FOURTH OF JULY

Happy Fourth of July!  This is the THIRD anniversary of "Gumbo Girl".  My original plan was to add collages for one year, but somehow or another, three years have passed, with 195 posts and 27, 263 page views.  I plan to continue adding collages a little while longer, and would like to thank everyone who has shown an interest.

DRAG RACING or HERE COME THE COPS!

One Sunday afternoon, a friend and I drove to the Old Lemonville Road just outside of Orange, Texas, to watch our high school boyfriends race their "souped-up" vehicles.  The year was 1958, and my family recently moved back to Orange from Beaumont, where there were official drag strips; however, that was not the case in Orange.  Soon after we arrived, someone yelled "Here come the Cops!" and everyone scattered, except my friend and myself.  We weren't aware drag racing was illegal.  The policemen were nice, but still wrote down our names and phone numbers to call our parents.  Mine were surprisingly understanding.

POPPED ART

Most parents thought their children could make art as well or better than popular examples of the new art movements - especially Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism.

AMERICAN BANDSTAND

Teenagers did the jitterbug to "top 40 music" on American Bandstand beginning in 1952, four years before Dick Clark was hired.  A television station in Lake Charles, LA, later hosted their own version of the popular show and invited area high school students to appear.  I was very happy to be included - not only to be on the show, but also because of our excused absence from school. 

TOOTH FAIRY?

Questions pertaining to the tooth fairy - Who was the tooth fairy?  What did it look like?  Was it male or female?  What did it do with the tooth collection?  How did it obtain unlimited financial resources?  Why did my next door neighbor get a silver dollar for her tooth when I only got a quarter?

SUMMER SHOW-OFFS

We spent hours perfecting suntans at the swimming pool while boys did their utmost to capture our attention.

BIG CHIEF

Most children learned to read and write fairly easily, and those who did not were thought to lack effort or ability , sometimes "failing" a grade or two.  Success came on the playground though since we all wanted to be on their softball or kickball team.

HITCHHIKERS GALORE!

It was a common occurrence to see hitchhikers along the highway.  When one would successfully catch a ride, sometimes several members of his group would be waiting further up the road, in hopes of being included.

RICE CANAL SWIMMING

Swimming in a rice canal was an event my whole family enjoyed.  Excess water from a rice field emptied into a large metal cylinder, and formed swift currents.  Floating down this current was the highlight of our outing.  Whirlpools were common where water was released at the cylinder's end, but beyond these whirlpools, calmer waters enabled swimming.

THE TELEPHONE BOOTH

Many idle teen-age hours were spent trying to think of different things to do.   One popular plan was to see how many would fit into a telephone booth. 

RELATING TO PINOCCHIO

 As a child, I learned it was too difficult to keep up with the many fibs and exaggerated stories I told, and decided it was much easier to tell the truth - not as much fun, but definitely easier.

CAP GUNS

Children grew up playing Cowboys and Indians using cap guns and bows and arrows.  Caps came in red rolls that made a loud pop when the trigger was pulled, and arrows had rubber suction cups on the ends.    

THE PERFECT MACHINE

"Fixing up" one's car (jalopy) was a popular past-time for boys, and flames painted on the sides were especially prized. One boy I knew in the ninth grade had turquoise and black checked seat covers that his mother made for him.

"Z" - SHE GOT PLENTY OF Z'S

She slept until noon on Saturday mornings - or got up just in time to attend the Kiddy Show at the Strand Theatre in Orange, TX.  Occasionally, she listened to "Big Jon and Sparky" on the radio.

'Y" - SHE REMINISCED ABOUT HER YOUTH

She tried to focus on positive rather than negative events of her youth - even though there are many recollections of both.

"W" - SHE WANTED TO BE WONDER WOMAN

Wonder Woman - who always acted for the good of mankind - was her heroine.  Wonder Woman was intelligent, adventuresome and athletic - plus she was pretty.

"X" - SHE DID NOT WANT AN EX

She wanted to be married to the same man (for better or worse) for fifty years or more.  She was impressed by her grandparents who celebrated their Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary in 1961, with a reception in their home.  Each night after dinner, they walked up and down their driveway for exercise while holding hands.

"V" - SHE WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK

Many stories about victims, plus her vivid imagination contributed to a real fear of the dark.   This fear lasted until she had children of her own and was forced to act responsibly as an adult. 

"U" - SHE WAS HAPPY TO LIVE IN THE USA

When school began each morning, we pledged allegiance to the American flag, and were proud to do so.  After the end of WWII, citizens felt protected and were especially patriotic.  Our flag had forty-eight stars until 1959, when Alaska and Hawaii entered the Union.   

"T" - SHE WANTED TO TRAVEL

During the Fifties, my family seldom traveled other than driving an non air-conditioned car to nearby cities and states. We left early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the mid-day heat.  Prior to one trip, Mother placed a huge block of ice in a pan and placed it underneath the car's interior fan in hopes the air would be cooler as the ice melted.  I remember hoping someday my environment would expand - maybe I would even "fly" to other parts of the country.   

"S" - SHE WORE STIFFLY STARCHED CLOTHES

A lot of time was spent taking care of clothes.  After our 100% cotton outfits were worn, they were re-washed and hung out to dry on the clothesline - then heavily starched and ironed.  Clothes were stiff and wrinkled very easily - especially when "smootching" with a date.

"R" - SHE STOOD UP FOR HER RIGHTS!

Girls were taught to be submissive during the Fifties.  I am very happy that has changed, but my husband is probably not!

"Q" - SHE LIKED BEING QUIRKY

   I was named after my daddy, Joel Clayton Smith.  My parents thought two children were enough, and since they already had one daughter, I was their last chance for a boy.  They added an "l" and an "e" to Joel to make Joelle.  I loved the name Joelle because it was different, and was disappointed to eventually learn that Joelle is a common name in France.