The Chronicles of My Unique Life

By Darlene House

The author was raised in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California, when the Valley was a wide-open area of orange groves, homes and estates. The large estates were owned by the movie stars such as Roy Rogers and other stars in their heyday. After marriage, my husband and I desired to raise our family in a country atmosphere with a minuscule population. We sold our first home in the valley in order to move to the tiny town of Acton, in the mountainous countryside sixty miles north of Los Angeles.

The time line of book is 1928 to 2011 with many odd happening in our lives and unusual memories and pleasant days in the country. We cleared the land, put down a well, and built our home ourselves and raised a family of four children. Upon completion of the house it was necessary to move the home if we wished to continue living in it. It was a new home and yes we wanted it, but this proved to be frightening experience and a near tragic disaster! This is only one of the many unusual happenings in our life in the country.

Unwanted animals are freely given to people who live in the country from friends. In this manner, we acquired a burro that soon gave birth to a strong baby burro (on its first day of birth, kicked our young son and knocked him down), several dogs, a beautiful horse and another burro. Life in the country was always surprising and a pleasant place to raise a family, sometimes difficult but nice! We knew friends in a circle of twenty miles in every direction. Our two sons still live in Acton, our daughters have moved to the beach cities in California.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 30, 2012
• ISBN: 9781468545760

Darlene House

The author was raised in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California, when the Valley was a wide-open area of orange groves, homes and estates. The large estates were owned by the movie stars such as Roy Rogers and other stars in their heyday. After marriage, my husband and I desired to raise our family in a country atmosphere with a minuscule population. We sold our first home in the valley in order to move to the tiny town of Acton, in the mountainous countryside sixty miles north of Los Angeles. The time line of book is 1928 to 2011 with many odd happening in our lives and unusual memories and pleasant days in the country. We cleared the land, put down a well, and built our home ourselves and raised a family of four children. Upon completion of the house it was necessary to move the home if we wished to continue living in it. It was a new home and yes we wanted it, but this proved to be frightening experience and a near tragic disaster! This is only one of the many unusual happenings in our life in the country. Unwanted animals are freely given to people who live in the country from friends. In this manner, we acquired a burro that soon gave birth to a strong baby burro (on its first day of birth, kicked our young son and knocked him down), several dogs, a beautiful horse and another burro. Life in the country was always surprising and a pleasant place to raise a family, sometimes difficult but nice! We knew friends in a circle of twenty miles in every direction. Our two sons still live in Acton, our daughters have moved to the beach cities in California.

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© 2012 by Darlene House. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 6/28/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-4575-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-4574-6 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4685-4576-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012901291

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

The 1920 & 1930’s

Sunny California

Hello California

My First Trip

School Days

My Fear

After School Time

Grandma and Grandpa Baltes Move West

Grandma and Me

Sweet Devil

The 1940’s

School Days and Radio

Not an Ordinary Sunday

A Sad Communication

Something New in 42

We Moved to Town

My First Job

High School Days

Mom Buys Property

High School and Friends

Mom and Dad’s Silver Anniversary

A Letter in the Mail Box

Rose Parade

A View of the Valley

Shopping for a Home

Pre-Wedding Week

Our Wedding Day— December 31, 1949

Our Uncanny Honeymoon

The 1950’s

Is this Wedded Bliss?

A Pleasant Surprise

Our Crazy Life

Summertime

The Birth of Our First Child

Business Changes

Raising a Child

Kern River Cabin

I’ll Meet You in Twenty Minutes

What Now My Love?

