The Story of Me, part 12: The Year of My Birth - 1957

This is my entry prompted by The Book of Me, Written By You project created by Julie Goucher of the Anglers Rest blog. The concept: a series of blogging and writing prompts that help family historians capture their own memories and write about themselves. Go to http://www.anglers-rest.net for more information.

This week's assignment:

The continuation of the 15 month, weekly writing project about my life and memories, created by Julie Goucher.
This week’s prompt (week 12) is The Year of My Birth

What happened....
Historical - internation, national & local
Family events
Films
Music
Books
Television

The year of our Lord 1957...it was a far cry from the world we know today.

On the day I was born, there were a few notable events:

1) The show American Bandstand premiered ("Band from the east, give it at least a 75!")

2) Contemporary Christian singer Michael W. Smith was born.

3) British figure skater Jayne Torvill (who won Olympic gold) was born.

4) I became the first born in my family, the first grandchild on my mother's side, and the apple of my grandfather's eye.

This blogger, November 1957
Copyright 2013 Linda O'Donnell All Rights Reserved

The high in Chicago that day was 66 degrees; a very pleasant autumn day.  My dad operated a Standard Oil gas station in the city; he was quite an accomplished mechanic.


My parents and I, and (later) my brother, were all born in the same hospital and delivered by the same doctor.  My parents' families were not acquainted with each other at the time of their births, so this is a somewhat amazing event and piece of trivia.



In the entertainment world, the following was going on:

1) "Around the World in 80 Days," starring David Niven, won the Best Picture Academy Award.

2) Yul Brynner won the Best Actor Oscar for "The King and I." (He was born to play that role, in my opinion)


3) Ingrid Bergman won the Best Actress award for "Anastasia." (She was always one of my faves.)



4) Other notable films released in 1957:

• Bridge on the River Kwai (Alec Guinness, William Holden)
• 12 Angry Men (Henry Fonda)
• Witness for the Prosecution (Marlene Deitrich, Tyrone Power)
• Old Yeller (Fess Parker, Dorothy McGuire and an adorable canine)

TV:

New Shows: 

• Perry Mason
• Wagon Train
• Leave it to Beaver
• Maverick
• The Tonight Show (Jack Paar)

Popular shows: 

• Phil Silvers
• Candid Camera
• Superman
• This is Your Life
• Ozzie & Harriet
• Gunsmoke
• Howdy Doody
• I Love Lucy (the last season)

Music highlights:

• "Wake Up, Little Susie," The Everly Brothers
• "All Shook Up," "Teddy Bear," "Jailhouse Rock," Elvis Presley
• "That'll Be The Day," Buddy Holly
• "You Send Me," Sam Cooke
• "Love Letters in the Sand," "April Love," Pat Boone
• Elvis Presley registers for the draft.

New Product Introductions:

• Frisbee
• Edsel automobile
• Electric Watch
• Electric Typewriter

Civil Rights:

• Despite a record-setting filibuster lasting 24 hours and 27 minutes by Sen. Strom Thurmond, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
• The Brown v. Board of Education law was passed, regarding desegregation in schools.
• The governor of Arkansas called out the National Guard to stop 9 black students from entering a high school in Little Rock.
• A commercial air flight had its first black pilot, P. H. Young.
• All National League baseball teams integrate.

Disasters

• 8.1 magnitude earthquake strikes Andreanof Islands, Alaska
• Hurricane Audrey kills 416, disrupts offshore oil drilling
• Worldwide influenza pandemic kills 4 million

Food prices

• Milk - $1/gal
• Ground beef - $.30/lb.
• Butter - $.75/lb.
• Campbell's Tomato Soup - $.10/can
• Eggs - $.57/doz.
• Iceberg lettuce - $.19/head

Sports:

• Baseball champions: Milwaukee Braves
• Hockey champions: Montreal Canadiens
• Football champions: Detroit Lions
• Basketball champions: Boston Celtics
• Indy 500 winner: Sam Hanks
• Brooklyn Dodgers, NY Giants (Baseball) announce move to Los Angeles.
• NY narcotics investigator, Dr Herbert Berger, urges AMA to investigate use of stimulating drugs by athletes. (Obviously this wasn't very effective.)

Other Headlines:

• USSR (Russia) launches world's first satellite Sputnik into space; Sputnik II, a month later, successfully carries a dog into orbit (first living being to enter space)
• President Dwight Eisenhower pledges defense of nations against Communism
• The European Common Market is created
• "The Cat in the Hat" by Dr. Seuss is released
• "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac is released
• Actor Humphrey Bogart dies of cancer

Though the world was different in many ways, the winds of change were definitely blowing.   I'm not sure we're in better shape today than we were in 1957, at least in some ways.  In my opinion, the world is moving and changing at a much faster rate today.  Yet many problems that existed back in 1957 persist.  The "Cold War' may have ended, but there is as much conflict worldwide today as ever.  While many efforts were made to erase racial differences, the derision between blacks and whites seems to have increased in recent years.  Americans are more at odds with each other today than they have been for generations.  Our nation's dominance in many areas, including military, finance, agriculture, manufacturing and technology, has waned and I fear this great country has lost sight of the principles established by our founding fathers.  Our civil liberties, the workings of our government, our sense of morality...these are all things I've been watching erode during the course of my lifetime.  I love America, but unless someone or something alters our course, I fear for our future.  

