia went back to Chicago, Il. and found a small apartment for themselves.

The newly married couple often visited Kathy and the boys at the farm with Uncle James Leonard and Aunt "Cookie". It was a nice place to go to get out of the city over a weekend. Lots of fresh air, puppies and kittens and plenty of good food.

Patricia finally got a letter from her previous boyfriend, Bob Pelt. It was sent to her in care of Uncle James Leonard at the farm in Margengo, Il.

July 10, 1944 - from the U.S. Navy

Dear Pat:

Received two more letters from you today and it looks like I�ll be able to depend on you from now on. Yes, it also seems that you�ve learned the meaning of mail. But you are going to have to be a little more patient than you have been so far as my mail is concerned. One of the many reasons is because it may be a long time before it leaves the ship, however, when you do get a letter; there will be several of them.

In my first letter I advised you to go to Norma and Lucille in California but now I take that back. This, due to two reasons, I�d like you to learn to be used to the farm because there; you�ll find real happiness. The other is that it would be nice if you were to come to the West Coast but I�d better not advise it.

Pat, why does things have to work out like this? It just doesn�t seem right. The old Bob you used to know isn�t there any more. I have done a lot of changing. The things I used to do don�t interest me any more and life isn�t as it used to be. Take my last leave, I wasn�t home four days before I had the urge to move on to new places. It�s been that way for the past year now. It don�t make me feel bad when we "up anchor" and leave for distant ports. I�m actually glad .

After this mess is over and I�m OK - maybe that will pass. Who knows, I don�t?!

It�s just like I said - as friends we�d never last without going deeper sooner or later and it would be sooner. I well remember my promise to always be a friend but I had no idea that it would come so soon. I don�t want you to take that wrong. I fully realize that was what I meant when I promised. I was very sincere when I said that but now I see just how it was meant and what was in back of it.

I love you, Pat, no..it�s true - always has and always will be true. I have never yet met a girl that can measure up to your qualifications. Nor have I thought that I did. I have met some really swell girls since we split up but none like you. They weren�t just girls that a fellow could pick up and drop at the right times. It all adds up to this (with no beating around the bush), I have very little time to straighten things out and want to know just where I stand. Are you writing in the hopes that I�d forgive and forget? Would you like to take that trip you mentioned as we had planned when we came off the last one? No beating around the bush, Pat, I want facts and nothing but. My time is limited and I believe you know how??

I won�t back down on anything but will admit I�ve been hoping to hear from you for a long time.

There is one question I would like to have answered if you can remember. It�s been sort of bothering me ever since it happened. Remember the last time I seen you? (I ask, please for an answer to this.) Were you or were you not still in love with me then or was it a case of not being sure???? You claim to be grown up now so you must be sure of your stance so let�s have all the answers straight from the shoulder.

I hope this reaches you soon because that it means a lot to me for "too" sure.

Give my regards to James Leonard and Cookie and tell him I hope to be making that trip.

Good night for now and write soon.

Love Bob

*****

Catherine and Patricia were keeping up their correspondence. One day Patricia got a letter announcing that Russell and Catherine were expecting a bundle of joy in November, 1944. That is when Patricia realized she might be pregnant as well. And sure enough, Donald and Patricia�s baby was expected in December, 1944. Both women were very excited because their babies would not only be cousins but would be born nearly at the same time. Both men were very excited too because they would be fathers at last.

The pregnancy went well and every day Patricia noticed her body was changing. She had Donald take several pictures of her throughout the months of waiting. They were both so thrilled and proud of the new changes in their lives..


On November 13, 1944, Russell and Catherine welcomed their first child, a girl, named Pamela Jean. Her middle name was the same as Catherine�s. Catherine had read a book and found the name Pamela which she thought was perfect for her first daughter.

On December 16, 1944, Donald and Patricia welcomed their daughter, Terri Jeanne...and they entered into a new part of their lives. Patricia had also read a book with the name Terri and decided it was the name she wanted for her first child. Patricia�s middle name was Jean also. She decided to change the spelling for her daughter so it was a bit unusual.

A few weeks later, on January 12, 1945, Mama passed away. Patricia�s 21st birthday had been the day before and it was a very sad way to remember the special occasion of turning 21. Mama had spent some time with baby Terri Jeanne but Patricia was sad that Terri�s grandmother would not be a huge part of her life any more. Patricia felt lost without Mama in her daily life. There were so many questions about keeping house, cooking and cleaning and taking care of a little baby that she wanted to ask but Mama wasn�t there anymore.

Papa was lost in his sorrow. He spent more time drinking his grief away. Finally, he started working on some bigger inventions with another man. The new activities seems to help him move on.

