You know when Jay got out of the Navy after World War II housing was in very short supply. Even renting was a problem for newly weds. We found a furnished apartment before we married. I believe I may have written about that. New Housing was part of the Post War boom and we were like others who looked forward to the GI Bill that would help us get into a home of our own. The first of the areas to really open up were farther out of town than we were use to living, but the only place where there was enough land to accomodate the vast Tracts of Housing that were going to be needed. Norwalk was such a place. Formerly it had been Dairy country and Farm lands. Now these acreages were being bought up and sub-divided into house hold lots. I am not sure now how Jay found out about where we looked, but the houses were priced right, we could get in for $1,000.00 down payment and have payments that included the taxes which were well within our budget. Jay had decided before he got married that he didn't want his wife working, especially after Paul was born. So I became a 'stay at home Mom', and he took over the responsibility of 'bringing in the bacon'.
Our home was on Gard Avenue. A two bedroom with one bath, a living room and kitchen/eating area. There was a small 'utility porch' where I had a wringer washer. We put up clothes lines in the back yard, and I hung the close outs. I am not sure if there were dryers at that time. I know there were no Automatic Washers available. My folks loaned us the $1,000.00 for the down payment and we had to quickly find furnishings.
They weren't first rate, but they were enough to make our home comfortable. The bedroom furniture was some that my Grand Parents had left. We bought a mattress and box springs. In Pauls Room was a Crib and small dresser with lots of room left over. There were hardwood floors and no rugs. In the kitchen we bought a range and table and chairs. My folks had bought a new Fridge so we inherited their old one which met our needs just fine.
This was our first, but unfortunately not our last experience with crooked Contractors. We were faithful in making our payments and felt we were doing fine. One day we found out that the payments had not been put to the proper account - we were going to lose the house. After a lenghty bit of bargaining we learned that if we would sacrifice, the Loan Company would be able to save the other home owners, one of which was one of our best friends who we had talked into joining us in the Tract. The Veterans Administration was quick to admit they had not followed up on this particular Contractor, so they didn't charge the loan against Jay. In fact they went out of their way to find another home, in another area, they were willing to give us a loan on. That is how we ended up on Cord Avenue in Rivera. Some time after we moved there the name of the area was changed to Pico Rivera.
This particular Tract of houses was in an Orange Grove. Every house had at least one Orange Tree left on the property. Ours was rather a sad example, but it was an Orange Tree. Again a two bedroom, one bath living room and kitchen. There was no Laundry Porch, the washer was next to a laundry tub in the two car garage. On the Norwalk home all we had was a car port. No garage. I guess the trade off of a laundry porch was a better deal. Things went well here at this house. We lived in this 'flat topped' home until we moved to Taft, California in 1965.
Paul was a Senior in High School and Dawn was in the 6th grade. Which ment she was ready to start in Junior High School when we made this move. (As I have covered this in Pauls History, I will not go into again here.) Work had become difficult in Southern California for Jay, who by now had gone into business for himself with an 8 yard Transit Mixer (Cement Truck). He and a group of 'Bandits' (what the independent drivers were called), went North to find work for their trucks.
Jay and Uncle Mack McCann found a place in Taft (which I believe I have covered elsewhere), which ment we would have to move. Jay found a home on Irene Street that had been bought by a Minister, but before the house was finished he decided not to take the position in Taft and so the house needed a new buyer. Jay heard about it and put in his bid, which was accepted. Now to sell Cord Avenue. Which at the time was to be a bit of a problem. Not many people were buying older homes with so many new ones available. Apparently the Lord wanted us to move to Taft. One day in the midst of my sorting, and packing a women walked up on the front porch and asked if it was true we were going to sell. I assured her that was true. We hadn't listed the house at that time. She had a realtor who was looking for her. The house was listed, she made her bid, we accepted it and that is the name of that tune!
We lived on Irene Street until Dawn graduated from Taft High. Again work had become lean and Jay was looking back in the Southern California Area. He found a new broker who needed more 'Bandits'. Jay moved to Orange County and I was back to sorting, packing and getting ready to move. Dawn had been hired at the Telephone Company and was well pleased with her job. She would live in the house until we could sell it, so that would be taken care of. Pauls 'bride-to-be' offered to move in with Dawn, so we felt pretty safe with leaving.
