4:26 p.m. - 2005-08-25
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Part two
1943
Some time had passed and Peggy Jo and Donald were spending more time together. Some of his brothers and sisters had married and had moved away.
His sister Virginia and Catherine were dating two brothers from Minonk, Il. The two men worked in a family owned grocery store there. Their mother lived in the house next to the store.
It was expected that the two brothers would carry on the family business.
Virginia and Emerson got married. He really enjoyed working in the store every day and was well respected in the little town. They built a house across the street from the store with a white picket fence. It was a perfect little house. They were very happy with their life except there were no babies showing up.
Finally Catherine and Russell were ready to get married too. Russell worked in the store but didn't like being tied down to an inside job. He wanted to work outside and was looking for a better life. When they decided to get married, they were prepared to take a chance and move to California.
Peggy Jo was so envious of the girls. Not the marriage part but the idea of starting a new life somewhere else. She was especially wishing she could move to California or at least, visit the state. She longed to see her Auntie Ethel too. Perhaps Auntie Ethel could explain about the baby 2 or 2 on her birth certificate.
Donald and Peggy Jo had a very long talk one day. They wanted to go to California and the only way they could afford it was to go with Russell and Catherine on their honeymoon trip. Also it would help Russell and Catherine out because there would be another man to drive and more money to put together. The only way that Donald and Peggy Jo could go was to be married. It would not be proper to go as two single people. The neighborhood would talk and Peggy Jo's reputation would be ruined forever.
Even though Donald and Peggy Jo were not sure they were ready to marry, they decided it was an adventure and they would take full advantage of the opportunity. They got married on Feb 3, 1943 and left on their honeymoon with Catherine and her husband Russell. They set out for California. They took plenty of pictures to show where they visited..
insert photos)
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 moved to Minonk, Il. Donald and Peggy Jo went back to Chicago, Il. and found a small apartment for themselves.
Catherine and Peggy Jo were keeping up their correspondence. One day Peggy Jo got a letter announcing that Russell and Catherine were expecting a bundle of joyin November, 1944. That is when Peggy Jo realized she might be pregnant as well. And sure enough, Donald and Peggy Jo'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 father at last.
The pregnancy went well and every day Peggy Jo noticed her body was changing. She had Donald take several pictures of her.
(insert photographs).
On November 13, 1944, Russell and Catherine welcomed their first child, a girl, named Pamela Jean.
On December 16, 1944, Donald and Peggy Jo welcomed their daughter, Susanna Jeanne...and they entered into a new part of their lives.
A few months later, in 1945, Mama passed away. Peggy Jo was lost without Mama in her life. Papa was doing well and kept on working and inventing to keep himself busy.
Donald and Peggy Jo enjoyed their apartment and their daughter. They took several pictures of her as she grew from a baby to a toddler.
Although Susanna was very tiny and very young, she did remember one time when Daddy spanked her. Daddy has a radio that he was very proud of. He had just turned it on and set the volume. Susanna thought it would be a good game to turn the volume knob up. Daddy turned it down again and said, "no, Susanna." Susanna liked this game so she turned it again. Daddy turned it down again and said firmly. "No No, Susanna" Of course, Susanna decided to turn the knob once again and to surprise all of a sudden she was laying across Daddy's knee and he spanked her two times on her diapered bottom. Susanna remembers that to this very day.
About Jujy of 1947, Peggy Jo noticed she was not feeling well 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.
Leonetta had only her last child, Donna, living at home. The arrangement was made that Donald and his little family would move to N. Clark St to the 3rd floor apartment. This would help both families with money, Peggy Jo would have a little help with the children. She was especially happy to be with Leonetta again. Donna was notvery happy with the arrangement and made sure that the toddler 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.
On March 18, 1948, Susanna was told that Mommy & Daddy were bringing a surprise home. She had missed Mommy and was excited because Mommy would be coming home. 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 Susanna watched carefully as the bundle was opened up. Inside was a baby girl, with dark fuzz on her head. She was crying. and Her name was Virginia Lee. She was named for Donald's sister and the second name was for the Leonetta. Susanna 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 much of interest in that crying baby.
Life continued. Daddy took pictures of the children. He liked photography and did it as a hobby. He often wanted the children to be in the pictures.
insert pictures.
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I know you must be tired to reading this but this is the story of my grandmother,mother and myself. I have it all crammed in my head and I want to get it down on paper.