The Book of Me, Part 11: Military Ties

This is my entry prompted by The Book of Me, Written By You project created by Julie Goucher of the Anglers Rest blog. The concept: a series of blogging and writing prompts that help family historians capture their own memories and write about themselves. Go to http://www.anglers-rest.net for more information.

This week's assignment:

The continuation of the 15 month, weekly writing project about my life and memories, created by Julie Goucher.
This week’s prompt (week 11) is Military

• Did you join the military?
Were you encouraged or discouraged?

• Did a family member?
• o Regular or for a particular incident

• Did you or your family serve overseas in the line of Service either during a war or a posting

• Any thoughts, photographs, memories relevant


My father was drafted and served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.  He was only 19, leaving behind his sweetheart (my mother) and his parents.  He did not speak much of his experiences, and it took me some time after his death to realize that it must have been traumatic for him.

Dad in his high school ROTC uniform, cir. 1946-47
Copyright © 2013 Linda O'Donnell All Rights Reserved

Dad spoke of the intense loneliness when first leaving home, sleeping on a bunk in a room with a bunch of strangers, longing for the comfort and familiarity of home.  He said there were a few guys crying softly that first night, overcome with not only being away from home, but the enormity of the task ahead.  The only other incidents that Dad spoke of were ones that undoubtedly left him changed.  The first was seeing a buddy get shot and killed, right next to him.  I cannot even begin to imagine the emotional trauma it must have caused.

The other incident occurred when my dad was told to take a Jeep and go on patrol.  I don't know the details of where he was going or the ultimate goal of the patrol, but somewhere along the way, the Jeep got stuck in the mud.  Dad was going nowhere.  He was alone, in a hostile country, and had no way to get himself unstuck.  That is, until the snipers started shooting at him.  The fear caused his adrenaline to kick into high gear, and he would tell often tell us how surprised he was that he was able to single-handedly lift the back end of the Jeep out of the mud, and high-tail it out of there.  He always said that an angel helped him out, and I would have to agree.  Dad did suffer from back problems for the rest of his life, though, I often wondered if lifting a Jeep could have done some damage.

Dad, in Korea, cir. 1951
Copyright © 2013 Linda O'Donnell All Rights Reserved

Dad had the added emotional trauma of having to interrupt his service in Korea to return home, because his mother was dying of cancer.  He did arrive in time to see her before she passed, and was able to attend her funeral.  Then, back to Korea, active combat, and suppressing those emotions of loss.  How awful that must have been for him.

Dad on bereavement leave, 1953
Copyright © 2013 Linda O'Donnell All Rights Reserved

My mother, a high school student at the time of my dad's deployment, wrote to him every day, and he wrote back.  I can remember seeing a stack of letters he'd written to her that she'd saved, wrapped in ribbon, with his familiar block printing.  I was embarrassed at the "SWAK" (Sealed With A Kiss)  notation he had on the back of every envelope, and his "Hubba-Hubba" on the front was intended to compel the Post Office to deliver it quickly.  How much they must have missed each other!

I am fortunate in that I've never had to serve.  The Vietnam War ended while I was in high school, so none of my contemporaries were drafted.  My husband, who is nearly 10 years older than me, did serve during the Vietnam era, but was fortunate enough to be stationed in Korea and therefore missed most of the dangerous stuff.  While my father may have had many flaws, I am proud of his service to our country, his lifelong patriotism, and his courage.  I have a deep respect, admiration and gratitude for all of the men and women who serve in our military.  They make great sacrifices, not only by being in danger, but also by being away from their families and loved ones.  It's no cake walk, and I feel a strong sense of indebtedness to our heroes who help keep us safe.

Happy Veteran's Day, and may God bless all military personnel and their families.  And to my dad, who is with the angels now, I'd just like to say, thanks for your service and sacrifice.  

The Book of Me, Part 10: Unexplained Memories

This is my entry prompted by The Book of Me, Written By You project created by Julie Goucher of the Anglers Rest blog. The concept: a series of blogging and writing prompts that help family historians capture their own memories and write about themselves. Go to http://www.anglers-rest.net for more information.

This week's assignment:

The continuation of the 15 month, weekly writing project about my life and memories, created by Julie Goucher.
This week’s (Week 10) prompt is Unexplained Memories

Do you have an unexplained memory or memories?
Items
Places
People

Things and times you can remember, but you are not sure where they fit into your past.

Wow, another hard one.