What about another home? Well Jay and I looked, you could not believe what was being offered. Well, if you have looked, maybe you do know. Anyway, a clean and ready to move in was finally found. We made a bid and it was accepted. This place was on Alvy St. in Anaheim, California close to Disney Land. Again a two car garage, three bedrooms, two baths, kitchen and combined living and dining room. With a small laundry room seperate from the garage. There was a covered patio on
two sides of the house. By now I had a Automatic washer and dryer, but the covered porch made a keen place to hang out things when the weather was nice. The only problem was the fireworks from Disney Land had a fall out from the fireworks that made a mess if you had clothes on the line overnight. We lived here for 13 years. It was close to the Ward House and so I was happy. Jay did a lot of work out of town, so I spent a great deal of time alone here. When Jay decided to retire, we thought we might like to live closer to Dawn, Greg and the Grand Children. It was a debateable issue with Jay. He was not sure he wanted to take on another house, especially with all the work it would mean in getting it the way he wanted it. When Shayla was born, I went up to be there as back-up while Dawn got on her feet. It was while I was there I found the property and was able to decided on a floor plan of a house to be built, if I could convince Jay it was to our advantage. My Mother had passed away and left me enough money to pay cash for the property. Selling Alvy Street would give us the money to build the house. Finally Jay was ready to say yes to the move. In the mean time we found a Realtor who came to give us information on the saleability of our property. It wasn't good news. There hadn't been a house in the neighborhood sold for 6 months, and on our particular tract - little to no interest. She asked Jay what he wanted for the house. When he quoted her the price, she shook her head and said: 'no way'. Jay said he had some things he waned to do to the house. He was not working, and had the time to do it. She accepted the house for sale and set the date for April. In the mean time Jay painted the outside, and did some upgrading he had in mind. When she came to put the sign up on April 15th she found she had the wrong stake. She asked if it made any difference if she waited until the next day. Jay didn't care, so she said she would be back before the 'walk through' for the other Realtors took place in the afternoon. Jay kept himself busy out of the house. I was still working at the time. When we arrived home at a little after 5 pm all the Realtors were standing in the Street talking. Our lady came and asked if we could leave for another hour or so, there was one Realtor who wanted to go through it again. We changed and went out for dinner. When we came back, everyone was gone. At 9 pm we got a call from our lady and she asked if we might concider applying for the loan through another source. The buyer wanted to use their own loan company. We had no argument, so the 'unsaleable house' was sold in 12 hours from the time the sign was posted. With, I might add $1000.00 more than the asking price. I guess you never say never!
The house in Paso Robles was not under construction yet, so we had to rent an apartment up on Olive Sreet for the time we were under construction. As it turned out Dawn and Greg were building out in Paradise Valley at the same time, so Jay was kept pretty busy, while I worked.
Now here is the interesting part. Prior to Jay selling his truck, he talked to one of the Contractors he knew and was told: "if you are building and paying for it as you go, make sure you get 'lean releases' on each phase. So that is what Jay did. Fortunately for us, we were the only house in this
new Tract that did so, because we were paying cash as we went. Again we had run into a crooked Contractor. He was using our name to get supplies for his ventures. Taking money he was given to buy airplanes and do some other fun things. When it came down to the finish, some of the people who bought through regular lenders were stuck with paying double for some of their construction. If Jay hadn't have learned how to go about a cash as you build, we might not have had this house. The Lord provides!
This is our House History. There have been 5 in total with the renting of three apartments. One when we first got married, one while we waited for the house to be finished on Irene Street and one while we waited for the final on this house in Paso Robles.
None of this may be of interest to anyone other than myself, but I felt it was worthy of the time it has taken to make note of it. You pay as you go and hopefully learn in the process. I don't believe I would care to buy again. Especially without Jay around to guide me through the ordeal!
Written this 6th day of January 2012.
by: Eileen Rosenberg
Friday, January 6, 2012
Say! What was that?
