I remember a very small black and white television set that sat on top of a stone hearth that wrapped practically around the whole room that was built by my dad, uncle Roger and cousin Dale. It was a masterpiece. It was the only seating in the room. A large woodstove was the centerpiece of the hearth. I remember going with my mom to pick up the carpet samples that made up the colorful patchwork carpet for the room. Different lengths and colors of shag carpet was piled so high on top of me in the car. Talk about "New Carpet" smell! It was strong in the hot California sun without an air-conditioned car. I couldn't wait to start climbing our way back up into the mountains where we lived. I can still see the wallpaper mural on the wall. Although the details have faded, I remember it's beauty. It was a beautiful scenic picture of Yosemite perhaps with a high mountain lake in the fall.
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| This could be it. It was like this, but a lot bigger. Mom, is this it? Let me know... Update: This was close, but mom reminded me that there was one deer, and this doesn't have it one. |
After school, I watched Gilligan's Island and After School Programs. On Saturday mornings, I watched The Justice League. Aquaman was my favorite hero. I still sing the words to Petticoat Junction and Green Acres with Number One. Captain Kirk was my first crush and then The Six Millon Dollar Man. Wonder Woman's invisible plane was indeed a wonder. We had three channels. I loved watching Laurence Welk, the Olympics and Wild Kingdom with my dad. Hee Haw was a family favorite. I was watching that very television when the news announced that Elvis had died.
My mom always had the radio playing while she was baking bread, doing laundry and other household chores. She was always busy in the background keeping the house running while my dad worked out of town trying to provide for us during a terrible time of inflation and recession. She would stop long enough to teach us to dance the jitterbug to a song that was playing on the radio. I can still see her tiny wide size 5 feet twisting like nobody's feet could twist. She was a powerhouse of movement in her tiny 4'11 frame. John Denver and Three Dog Night played every day during our nap. I sang out loud to Country Road and Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog. I never slept during naps as a child. I just sang and waited until it was time to get up. I rarely nap as an adult.
I could go on as I reminisce on my childhood, but I need to get on with the busyness of life. Thanks for joining me while I traveled down memory lane.
Mrs. Smith