San Francisco Trip

Utah Work Vacation

Starting in Acton with Two Small Boys

A Hole in The Ground

Building Our World

A Corner Fireplace

Before We Leave the Valley

Glenny’s Fantasy

A Chilling Winter

State Department of Right Away

Paul, the Persistent Builder

The Big Bad Picture

The New Acton Locale

Let’s Escape

Spring Time April 25

Buying a New Boat

Water Skiing Begins

The Check Arrives

House Moving

On the Road with Our House

Up in the Air

The Baltes Cabin

Fun on 4th of July

A Note on the Table

Patrol Boat Accident

Bug Bite Emergency

Halloween Party

How About a Pool

My Fearsome Experience

Cub Scouts and Field Trips

Rick’s Big Question

A Graduation Gift

Labor Day Weekend

Life Necessitates a Change

Water Skiing with the Prevost Family

My Last Chance

Rick’s Dinner Conversation

The Dune Buggy

Rick’s Birthday

Nathan Our Horse

The 4th of July Parade in Acton

August Nights and Dancing Lights

My Life

Rick’s Life and Party Line

One Summer Night

New Years Eve

Cindi’s First Five Years

The 1970’s

ACTION in Acton

A New Boat

Our Dog Rebel

An Exchange Student

Glenn’s Surprise

Horse Business

Rick and Brenda’s Marriage

Pristine Lake Powell

Trimming Trees and Wood Cutting

Riding in the Wind

Mom and Dad’s Golden Anniversary

Confusion Abounds

Decisions while Separated

Our Daughter Laura

Paul’s Persona

Sweet Sixteen

Glenn and Sheri Wed

Rick’s Idea

Gals First Hotel Trip

Dissolution of Marriage

My Son Advises Me

Buying a Place for Three

Our Road Travels Begins

Homeward Bound

Summers Here But Not My Job

Dating after Divorce

The High Sierra’s

A Five Year Anomaly

Arizona Highway Officer

My Grandma Minnie Baltes

Laura and Jim’s Wedding

Frank and I Wed

A Ring of Children

Don’s Sad Phone Call

My Dad

My Dad’s War Story

Aunt Hazel’s Wedding

The 1980’s

I Become Grammy D

Affection and Assault

On The Take

Cruising the Mexican Rivera

Cindi’s Sixteenth Birthday

My Mom

After the Cruise

Cindi’s Apartment

Mayo Family Vacation

An Uncommon Call

Phone Calls and Flowers

Saga of a Strange Trip

Champagne Flight

Forced Vacation

B-O-B with one O (To use his words)

Rowley Family Reunion

Bob’s Idea

Paul Stephen Thomas October 27, 1927-March 25, 1988

Let’s Communicate

October 22 Wedding Bob and I

Autumn Leaves in New England

Families and Holidays

Down Under

Picnic Oddity

The Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River

An Unexpected Trip

My 60th Birthday

Bob’s Sister in Ireland

My Sweet Aunt Edna

Cindi and Andy Marry

Rambling across Europe

Houseboat at Lake Powell

Greek Isles, First Trip

Hot Air Balloon Festival

Delta Queen Paddle Boat on the Mississippi

Where in the World are We

No Birthdays Gifts Please

Greek Islands Debased

My Knee Replacement

Verbal Abuse

A New Route in Life

New York City

The Split A New Life Situation

My New Abode Life Changing Events

Life Love and Loved Ones

Sequoia in October 2009

Wedding in Arroyo Grande

Catalina Island 2011 with Grandchildren

Snippets of the Younger Grandchildren

Birthdays, Families and Friends 2011

Introduction

Born and raised Darlene Baltes in Van Nuys, California. She was the second child of four children born to Eugene and May Baltes. She married Paul Thomas and in 1954, they decided the San Fernando Valley was to congested for them! We moved part-time to a small town of Acton with the intention of a complete move the following year.

Paul cleared the land, began drilling a well with a vision of building their home themselves. There were many unforeseen incidents, accidents, and unusual happenings in their lives. This journey through life came with speed bumps and freeways, delays and detours while living the country life. There were happy days and crazy days and most added fun and excitement to life! A few were shocking and totally unnecessary but also unavoidable! All well worth the effort and excitement of doing our own thing when Paul and I were both in their mid twenties. And always with a lack of funds but carefully calculated toward completion!

The very best part was the family of four children, and later nine grandchildren and currently four great grandchildren. Yes, life is Good!

Dedication

My heartfelt appreciation to my family Rick, Laura and Valerie to help me finalize this book.

I had been writing for five years, when my computer would no longer cooperate with my plan to write this book. It locked me out of my documents and totally refused to open them! I then took it in to computer expert to unlock the door and release my stories.

He said, Lady you’re trying to get on the freeway with a horse and buggy. This computer must be at least five years old! I say, Maybe it is, but I like this old horse and buggy!