The first thing that pops into my head when addressing this assignment is the image of my father, standing in the doorway of my bedroom one night, the lit end of his cigarette glowing in the dark.  I am pretending to be asleep, so that he will leave.  There were times when his alcoholism would get the best of him and he'd drag me out of bed for a beating, so I guess that's why this memory has stayed with me.  It was a volatile household, at the mercy of my father's wild mood swings, so we always held our breath, waiting for something to happen.  But, Dad didn't drag me out of bed frequently (only a few times that I specifically recall), so I'm not sure why I remember this incident.  I have no memory of anything happening other than my father just standing there.  I shared a room with my sister, so I'm fairly certain there was nothing of a more sinister nature associated with it.  I don't know how old I was, but I do know it was after we moved into our second house, so I was at least 8.  I'm sure Freud would have something to say about this, but I think it was just a coincidence that I happened to be awake one night when my father popped his head in to check on us.

What's weird is that this triggers another memory, one that I do remember so vividly.  I guess it's because it involves me being in bed at night. It was July 1970. Our beloved Grandpa had been out for a visit the previous weekend to celebrate the Fourth of July.  My brother was in bed in his room, and I in mine, both lying awake when we heard the phone ring at about 9:30 pm.  We heard our mother cry out, "Oh no!" and knew instinctively that something was wrong.  I don't know which one of us said it, but we wondered aloud, "Do you think it could be Grandpa?"  Deep down, we knew it probably was, but we really didn't want to go downstairs and find out.  We wanted to sleep one more night believing that Grandpa was still with us.  In the morning, we found out that the very thing we were dreading was true...Grandpa had died from a massive heart attack.  My brother and I remember that night so vividly--what was playing on the television (Hawaii Five-0), the time, the tone of our mother's voice, and that sense of foreboding we both had regarding the loss of our sweet Grandpa.  Life would never be the same.  I think for both me and my brother, it changed our view of the world, forever. 

I can't think of anything that I haven't figured out an explanation for, or a complete story to go with.   I have questions about things I remember, but alas, no one to answer them for me.  I just need to leave those in the past.

The Book of Me, Part 9: Halloween -- Bah Humbug!

This is my entry prompted by The Book of Me, Written By You project created by Julie Goucher of the Anglers Rest blog. The concept: a series of blogging and writing prompts that help family historians capture their own memories and write about themselves. Go to http://www.anglers-rest.net for more information.

This week's assignment:

The continuation of the 15 month, weekly writing project about my life and memories, created by Julie Goucher.This week’s (Week 9) prompt is Halloween

Have you ever participated in a Halloween event?
When was it?
Where was it?
What did you dress as?
Trick or treat?

image courtesy of franky242
at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I don't have happy memories of Halloween.  It must be due to the humiliating ridicule I received from my fifth grade classmates over a cheap witch costume I was wearing.  They actually named me as a finalist for best costume so I could receive critiques, then proceeded with the best insults possible from kids of that age.  I'll never forget how that felt.

So, for kids today, getting ready to trick or treat, or hosts preparing for the onslaught, I offer the following requests and tips:

1)  Kids, don't reach in and grab handfuls from the bowl of candy.  Leave some for the kids coming after you and remember that behind the doorbell you just rang lives a family who paid for that candy.  Hosts: Offer them one piece and that's it, or you'll run out before you know it.  I've thought of offering pencils or some other non-edible item, but my husband won't let me.

2) Hosts: Better yet, leave your light off and don't answer the door.  Of course, you run the risk of being vandalized, but this is my preferred option.  (My husband won't let me do this, however.)

3) Hosts: Set a time limit.  We shut off the lights at 9:00 pm.  After that, you kids should be at home, it's a school night!

4)  Kids:  Say thank you. Wait your turn to get to the front of the line.  You wouldn't want someone to shove you out of the way, would you?

5)  Kids:  Wear a costume.  Put more effort into it than wearing a t-shirt that says "This is my costume."  Seriously. And if you're ringing my bell, don't dress up as Green Bay Packer.  Just sayin'.

6)  Kids: If you're older than say, 14 or 15, go to a haunted house or a party.  In my opinion, trick-or-treaters should be little kids, not greedy teenagers.  Go the grocery store and buy candy if you're that old.  Leave this for the ones who still find wonder in the event.  It's like a teenager going to sit on Santa's lap.  

Yeah, I know.  I'm a crabby old lady.  I've never been a big Halloween fan, though.  When my daughter was young, we usually did Halloween at church, where the weather was never a factor, and each room had a theme and plenty of candy to offer without us walking around in the dark.  We did the neighborhood thing a few times, but she enjoyed dressing up in her costume for her school party more than anything else.  

To anyone reading who is a huge fan of Halloween, I offer my apologies.  I don't like the scary stuff, I don't like the occasional episodes of vandalism, and I really dislike dealing with kids who have no manners.  I know they're not all bad, but I think that incident back in fifth grade really tarnished my entire view of Halloween. I also don't like the dark undertones to Halloween.  You may say I'm overreacting to that factor, but that's my opinion and I'm entitled to it. Please don't love me less because I don't love Halloween...it's just not my thing.  Bah Humbug!