It was late at night. Jay and I had been out for the evening, I can't remember where or for what reason. Paul, who was about 6 months old, as I recall, was asleep in my lap. (Again years before seat belts or car seats were mandatory in cars.) We were in our 1940 Black Two Door Chevrolet Sedan. The same car that Jay had bought and taken me on our first date. The year would have been 1948 as I recall. We were living in Norwalk, California, in our first home.
This is rural country. One of the first Tract of Houses that had been built after World War II. Things were looking pretty good for us - or so we had believed at the time - I will tell you more about that at another time. First on with this bit of 'rambling'.
We had turned off the main road onto the dark side street that took us back into the tract of houses in which we lived . As we started down the road, we both saw something flash by, some distance in front of us, very quickly, and exclaimed: "what was that?" It was too dark to see even in the head lights. It had been far enough ahead of us that we could not make out just what was going on. Jay had slowed down, and we were both trying to see what was ahead. It was a clear night, so there was no trouble at seeing. Just about the time we came along side the first building to our left, there was a flash from the right. We did not have time to stop, or realize just what was happening. To our shock and amazement a hugh horse tried to jump the moving car. The front legs came down on the cross bar in the windshield - with the car moving even slowly it caused the horse to be thrown to the side of the car and slam into the back panel caving it in. The horse was stunned and went off back, from where it had come.
How greatful we were that the legs of the horse had not crashed through the windshield. It would have killed both Paul and myself trying to free itself from being caught. The car was badly damaged, and the horse was in a pretty shaken state, but not seriously injured. We had no idea how it had escaped its corral. The owner was a bit upset with us for hitting his 'jumper', but of course we had no idea that the horse was loose nor that it would be returning and try to jump a moving car.
Amazing how many auto accidents I have been in. Not one being less serious than another - yet in each instance I have come out, as did Paul
in two of them.
The car was repaired. Jay had it painted a 'baby blue', I think he regretted it afterwards, but then one has a way of making poor choices when such unexpected things happen. I learned to drive in that car. It had a 'stick shift' but I would learn to drive a 'floor shift' as well. Very important to know how, even though there are not many of them left on the road these days. Automatics are the way to go, but the old way of driving with a 'clutch' is still a good way to learn if you have the chance.
Moral - I guess we could say, if you are driving in the country it does pay to keep an eye out for the horses, they can come upon you suddenly and with the new windshields being what they are, the outcome might prove a great deal different than what we experienced. Way back then!
Written this 6th day of January 2012
by: Eileen Rosenberg
This is rural country. One of the first Tract of Houses that had been built after World War II. Things were looking pretty good for us - or so we had believed at the time - I will tell you more about that at another time. First on with this bit of 'rambling'.
We had turned off the main road onto the dark side street that took us back into the tract of houses in which we lived . As we started down the road, we both saw something flash by, some distance in front of us, very quickly, and exclaimed: "what was that?" It was too dark to see even in the head lights. It had been far enough ahead of us that we could not make out just what was going on. Jay had slowed down, and we were both trying to see what was ahead. It was a clear night, so there was no trouble at seeing. Just about the time we came along side the first building to our left, there was a flash from the right. We did not have time to stop, or realize just what was happening. To our shock and amazement a hugh horse tried to jump the moving car. The front legs came down on the cross bar in the windshield - with the car moving even slowly it caused the horse to be thrown to the side of the car and slam into the back panel caving it in. The horse was stunned and went off back, from where it had come.
How greatful we were that the legs of the horse had not crashed through the windshield. It would have killed both Paul and myself trying to free itself from being caught. The car was badly damaged, and the horse was in a pretty shaken state, but not seriously injured. We had no idea how it had escaped its corral. The owner was a bit upset with us for hitting his 'jumper', but of course we had no idea that the horse was loose nor that it would be returning and try to jump a moving car.
Amazing how many auto accidents I have been in. Not one being less serious than another - yet in each instance I have come out, as did Paul
in two of them.
The car was repaired. Jay had it painted a 'baby blue', I think he regretted it afterwards, but then one has a way of making poor choices when such unexpected things happen. I learned to drive in that car. It had a 'stick shift' but I would learn to drive a 'floor shift' as well. Very important to know how, even though there are not many of them left on the road these days. Automatics are the way to go, but the old way of driving with a 'clutch' is still a good way to learn if you have the chance.
