Chapter 15 MOM, aka Ruby Caroline Sophia Menze Cross About the time Doug was a Junior, we got a call to let us know Homer Lee, older son of Lucille Cusic had lost his battle with brain cancer, a battle hed fought for about 4 years. During the war, Homer and his stepdad, Herman often exchanged work. One sunny afternoon I headed to the alfalfa field where Dad, Doug, Herman and Homer were cutting and raking hay into windrows. Homer, about 11at the time, was driving a team of horses, and riding on a rusty rake. Suddenly a wheel came off (Dad had remarked how Herman didnt keep his farm machinery in very good condition). The horses spooked as the rake fish-tailed across the field. I was just coming around the corner with a jar of lemonade in my arms. Herman was yelling, hold on to em Homer! . Homer did, but he soon fell, and a rake tine penetrated his skull. They got him to the house. Mom bathed his wound with diluted Lysol. She told Herman the wound was deep, but she wound put a compress on it so they could get him to the doctor. Herman said, ah, hell be OK. You got any turpentine? No amount of talking would change His mind, The final outcome may have been the same, but it was a shame Homer didnt get seen by a doctor. Doug graduated high school and went off to college in Waxahatchie Texas for a year. Moms nest was beginning to empty. She often commented that the house felt like something was lacking if even one of her seven were missing. By the time Doug got home, he and Barbara were beginning to be serious about one another. Maybe that isnt accurate. I think Doug pretty much knew she was THE ONE for him, years before. Doug worked at the brick factory in Payette until a co-worker threw a brick and accidentally hit him on the head, giving him a fractured skull. He went to Prineville, OR to work in a lumber mill. He was saving money to buy Barbara a ring, and it would take forever if he tried to save what he was earning on the farm. In the meantime, the Bailey family moved to Sacramento. Mrs. Baileys mother lived nearby, in Isleton, and was getting older and needed someone to look in on her. By living in Sacramento, they could work, and easily drive to Isleton on a weekend. Barbara and Irene headed south and studied for a semester at Southern California Bible College. When the school term was over, Doug moved to Sacramento, proposed, gave Barbara her ring, and they began making wedding preparations. They set a date, October 19, which happened to be Dales 19th birthday. The wedding would be held at beautiful Bethel Temple. The church, one of the largest Assemblies of God in the nation, was between pastors at the time. Not a problem. Barbaras Uncle Horace Tyrrell was delighted to do the honors. Dale was best man. He and Mom went to the lovely ceremony. The following August, Charles, Kathryn and Irene visited us while they were on vacation. Irene changed my life when she asked if Id like to go back to California with them and get a job. The only jobs in Idaho were available if your dad owned the company. Mine didnt. I quickly agreed, and we made plans to meet at the relatives house where they were visiting....the very next day! And so, I went out of state for the first time (other than to Ontario, OR) since we arrived from Nebraska many years before. We left Friday , and drove a leisurely 45 mph all day, then stopped at motel in Lovelock, NV for the night. We got to Sacramento the next afternoon. Sunday Morning found us in church. Pastor Clyde Henson had by this time been at the helm for several months. He and Mrs. Henson were a handsome couple with beautiful smiles and twinkles in their eyes. Monday, September 9 is Admission Day, and was at that time a state holiday...so we went to the state fair. Tuesday morning, which was my 21st birthday, I went in to work with Kathryn to apply for a job at the Telephone Co. ( I planned to apply at the state where Irene was working, if I wasnt successful ). They took my app, looked it over and told me I could start two days later, on Thursday. I loved the youth group at Bethel Temple. They had planned activities. We even had our own pastor! Between the youth group and the choir , we kept busy. At home in Idaho, Dale wanted to join the Coast Guard, but was afraid he was going to be drafted into the army first. He went to their recruiting office. They werent taking anyone (but the army was!). He was next on the list... At last, he decided to come to Sacramento. He could be closer to the recruiting office. In the meantime, he met Dolly Bachtell, and quickly fell in love. They were married at Bethel Temple.. At last he got the word to appear at the coast guard in a couple days. Mom and Dad got a call from their friend who worked at the draft board wondering about Dales status. His draft notice had just come in. When she heard he had a date to report, she said she would just wait until Monday to put it in the mail so he would officially be in the Coast Guard when his draft notice got there. Dales career began as a lighthouse keeper in Puget Sound. Dolly could join him, now that he was through boot camp. Babies started arriving! Edith Caroline arrived at Dale and Dollys on June 8, 1954.. Michelle Kay timed her appearance. She arrived on Dougs 26th birthday, May 7, 1956. Then, Ede gained a baby sister a month later, June 3, 1956. Vernon and Ruby were missing out on all the fun! Their grandchildren all lived too far away for them to visit often enough to stay acquainted. I had married Duane, February 11, 1956 (where else) in Bethel Temple. Janet was my maid of honor, Irene was a bridesmaid. I worked at the phone company until just before the birth of my twins, Diane Lynn and Dauna Jean on April 23, 1958, the day before their Grandparents, Vernon and Rubys 29th wedding anniversary. The twins were 5 years old when I went back to work this time at United Air Lines. Janet had worked for United, so I was aware of the perks, and knew how great those almost-free trips were. During the 5plus years at United, we flew to Disneyland, to Idaho, Kansas City to visit Janet and Don, several times, and to New York City to visit Dale and Dolly and the girls. They were stationed on Governors Island just off the tip on Manhattan. It was an enchanting place. We had a picture-perfect view of the Statue of Liberty, passing ocean liners as they made their way to and from their berths, and the Staten Island Ferry. When Dale toured Battery Park with us, I located the name of Edwin Oppliger, our special teacher from Glendale school on a monument to men who had served in Europe during WWII. It IS a small world after all! We went to Macys and Gimbles, Central Park, the UN, and the automat. Travel to and from the island was by ferry. One ran every 15 minutes. And, because we were still on PST in our heads, we heard the bugler play taps every night. I hope I didnt overwhelm you with boredom, but I wrote this for anyone who may care. If no one does, forgive me. Ill try harder in Chapter 16.
Posted on: Mon, 09 Jun 2014 11:26:57 +0000
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