My son, Rick and his wife Gae surprised me with a new computer for my birthday. Thank you so much! I can’t believe I’m at the three-quarter century birthday of my life! This was a generous gift and I have continued another three years and recently managed to get locked out of my stories on the memory stick. I figure I better finish while both the computer and I are still working and alive!

To my Granddaughter Valerie Paland who is available when I need guidance to realign my computer. A sixty mile trips one way, several times to straighten out my computer and me! She also made the effort to scan my old pictures for publication in the book. This ended up being a bigger job then originally planned, because she did them twice to satisfy the publisher!

My daughter, Laura Mayo after driving to and from Long Beach (for her position with Special Olympics) also ending a seven-day work week came to do the necessary steps to get this off to the publisher, including a drive of sixty miles to her home! Another day she came back after work to assist with picture labels for the book, then driving home the opposite direction.

Thank God for family members adept in computer knowledge. I truly appreciate this extended effort on each part you played as I couldn’t have finished it with out you. I consider them all genuine in-house publisher assistants!

The 1920 & 1930’s

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Sunny California

This is what my Mom told me when I was a kid of 7 years old. And why they decided to move to California. My Dad and Mom received a letter from his Mother she lives in California. Letter is as follows:

December 10, 1930

Dear Gene and May,

Gene you and May you should consider moving to California. The weather is so nice here and it’s wintertime! When it rains is only for a day a two and then its over. Then the sun is out and it’s so nice and about 60 or 70 degrees, not even cold! This is an entirely different life here. It doesn’t snow in Southern California where I live in Van Nuys.

Father Keoun is the pastor in Van Nuys of St. Elizabeth’s Church. He is looking for a man to be in charge maintenance of the school in Van Nuys. Think about this, because I’m sure you would like California. Homes are reasonable here too. Write and tell me what you think.

Love Always,

Mom

Minnie Baltes

16204 Valerio Street

Van Nuys, California

Gene you have a letter today from your Mother read it and tell me what you think! She sounds like she’s happy in California.

What did you think about her idea May?

Well I don’t know for sure, the weather is a real draw, that’s for sure! But we have a house here and property. Nothing is selling in this tight depression time (1930).

So Mom and Dad mull this around for a couple weeks. The winter gets colder and they are snow bound from about Thanksgiving until spring or about five months!

Suddenly, my Mom tells my Dad, Gene lets move to California and just leave this tiny house and property. It will be years before it will sell. I’m so ready to find better warmer climate.

When winter comes to Lismore, Minnesota, it just wears out its welcome and me too!

Good-bye, Minnesota!

Hello California

January 30, 1931

Dear Mom,

We think your idea is a good one. We are coming out this summer as we have several things to take care of before we leave Minnesota. May wants to see all her family before she leaves here. May has a large family of seven living siblings.

Mom can you find us a house near you? I’m sure this will be a good move for us as we are both tired of ice and snow. In fact, we are anxious to make this move. It will be quite a drive. I think about 2000 miles in this old car. I wonder if it will make it! Let me know if you find a house for us.

Your Son,

Love Gene

Dear Gene and May,

I have found a house near me and it’s for sale. It’s reasonable at $2500. It’s only a one bedroom but you can add on to it. It comes with a large lot 50 x150 foot. The house is in the center of the property so you could add on in any direction. Should I inquire about the down payment and payments? Are you interested in this house?

It is also on Valerio Street which is a dirt road. It has a barn on the back of property.

What do you think?

Love Always,

Mom

My First Trip

I am three and half years old and I’m going on my first train trip. My Mommy is taking us kids back east to Minnesota to Grandma & Grandpa Rowley’s farm. My brother Donnie is one and half years old and my sister Marlene is a just a baby few months old.

I’m very excited about getting on the train. Daddy kisses us all good-bye and the train starts making noises and steam or smoke is puffing out from under the train. We hurry to our seats. I am waving to my Daddy and my big brother out the window as the train starts moving down the tracks. We have a basket of food, fruit, cheese and crackers and some sandwiches to eat on the train.

We ride on the train at night and days too; and it seems like along way to the farm! When we get to another train station, Mommy says she is going to get off and buy some milk for us kids. We are supposed to stay right here until she gets back on the train. It seems she is gone a long time and soon the train starts up!

