Page 21 - letmetellyou

The Early Years
carry it to the 1930 Chrysler to be transported to the grain elevator carry it to the 1930 Chrysler to be transported to the grain elevator
and sold by my dad. I don’t know how much corn we salvaged or and sold by my dad. I don’t know how much corn we salvaged or
how much my dad was paid. I do know that my younger brother, how much my dad was paid. I do know that my younger brother,
who also died of cancer a dozen years ago, always referred to this who also died of cancer a dozen years ago, always referred to this
venture as one of his happiest as a child and was particularly venture as one of his happiest as a child and was particularly
warmed by the hot toddy which my mother allowed us to share at warmed by the hot toddy which my mother allowed us to share at
the end of each corn-picking day. the end of each corn-picking day.
The selling of the farm marked a turning point in our The selling of the farm marked a turning point in our
family’s life. While money was never plentiful, there seemed to be family’s life. While money was never plentiful, there seemed to be
enough. As with many rural farm kids, we spent much of the enough. As with many rural farm kids, we spent much of the
summer without shoes which were purchased in the Fall before summer without shoes which were purchased in the Fall before
school. My mother seemed happy as was her relationship with my school. My mother seemed happy as was her relationship with my
dad. In the days of radio, family time was not spent glued to the dad. In the days of radio, family time was not spent glued to the
T.V. Instead, the family continued to interact while listening to the T.V. Instead, the family continued to interact while listening to the
radio: mom mending clothes; dad reading a paperback, usually a radio: mom mending clothes; dad reading a paperback, usually a
western novel, and nodding in his chair; brothers and sister playing western novel, and nodding in his chair; brothers and sister playing
checkers or other games; but all sharing in the voice and drama of checkers or other games; but all sharing in the voice and drama of
the evening radio programs of those days. Not only was there no the evening radio programs of those days. Not only was there no
T.V., there were no cell phones or video or similar electronic T.V., there were no cell phones or video or similar electronic
games. The telephone, if you had one, was usually an eight or six- games. The telephone, if you had one, was usually an eight or six-
party line, used with eight or six other families, mostly for party line, used with eight or six other families, mostly for
important matters, and, certainly, not for idle chatter. I am not important matters, and, certainly, not for idle chatter. I am not
suggesting that family life requires that we turn back the clock suggesting that family life requires that we turn back the clock
even if we could. I am suggesting that with the many divisive even if we could. I am suggesting that with the many divisive
activities in which we can all individually engage, that a greater activities in which we can all individually engage, that a greater
effort at planning "together" activities would enhance our family effort at planning "together" activities would enhance our family
lives, particularly for the kids. lives, particularly for the kids.
The change which affected our family’s life was not The change which affected our family’s life was not
technology, however. It revolved around my mom. About the technology, however. It revolved around my mom. About the
time the farm was sold, my mother was diagnosed with uterine time the farm was sold, my mother was diagnosed with uterine
cancer and underwent a full hysterectomy at the age of thirty-four cancer and underwent a full hysterectomy at the age of thirty-four
with five children under the age of thirteen to raise. While she put with five children under the age of thirteen to raise. While she put
up a valiant fight, she eventually succumbed to cancer after ten up a valiant fight, she eventually succumbed to cancer after ten
long years and several other surgeries, including a radical long years and several other surgeries, including a radical
mastectomy in 1954. She died in 1959 at the age of forty-four. I mastectomy in 1954. She died in 1959 at the age of forty-four. I
was eighteen. Our family was never the same after mom’s first was eighteen. Our family was never the same after mom’s first
cancer operation. In retrospect it seems that a shadow fell over the cancer operation. In retrospect it seems that a shadow fell over the
family after that. family after that.
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