Places I Went with Dad or Mom

When we were kids back in Pennsylvania I remember we would ride out into the country and have a picnic and play in the "wild". In those days people did not put up "No Trespassing" signs. We were always careful to leave the places we stopped as neat or neater than when we arrived. Dad would pick out places that had a small stream or "creek" as we called them so we kids could
splash around in the water and the boys could find tadpoles. Mom would make a meatloaf and potato salad. It was great fun. We went camping with other families once. I remember the smell
of the oiled canvas of the tent we slept in. Dad was always great about taking us to cook our breakfast out when we moved to California. The spot he thought was the best was Bouquet Canyon. I have no idea where it was, but we would get up early and drive out - he would make a fire pit and lay a fire. We had a grate for the pans to set on. There were no ready made pits in the area at the time. Those kind of Parks came much later. There was nothing better than fried potatoes, bacon and eggs in the out of doors. I remember getting together with friends Dad worked with during the War and making a day of it - starting with breakfast.

Doing things with Mom - well that was a lot different. She and I worked together in the Red Cross bandage making center when the War was going on. Mom was one of the instructors, and I sat for hours making what they call "sponges" in surgery. They were small square bandages that we have to make sure had no loose edges. We made thousands of them and sent them "off
to war". I made sandwiches in the USO while she was on duty. We made beds and cleaned the kitchen where meals were served to men who were on "leave" in the town. I helped at the Navy
Mother Bazaars and attended the dances they held for the men. After we were both members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-daty Saints we attended "Know Your Religion" lectures and
attend the Temple together. Once we took a Church History Tour together for two weeks. It was a great experience. I was fortunate to have great parents who tried to give the three of
us the best they could afford. I am sure many times at the expense of giving up something they would like to have had. None of us attended College. Not because it was not offered, but because we all chose our jobs before we ever left High School. Ralph was a printer from High School, but found he liked Machine Work better. Ronald stayed with printing - both the boys had spent long hours in the Print Shop at Huntington Park High School. I spent my time in the Accounting Office and followed that line of work.
Written: December 31, 2008