Category Archives: People

Aunt Ginny

Events, People
Ginny helps Dona draw at Grandma's diningroom table.

My Aunt Ginny was 11 when I was born. She was more like a big sister to me than an aunt. I remember lots of good times with her. She took me to see Mary Poppins and said she cried (or nearly did) for the little old birdwoman.

I was “Junior Bridesmaid” in her wedding and once, when my mom and I were having a tough time, I decided wanted to move in with my aunt and uncle (either them or my Grandma and Grandpa). I even harbored a secret fantasy that Ginny was actually my mom, conveniently ignoring the fact that she was still a child when I was born.

Visits to Illinois used to be extra special when we got together — often for a day of shopping. We even stayed with Ginny and her husband, Jack, a few times while we were in the area.

A couple of years ago Ginny and Jack moved to Mississippi and never looked back. I felt betrayed, but really couldn’t blame them — after all, I escaped the Midwest too, didn’t I?

They’re very happy in Mississippi. I hope to see them again someday, but I’m sure it will be on their turf and not ours. It’s possible they’ll never see my kids again — after all, the kids are going to be off on their own before too long and won’t be taking many more family trips with us. Mississippi just isn’t necessarily on the radar any time soon.  We’d planned on visiting them soon after they moved to Missisippi, but circumstances prevented it.

I think that I’m just going to have to put my foot down and pay them a visit, with or without my husband and kids. I don’t see any other way, really.  Sometimes the world seems like a smaller place these days, but other times it seems far too large.

My Favorite Veteran

Events, People

Dad's Navy Photo My dad was in the US Navy during the Korean Conflict. His time in the Navy is what he tends to remember the most and he never tires talking about the places he saw while on his tours of duty.

Things I remember him telling me include:

  • Buying a pair of binoculars to spy on the women at the topless beach
  • Driving to and from Philadelphia in a car with a rumble seat.
  • Eating chipped beef (and liking it!)
  • Seeing the Rock of Gibraltar
  • Being offered a job and the option to inherit the family business if he’d marry someone’s daughter (someone he was not in love with)
  • The time he shook hands with Gary Cooper and gave him a cup of coffee. Cooper was on board my dad’s ship because it was being used in the film, You’re In the Navy Now.

Things I didn’t know, but learned today while going through a packet of his papers and photographs, were:

  • he was an associate member of the Thorland Club — a club in Haiti, if the few sources I found on the Internet can be believed

thorlandclub

  • He crossed the Arctic Circle on November 12, 1949 and thus became a member of the Royal Order of Blue Noses.

bluenoseclub

  • That my dad was among the first crew on the ship when it was commissioned, making him eligible to be a Plank Owner.

plankowner

Looking at the post cards my dad bought while on his various tours of duty makes it look like his time in the Navy was akin to being on a cruise ship, but I’m sure he just told me the good parts. He probably had to work hard at his job and I’m willing to bet he was pretty good at it.

Happy 99th Grandma Green

Memories, People

My Grandma (Lois Elizabeth Koeser — or Elizabeth Lois Koeser — depending on who you believe) Green was born 99 years ago today. She was an unusual grandmother — I remember my brother saying something like, “Grandma doesn’t act like a grandma. She skips!” And he was telling the truth. She skipped (and sang about skipping) and did a lot of other things other grandmothers normally didn’t do when I was a kid.

She once told me about dancing the Charleston (and tried to teach me the steps) and going to speakeasys (speakeasies?) with my Grandfather.

On her birthday I cannot help thinking about her, remembering our times together and hoping that when I’m a grandmother (wait, she already was a grandmother several times over at my age) I hope I’m as fun to be around as she was.

She moved on to the next adventure in the late 1980’s. I was lucky to be around her during her final days.

Here she is in at a more traditional time — dressed up, ready to go out.