Moral - I guess we could say, if you are driving in the country it does pay to keep an eye out for the horses, they can come upon you suddenly and with the new windshields being what they are, the outcome might prove a great deal different than what we experienced. Way back then!
Written this 6th day of January 2012
by: Eileen Rosenberg
Teaching 'Granny' to Drive
In other blogs I have related, I believe, how my Mother was left a widow when she was in her early 50's. She had never learned to drive. As I believe I have mentioned in many of the other blogs that we did a lot of walking, driving at the time was not a key issue. In fact Dad didn't drive all that much either. The car was usually at home during the day, as he rode the bus to work. So . . . when Mom was left alone, she did need to learn to drive.
It wasn't until she had married 'Slim' that she took advantage of a car. He had the car all tuned up for her, and I was willing, or should I say, I took on the project of helping her to learn to drive. We had gone out any number of times. She was doing so well, and was just about to take her test when, on one day we were doing her last driving lesson. Little did either of us know just how that day would end up.
I decided to take her out on some narrow streets so learn how to execute left hand turns. She was not the least bit nervous, but anxious to get this under her belt. She had to finish practicing her parking as well, and this was a perfect time to do that as well. We were in South Gate, as I recall.
I said: "make a left at the next side street". As she did, the car jerked forward at an excellerated speed and before she could get the wheels straight we jumped the curb, missed a tree, shot across the lawn of a house and slammed into the steps of a house which sent us airborne. The car fortunately was high enough in the air that it landed on top a picket fence. The motor was still churning at a high speed. Fortunately the car could not go any further with the front wheel suspended in air the back wheels I believe were stopped by the steps we had hit.
Mother had been slammed into the arm rest of the door. I had been thrown across the car and hit the steering wheel with quite a hard stop. (This was years before 'seat belts' mind you!) I was finally able to reach and turn off the ignition. I don't remember now just how we got out of the elevated car. I am not, at this writting, sure who came and got us, or how we were taken care of. I know that Mom was x-rayed and her injuries evaluated. I got her home and into bed then I went to pick up Jay at work. He had let me have the car to go to Moms' that day. My car had been left in the driveway on Belgrave Avenue.
I had been on the move for some time, so was not really aware that I was hurt, except that my upper left arm hurt. It was bruised badly, but I knew it was not broken. When I walked into the shop where Jay was working, he took one look at me, realized there was something wrong, and got to me just as I began to sink to the ground. I guess the relief at seeing him, I just let go. He took me directly to the Dr. and we were told that I had sustained some pretty serious internal injuries and should go to the Hospital. I was serious about not doing such a thing, knowing if Mom thought she had hurt me worse than she was, she would never finish her driving. It was a big chance I was taking, according to my Dr., but I would not allow them to take me to the Hospital.
Mom had 9 of her 13 ribes broken and some other injuries that kept her down for some time. My left lung had been bruised and my spleen was damaged. They said it was the blood filter that was most necessary prior to birth, but of little use, to medical knowledge, after birth. It was serious because if it ruputred, due to damage, one could bleed to death before proper surgical help could stop the flow of blood. There is much more to this story, but it would not add to the story by going into it, suffice it to say, that though the spleen became very enlarged, it opened and drained some time later, and all ended quite well. (I need to insert here, that the Elders had administered to me - which I am certain had a great deal to do with the outcome.)
Jay took me back and forth to visit Mom, she never guess that I was not feeling well. We just let her believe I was stiff and sore from the bump I had taken. She took quite a long time to get over her injuries, but did finish her driving, got her licence and drove until she was 83 years old. Even making a number of trips from her home in Huntington Park to Santa Cruz to visit with Aunt Ila. Each trip, she came and went by herself, and took Ila many places while she was there. She was quite a gal. (Both Mom and Aunt Ila - who incidentally lived to be 100 years old.)
