Tag Archives: Found items

National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week Poster

Family, Things, , ,

Mom (standing, far right) was awarded an honorable mention in the 1953 National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week Poster contest and a local Elgin newspaper (Courier News?) reported on it i a September 24, 1953 edition.

Nine people, some with posters, stand in a September 24, 1953 Newspaper photo. See post for more information.

Text from photo caption: Winners and others who participated in the National Employ the Physically Handicapped week poster contest at Elgin High school are shown in this group. Those standing at the left are, left to right, Lloyd W. Siegler, ag judge; S. John Wise, publicity chairman; Orville Behrens, adjutant of Richard F. Jacobs Post 54, Disabled American Veterans; and (kneeling) Robert L. Ross, a judge. The others are, left to right, seated, Elaine Behling, Lynn Heilemann and Paul Plath, first, second and third prize winners; standing, Arlene Dodds and Patricia Ann Green, winners of honorable mention. The winning posters will be judged next week in the statewide contest.

I wish I could see the poster more clearly!

The hair of the cat

Memories, Pets, Things,

Somewhere among my belongings, either in boxes from my mom’s house or in something I already had in Maryland I found a formerly white envelope with the words Cinder Patrick, 1 year written on the front in red or dark pink ink. Inside was a small thatch of black fur.

Cinder was my second cat — my father, a self-described cat-hater, brought her home to me when I was 13. She was a one-person cat and everyone else hated her. We loved each other.

She lived through three moves, from my parent’s house to my first apartment, to Pittsburgh with Dean and me and finally to Alexandria where she died at the ripe old age of 17.

Sorry, Cinder, but this memory is going in the trash — the fur might go in the garden though.

Two birthday cards from Grandma Green

Memories, People, Things, ,

This card was from 1980 and the note on the back refers to Dean and my trip to the Chetek cabin for our first vacation together. By this time Grandma had moved in with John in his trailer in Plano, Illinois.

  • It’s Your Day Granddaughter
  • Dog on inside cover
  • Dona! and that makes it important to those who love you. Happy Birthday Dear, with love, Grandma and John
  • Hope you enjoyed yourself in the quiet of the lake, squirrels, birds and bees.

This next card was probably from 1983 because I spent a few days with my Grandma and her partner, John, on my way from Pittsburgh to Elgin to drop off the cats for some reason or another — maybe Dean and I went to San Francisco that year? It was not the most direct of routes, but it enabled me to see her in her home. I think it was the only time I went to Plano, Illinois to visit her and John.

  • For a very special granddaughter
  • …who is loved so very much! have a wonderful birthday! With love — 🙂 Grandma and John.
  • Dear Dona,
    It was so nice to have you with me for those few days. I’m sorry but gift will not be ready for your birthday, How about for Christmas? Having a bit of trouble finding the right kind of material