"A" - SHE WANTED TO BE KIND!

Fifties girls were supposed to be "nice", and there were plenty of rules to guide us - the Golden Rule, Ten Commandments plus articles and books written about etiquette.  And, of course, pleasing parents was paramount.   It just wasn't possible to continually get an "A" for behavior.!

REVIVALS

During the Fifties, many religious revivals were held in large tents.  I attended one and especially remember the heat and the mosquitoes and someone walking who had been crippled.  The speaker asked for donations.  He claimed if we didn't give our money to his ministry, "the Lord would come and take your purse away".  That statement must have had a profound effect on me.  For months afterward, I used all of my allowance to buy purses at Woolworth's.  

VARIED TERRAIN

 Daddy and I left for St. Louis, right after my "tacky" birthday party (the guests were asked to dress in an unusual manner).  The two of us rode in our green piano truck with Clayton Smith Pianos painted in big black letters on each side.  The purpose of the trip was to purchase used upright pianos to repair and sell in the store.  At night, we parked along the highway and slept in the back of the truck.  Since I had never traveled beyond the Gulf Coast,  the hilly terrain we encountered was a huge surprise.   Daddy let me eat french fries at every meal the entire trip.

TWO CUTE CHICKS

During the Fifties, girls were referred to as "cute chicks" and boys were "cool cats".

MOONLIT STROLL

 My parents and I took a leisurely, but guarded walk on a country road in Louisiana. We knew to be cautious of creatures that "came out" at night; however, were shocked when an armadillo darted out of the bushes and ran up Mother's leg!  Mother screamed, the surprised armadillo quickly ran back down her leg, and disappeared into the bushes.  This was my only walk in the dark on a country road in Louisiana.

DADDY'S WALLET

 These photos of my family were always in Daddy's wallet.  As a child and later as an adult, I remember seeing them whenever he opened his wallet for various reasons.  The photos were still in his wallet when he died.  They are very special to me. 

A FRENCH KISS

Waiting under the arcade for classes to begin, a group of junior high school girls learned something new - a member of the group explained in detail the definition of a "French kiss".  We were shocked and couldn't believe something like that would actually take place - especially not to any of us!  We decided right then and there to forego boys and certainly never travel to Paris, France.