GOING BAREFOOT

Idyllic summers were spent running around outside without shoes - even while playing tennis.  By 1960, we wore Keds, along with white bobby socks, to high school gym classes.  Ours were blue and matched the one-piece sports uniform (bloomers?) that we were required to wear.   We still shed our shoes whenever possible.

TEXAS SNOW?

  We read about it - heard about it - but only experienced it once.   School was probably cancelled since towns in the South didn't own equipment for snow removal - plus we couldn't walk to school since our little legs would have frozen (only dresses allowed at school).  Enough snow accumulated that Daddy could make the delicious snow ice cream he learned to make in Virginia, while stationed in the Army  

HOME MOVIES

The movies my parents made were typical of the times - black and white with many imperfections.  Images were projected on a white sheet attached to our living room wall.  My parents also purchased a few readymade cartoons.  "Steamboat Willie" was a favorite as well as one about Pluto getting stuck onto many sheets of flypaper.

NOT-SO-HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

It wasn't mandatory to give valentines to everyone in my class at school; therefore, the number received was very important.  After quickly looking through my small highly decorated brown paper bag, and counting how many valentines were there, I immediately hoped that somehow after school many additional valentines, candy and flowers would be delivered to me at home to make up for my classroom deficit.

SHOPPING WITH MOTHER

Mother traded piano lessons for clothes with the owner of The Style Shop in DeRidder, LA.  It was fun to be able to pick out new outfits; however, Mother and I seldom agreeD on what should be taken home. 

TEXAS/LOUISIANA BORDER

 I lived right on the Texas/Louisiana border during the Fifties, and felt an affinity for both states; however, when I met and married a certain Texan in 1964, greater amounts of time were spent in Texas.

FULL SERVICE

Purchasing gas at the neighborhood service station was quite an event since self-service was not allowed.  The attendants took over and did everything thought necessary to keep our car running smoothly.   While waiting, we entertained ourselves.