About the car - we learned when they had given the car a going over before Mom started her driving lessons - it was a red Mercury - there had been a problem with the carburator - something had become stuck in it, that was what made it excellerate as Mom made that left hand turn. She did not do anything wrong. It was a malfunction. We were greatful for two things. One - the people who had been sitting on the porch just a few minutes before we came charging at it - had left to go inside. Two - the picket fence was there - without it, we have no idea what might have happened with the car moving at the speed it was. Greatful were we, that we didn't hit a tree, the house, or something else solid that could have made this story a great deal different. Maybe there wouldn't have been anyone to tell it even? (It is the 'small things' which give us pause to stop and give thanks.)
Written this 6th day of January 2012
by: Eileen Rosenberg
It wasn't until she had married 'Slim' that she took advantage of a car. He had the car all tuned up for her, and I was willing, or should I say, I took on the project of helping her to learn to drive. We had gone out any number of times. She was doing so well, and was just about to take her test when, on one day we were doing her last driving lesson. Little did either of us know just how that day would end up.
I decided to take her out on some narrow streets so learn how to execute left hand turns. She was not the least bit nervous, but anxious to get this under her belt. She had to finish practicing her parking as well, and this was a perfect time to do that as well. We were in South Gate, as I recall.
I said: "make a left at the next side street". As she did, the car jerked forward at an excellerated speed and before she could get the wheels straight we jumped the curb, missed a tree, shot across the lawn of a house and slammed into the steps of a house which sent us airborne. The car fortunately was high enough in the air that it landed on top a picket fence. The motor was still churning at a high speed. Fortunately the car could not go any further with the front wheel suspended in air the back wheels I believe were stopped by the steps we had hit.
Mother had been slammed into the arm rest of the door. I had been thrown across the car and hit the steering wheel with quite a hard stop. (This was years before 'seat belts' mind you!) I was finally able to reach and turn off the ignition. I don't remember now just how we got out of the elevated car. I am not, at this writting, sure who came and got us, or how we were taken care of. I know that Mom was x-rayed and her injuries evaluated. I got her home and into bed then I went to pick up Jay at work. He had let me have the car to go to Moms' that day. My car had been left in the driveway on Belgrave Avenue.
I had been on the move for some time, so was not really aware that I was hurt, except that my upper left arm hurt. It was bruised badly, but I knew it was not broken. When I walked into the shop where Jay was working, he took one look at me, realized there was something wrong, and got to me just as I began to sink to the ground. I guess the relief at seeing him, I just let go. He took me directly to the Dr. and we were told that I had sustained some pretty serious internal injuries and should go to the Hospital. I was serious about not doing such a thing, knowing if Mom thought she had hurt me worse than she was, she would never finish her driving. It was a big chance I was taking, according to my Dr., but I would not allow them to take me to the Hospital.
Mom had 9 of her 13 ribes broken and some other injuries that kept her down for some time. My left lung had been bruised and my spleen was damaged. They said it was the blood filter that was most necessary prior to birth, but of little use, to medical knowledge, after birth. It was serious because if it ruputred, due to damage, one could bleed to death before proper surgical help could stop the flow of blood. There is much more to this story, but it would not add to the story by going into it, suffice it to say, that though the spleen became very enlarged, it opened and drained some time later, and all ended quite well. (I need to insert here, that the Elders had administered to me - which I am certain had a great deal to do with the outcome.)
Jay took me back and forth to visit Mom, she never guess that I was not feeling well. We just let her believe I was stiff and sore from the bump I had taken. She took quite a long time to get over her injuries, but did finish her driving, got her licence and drove until she was 83 years old. Even making a number of trips from her home in Huntington Park to Santa Cruz to visit with Aunt Ila. Each trip, she came and went by herself, and took Ila many places while she was there. She was quite a gal. (Both Mom and Aunt Ila - who incidentally lived to be 100 years old.)
About the car - we learned when they had given the car a going over before Mom started her driving lessons - it was a red Mercury - there had been a problem with the carburator - something had become stuck in it, that was what made it excellerate as Mom made that left hand turn. She did not do anything wrong. It was a malfunction. We were greatful for two things. One - the people who had been sitting on the porch just a few minutes before we came charging at it - had left to go inside. Two - the picket fence was there - without it, we have no idea what might have happened with the car moving at the speed it was. Greatful were we, that we didn't hit a tree, the house, or something else solid that could have made this story a great deal different. Maybe there wouldn't have been anyone to tell it even? (It is the 'small things' which give us pause to stop and give thanks.)