With my nose to the window I can see the steam puffing out from under the train. I’m so afraid Mommy is going to miss the train. I want to scream, wait for my Mommy, but I afraid to do that! I think to myself I can’t take care of a little baby what am I going to do?

I really want to cry for help! My Mommy is going to miss the train! I’m really frighten I think the train is ready to go. I see steam or smoke coming out from the bottom of the train. I have never been so afraid; I can’t take care of a baby! I want my Mommy now!

Oh, I see my Mommy running past the window and into the train. Oh, I’m so happy! I’ve never been soooo happy to see my Mommy. I grab her and hold on to her and I put my arms around her. I love my Mommy. She started to show me everything she bought for us. I just didn’t care what she bought. I just can’t eat anything Mommy my tummy feels sick! Don’t leave the train anymore Mommy! It’s so scary when you are gone! After that it seems like weeks on the train before we get to Minnesota!

I told my cousins we went through lots of desert on the way. My aunts thought that was funny but it really wasn’t funny! It’s not fun at all!

I love my Grandpa’s farm. The first thing he did was sit me up on his old horse and I love it up here, you can see everything real good up on top of a horse. But it’s strange they don’t have a cow, because we have a cow for milk. Maybe because they don’t have little kids living here anymore!

I see all lots of cousins and aunts and uncles and have lots of fun. Some cousins are bigger than me. My Aunt Edna is fun and she lives with a big forest of trees right in back of her house. The trees are very close together. She has little kids. So, its fun at her house.

My Uncle Floyd has a big farm and a big house with bigger kids and lots of farm animals. My Mom goes out in the field with my uncle and helps him get the hay in the barn before it starts to rain. The rain is different than where we live! It rains here in the summer with big raindrops and we go out and play in the rain! We don’t have summer rain. Only rain in the winter! We don’t play in our rain! We had fun back east but I miss my Daddy a lot and my big brother.

At the end of summer, we got back on the train and go for that long desert ride again. It’s a very long desert, and Mom says it takes three days and three nights to cross the desert! But it seems to take at least a week to me!

School Days

On Sundays, after we go to church, Daddy always buys a big Sunday newspaper. My older brother Earl, can read and he reads the funny paper to me. But he always reads Superman & Buck Rogers.

I say Earl those are all boy funnies. Earl pays no attention to me and keeps on reading!

Mommy, I want to go to school and learn to read.

Darlene, you’re too young to go school, I’ll see if you can go to Havenhurst School. We can walk to that school!

Today is my first of day of Kindergarten and I am so happy to go to school!

After school, my Mom meets me and we walk home together.

Mommy, I don’t think this is a real school. I wait in line to swing, I wait in line to slide down the slide, and we wait for the teacher to take us to the bathroom after recess. Then we go into the classroom and have a snack. And the worst part, after that we are supposed to lie down and take a nap. Mommy I can’t sleep, I want to learn to read! They don’t even have books in this school.

Can I go Earl’s school? I don’t like this school they just play and sleep. Mommy says it will get better, but it doesn’t get better at all! I stayed for three long days and I did not learn to read or to sleep at school!

Mommy talks to my Daddy about going with them to Earl’s school.

Daddy say’s he will ask Father Keown. That night Daddy says I can go to St. Elizabeth’s School and I can go in the first grade but you are only 4 ½ years old, so I must stay until I’m 6 ½ years old before going into 2nd grade.

The teacher is a Nun, the first day she gave me a little book, all my own. We started to read and they have lots of books, too. They do not take naps at this school either. I love this school, Daddy. And I can eat lunch with you and Earl, everyday!

A few weeks later.

Mommy I can read to you now! I brought my book home from school today.

See Jane run, Run Jane Run, See Dick run, Run Dick run, See Spot run, Run Spot run.!

Spot is there Dog!

Yes, you can read Darlene, that’s wonderful!

Its fun going with Daddy everyday, we all eat lunch together in the car and we bring it in a little suitcase like thing with our lunch & something to drink, too. Everyday after lunch Daddy gives me a penny for candy and I buy a tootsie roll . . . . I think I’m rich and I love my Daddy. I love candy, too!

