CELEBRATED CUSTOMER

Clayton Smith Pianos opened for business in 1950, and many family hours were spent there - waiting on customers (a few were well-known), refinishing pianos and adding studios where Mother taught piano.  My sister and I walked to the store after school. 

YOU HAUL

We moved from Warrensburg, Virginia back to Orange, Texas after Daddy was released from the Army.  This move was before there were trucks to rent, and people moved their few belongings any way possible.  We lived in an upstairs apartment at Gilmer Homes, and were happy to be back in the warm Texas sun.

BUGS, BUGS AND MORE BUGS



 

Bugs were everywhere!  Mosquitos especially looked for girls first since we weren't allowed to wear long pants to school - our legs became great targets.  Boys were usually next on their lists.



GOING STEADY

Everyone wanted to "go steady" with someone, especially in junior high.  Sometimes the relationship lasted several years, but was usually of very short duration.  After the "break-up" it was time to find someone else - not always one's first choice.

KEEPING COOL

Ah!  The relief!  Everyone congregated in one air-conditioned room - usually the den.  It was wonderfully freezing in that room and swelteringly hot in the other parts of the house.

LUCKY STRIKE

Brides were very young, marrying during or right after high school.  If parents didn't give their consent, elopement was considered.  Youthful marriages were romantic until babies began arriving.  Young moms were overwhelmed, and dads didn't always have means to support his growing family.

ALL ABOARD

Trains were the fastest and most popular means of transportaion for traveling great distances.  Airplanes were not yet available to the masses because of high cost and non-accessibility.  As a form of entertainment, parents took their children to see planes land and take-off at the airport, but rarely to fly.

MY THOUGHTS, EXACTLY

Growing up was a time for confusing thoughts - in the Fifties as well as today.  Sometimes those thoughts were shared and sometimes not.  Main sources for help other than relatives and friends were our teachers.