Written this 6th day of January 2012
by: Eileen Rosenberg
I've Learned: "it's the little things!"
Well here we are into another year - 2012 - and I guess I had best start it off with some tid bit of my life. Not that I haven't been on line with a great many other tid bits that is! Having said that, I will sprint forward with another of my 'ramblings'.
Over the years it has been quite obvious that the 'big things' do matter, but it is the 'little things' that seem to bring the greatest shock, or happiness. I have no idea why that is, but it is a known fact. Purhaps it is because when they come, they always leave such lasting impressions on ones mind. Those small gestures that were not expected, but some how just seemed to jump out at you when you least expected it, or purhaps needed it the very most. They may come form someone in the family, or at times they may be recieved by some friend, or even a person not so well known, but who came forward at just the right time. I am not sure I can come up with any particularly exciting instances at this writting, but I know they have happened in my long life, and when they did, I have been profoundly greatful for each and every one.
I am sure as you read through this little 'rambling' you too can think of a time or two when something just 'wonderful' happened, when you needed it or least expected it. Times when your day has been 'sparked' by that 'little something'. In fact I think one of the times that most sticks out in my mind is not what happened to me, but a time, when my Visiting Teaching Partner and I were given a Family who had just moved into our Ward in Pico Rivera. My partner had 6 children. I believe at the time there were only 2 in school. I had 2 with only 1 in school. We stopped by, just after this family had just moved in. Things weren't in a settled way, but with, as I remember it, 4 children in the house that wasn't much of a surprise. After a short visit, and the children getting to know each other, we found out the oldest, a girl, was having a Birthday and was a bit upset because she didn't know anyone to have a Party with.
My partner, after we got into the car, suggested we plan and give a 'surprise party' for the little girl. Why not, I thought, we have a built in party list in our two families with what was in the home, it would be fun!
And so it was. Mary Lou (my partmer) baked a cake, decorated it, and we were set to go. The gifts as I recall weren't all that fancy, but that was not the point of the whole thing, now was it? We put all the kids in the Station Wagon - that filled the bill, but was certainly not the newest, or greatest. I believe our kids were so much more excited than the little girl was when she saw us. (Oh, I believe our family brought the ice cream), and the Party was on. You know it wasn't what we had done that made it all come together, but the fun the kids had, and the total appreciation of a Mother who was tired from the move, and at a loss to know how she could make the girl happy, as well as make her chiildren feel welcome in their new home. Well when the next Primay Day came (you have to remember this was years before the 3 hour block schedule) there were a bunch of new friends who were happy to see each other in Primary . It wasn't much of a stretch to put something together on such short notice. It wasn't even a bother, but it turned out to leave a lasting impression on some children who, I venture to say, have never forgotten it!
Another time when Visiting Teaching struck such a cord was when I had the chance through the Relief Society to set up a 'move in dinner' for a family I heard was coming into the Paso Robles area. I happened to work with the Sisters Son. He alerted me to this, and I talked it over with some of the other Sisters who lived close to where this new family was moving in. As the trucks drove into the drive-way, here set two other cars with everything needed for a set down spagetti dinner. Hot and ready to enjoy. A table was quickly set up, chairs for those who were moving and those who were helping with the move. It wasn't fancy, it was just good, hot food. Everyone took their seats and enjoyed a rest and some quick exchange with those they were meeting for the first time. After the meal was finished. We picked up all the mess, saw the food that was left was ready to be stored in the Fridge when it was hooked up and we were on our way. Those who had made the long drive from Los Angeles felt refreshed, fed and ready to unload. You know I have never forgotten that day, nor have the people envolved in joining us in Paso Robles. We have been friends, and enjoyed many sweet experiences together since. Lets see, that was about 20 years ago, as I recall.
Yes it is the 'little things' that we appreciate, and remember. Whether they were recieved, or given, it matters not. The thing is that as we give a little we seem to receive so much more in return. Purhaps that is because in giving we receive the 'better part'. A loving heart and a spirit, I like to think, is much closer to the Savior than any other experience produces.