Donald and Patricia enjoyed their apartment and their daughter. They took several pictures of her as she grew from a baby to a toddler. They were managed quite well on Donald�s pay. Life was good. They were proud to be keeping up on their obligations.

Although Terri Jeanne was very tiny and very young, she did remember one time when Daddy spanked her. Daddy had a radio that he was very proud of. He had just turned it on and set the volume. Terri Jeanne had watched him and wanted to touch the knobs. She turned the volume knot and the radio got VERY loud.

Daddy turned it down again and said, "No, Terri." Terri Jeanne thought it was funny and
so she twisted the knob even more. Daddy turned it down again and said firmly. "No No, Terri!"

Of course, Terri Jeanne turned the knob once again and to her surprise - all of a sudden, she was laying across Daddy's knee and he spanked her two times on her diapered bottom. Terri remembers that to this very day!.

About July of 1947, Patricia realized that she had not been feeling right for several weeks and soon was told that baby #2 was on the way.

This was going to make money tight for the young family - not to mention the apartment was already too small. The young couple had purchased a baby buggy for Terri Jeanne when she was just a few months old and they were still paying on it every month. The buggy was very well constructed and was big enough that Patricia could put the groceries in the buggy and still have plenty of room for Terri. As Terri got older and could sit up, there was even more room for groceries. Now they were worried about keeping up the payments but the buggy would be even more of a necessity with a second child.

Leonetta had only her last child, Donna, living at home. Donna was 14 years old and going to high school. The twins, Robert and Leo, had both joined the armed forces and did not get home very often.

An discussion and agreement was made that Donald and his little family would move to Clark St. to the 3rd floor apartment. This would help both families with money. Donald and Patricia could pay off the baby buggy. Patricia would have a little help with the children. She could learn about cooking and cleaning from Leonetta. She was especially happy to be with Leonetta again. Things seemed to be settling into place once again.

Donna was not very happy with the arrangement and made sure that Terri Jeanne was kept out of her room. She also wasn't happy because she would have to share her room with Leonetta once the 2nd child arrived. The bedrooms would be divided up with the front bedroom for Leonetta and Donna, the second bedroom for Donald and Patricia and the new baby and the back bedroom would be for Terri Jeanne. They bought a set of bunk beds so Terri could get used to sleeping in the bedroom alone. Eventually they would put the new baby in the back bedroom also. Since Donald still worked nights, the middle bedroom was quiet and dark so he could sleep without much trouble. Patricia tried to keep Terri Jeanne in the living room at the front of the apt. or on the back porch during the day.

On March 18, 1948, Terri Jeanne, just over 3 years old, was told that Mommy & Daddy were bringing home a present for her! She had missed Mommy and was excited because Mommy would be coming home. It seemed like she had been gone for a very, very long time. She climbed up on the dining room chair and waited and waited. Finally the front door opened and in came Daddy and Mommy with a big bundle.

The bundle was making noises and Terri Jeanne watched carefully as the bundle was opened up. Inside was a baby girl, with dark fuzz on her head. She was crying. Her name was Virginia Lee. She was named for Donald's sister and the middle name was for Grandma, Leonette.. Terri Jeanne looked at her sister for a few minutes and then got off the chair and went to play with her doll. She didn't see how that crying baby was much of a good present.


*****

A PERFECT PLAN

I'm not domestic, heaven knows

I never could mend a pair of hose

Or try to bake a cherry pie

Or a cake at least four layers high.

But I can enjoy a symphony

Or spend an hour admiring a tree

I can make up a game to amuse a child

Or do a dance, both funny and wild.

Now maybe you can fly a plane

Or be the one who can predict rain

Plant a seed and watch it grow

Or build ten houses all in a row.

So don't you think it's a perfect plan

That what we can't do....

Some other guy can.

written by Patricia ....

****

OLD QUILTS

Old quilts.....

The quilts my grandma made

Their tattered edges ruffle 'neath my fingers

Their softness soothes me like a sleeping pill.

Old quilts....

The colors misty, muted and faded

Still recall the pattern of her dresses

And I can see her sewing, calm and still.

Old quilts....

The quilts my mother used

The stories that would fascinate if spoken

the people that would move and breathe

The rhythms of their lives unfolding

Old quilts....

A tapestry of love I can perceive

Old quilts....

The quilts that are my heritage

A woven diary written through the years

A gift that I may use and then surrender

To my dear daughters with their hopes and fears.

written by Patricia...

(unfortunately, there were NO OLD QUILTS to pass on to us)

Note to Dear Readers....

I am leaving on a two week vacation to visit two of my sisters. I won't be back to write the next few chapters until I return around the first of August, 2007. So Talk amongst yourselves!

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