So in life, learn to accept the 'little things'; be quick to give 'little things'. Notice when things are given and relish the pleasure in giving. It may not be much, but we may never know how very greatful a small thoughtful-ness may mean to someone else!
Written this 6th day of January 2012
Over the years it has been quite obvious that the 'big things' do matter, but it is the 'little things' that seem to bring the greatest shock, or happiness. I have no idea why that is, but it is a known fact. Purhaps it is because when they come, they always leave such lasting impressions on ones mind. Those small gestures that were not expected, but some how just seemed to jump out at you when you least expected it, or purhaps needed it the very most. They may come form someone in the family, or at times they may be recieved by some friend, or even a person not so well known, but who came forward at just the right time. I am not sure I can come up with any particularly exciting instances at this writting, but I know they have happened in my long life, and when they did, I have been profoundly greatful for each and every one.
I am sure as you read through this little 'rambling' you too can think of a time or two when something just 'wonderful' happened, when you needed it or least expected it. Times when your day has been 'sparked' by that 'little something'. In fact I think one of the times that most sticks out in my mind is not what happened to me, but a time, when my Visiting Teaching Partner and I were given a Family who had just moved into our Ward in Pico Rivera. My partner had 6 children. I believe at the time there were only 2 in school. I had 2 with only 1 in school. We stopped by, just after this family had just moved in. Things weren't in a settled way, but with, as I remember it, 4 children in the house that wasn't much of a surprise. After a short visit, and the children getting to know each other, we found out the oldest, a girl, was having a Birthday and was a bit upset because she didn't know anyone to have a Party with.
My partner, after we got into the car, suggested we plan and give a 'surprise party' for the little girl. Why not, I thought, we have a built in party list in our two families with what was in the home, it would be fun!
And so it was. Mary Lou (my partmer) baked a cake, decorated it, and we were set to go. The gifts as I recall weren't all that fancy, but that was not the point of the whole thing, now was it? We put all the kids in the Station Wagon - that filled the bill, but was certainly not the newest, or greatest. I believe our kids were so much more excited than the little girl was when she saw us. (Oh, I believe our family brought the ice cream), and the Party was on. You know it wasn't what we had done that made it all come together, but the fun the kids had, and the total appreciation of a Mother who was tired from the move, and at a loss to know how she could make the girl happy, as well as make her chiildren feel welcome in their new home. Well when the next Primay Day came (you have to remember this was years before the 3 hour block schedule) there were a bunch of new friends who were happy to see each other in Primary . It wasn't much of a stretch to put something together on such short notice. It wasn't even a bother, but it turned out to leave a lasting impression on some children who, I venture to say, have never forgotten it!
Another time when Visiting Teaching struck such a cord was when I had the chance through the Relief Society to set up a 'move in dinner' for a family I heard was coming into the Paso Robles area. I happened to work with the Sisters Son. He alerted me to this, and I talked it over with some of the other Sisters who lived close to where this new family was moving in. As the trucks drove into the drive-way, here set two other cars with everything needed for a set down spagetti dinner. Hot and ready to enjoy. A table was quickly set up, chairs for those who were moving and those who were helping with the move. It wasn't fancy, it was just good, hot food. Everyone took their seats and enjoyed a rest and some quick exchange with those they were meeting for the first time. After the meal was finished. We picked up all the mess, saw the food that was left was ready to be stored in the Fridge when it was hooked up and we were on our way. Those who had made the long drive from Los Angeles felt refreshed, fed and ready to unload. You know I have never forgotten that day, nor have the people envolved in joining us in Paso Robles. We have been friends, and enjoyed many sweet experiences together since. Lets see, that was about 20 years ago, as I recall.
Yes it is the 'little things' that we appreciate, and remember. Whether they were recieved, or given, it matters not. The thing is that as we give a little we seem to receive so much more in return. Purhaps that is because in giving we receive the 'better part'. A loving heart and a spirit, I like to think, is much closer to the Savior than any other experience produces.
So in life, learn to accept the 'little things'; be quick to give 'little things'. Notice when things are given and relish the pleasure in giving. It may not be much, but we may never know how very greatful a small thoughtful-ness may mean to someone else!
Written this 6th day of January 2012
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