My Fear

I’m 6 years old, our neighbor lady told my Mom that I stole something from their house. Mom didn’t ask me if I did this. My Mom punished me and I didn’t steal anything. I’m so hurt because my Mom didn’t ask me about it herself. I’m sad because it hurts my feeling that my Mom doesn’t trust me.

A few years later when I was 9 years old my big brother received a new bike. This is a big deal when you’re poor. My brother always helped my Dad after school while I was roller skating. So that’s why he was received a nice new bike.

My parents have friends Mr. and Mrs. Roberts they don’t have children; but they visited our home often! One Sunday, we go to their house. They live in North Hollywood and have a acre with lots of places to play and climb trees. We have fun in their yard, and never enter their home!

Today the Robert’s are visiting us. We are all out on our back porch looking at my brothers Earl’s new shiny bike. Mr. Roberts was behind me and soon he was down on one knee close to me. I was wearing a dress, he quickly he put his hand up my leg inside my panties and between my legs. He scared me, and I was afraid of him. I moved away from him, and moved over near my Mom.

After they left I said Mom I hate Mr. Roberts and I never want to be see him again. And I told her what he did! My Mom never said another word about Mr. Roberts and I wondered why she was so silent. I worried for years that he would come back. But years later I realized she or my Dad expressed their anger; as that was the end of their friendship; never to return! I had great fear of him reappearing but I don’t think she thought about it from a child’s fear! I had night mares about a man chasing and grabbing me. The bad dreams continued a very long time!

Mom and Dad were sure this would not happen again but I didn’t know it! I know now; they handled the problem. But I wish they would have told me. It’s over don’t worry about him ever again! I’m sure they didn’t want to talk about it!

Sometimes parents are not heard when a child needs to hear their action and result. But I’m happy he disappeared from my life!

After School Time

When school is over each day I help the teacher with the blackboards. They have to all be wiped clean and the erasers are dirty. So I take the erasers outside and hit them together and get all the chalk off them. I help my teacher do other things for the class the next day. I have extra time at school because my Daddy is busy working and we go home about 5 o clock. Sometimes I go to my friend’s house, her name is Rosemary Callan and she lives about two blocks from school. We have fun together. She has roller skates and she sometimes skates back to school and we play together.

Rosemary when Christmas comes I’m going to ask for a pair of Roller Skates for Christmas. Then we can skate together!

She says that’s a good idea. It will be so much fun.

Soon it is Christmas time. I always sell Christmas seals to our neighbors! They only cost a penny each and sometimes people buy a quarter’s worth. These are seals that go on the backside of the mail people send out at Christmas time. I usually sell several dollars worth and get some kind of a prize. These are all religious Christmas seals.

Anyway, I remember to ask Santa for Roller Skates and I’m so happy that I did get them for Christmas. They are skates that come with a skate key, and you keep the key with you when you skate. They fit under your school shoes and then they are tightened on to soles of the shoes. Then if they get loose you sit down and tighten them again. Rosemary and I skate for about two hours after school everyday. This goes on all year unless it’s raining. We even go over to the High School across the street. The long corridors are very smooth and great for skating. There is a big oval entrance in the front of the high school. That too is very nice for skating and the center has pretty flowers and that smell so nice!

My brother Earl helps my Daddy with some of his work. They clean ever class room after school. In the summer, they refinish the desks that some children try to ruin. Daddy also takes care of the Nun’s yard between school and their living quarters. There are many plants, a fountain and some trees, too.

Sometimes I just play Jacks and I use an old golf ball. This takes up lots of time and I can play by my self. First I pick up the jacks one at time while the ball is in the air. Then it’s two at time and so on until at the end I have pick up all the jacks while the ball is in the air. If several kids come back to school we usually play jump rope.

When we drive home Daddy lets me sit in his lap and steer the car on the way home. It is really fun. I love my Daddy! We always go strait down Sherman Way. Then when we get to Woodley I turn right at the corner and go to Valerio Street and turn again, but sometimes I have to wait to left turn in that direction. Daddy always works the gas and the brakes, I steer the car, its lots of fun.

I don’t know any other kids who get to steer the car family car going home from school.

Grandma and Grandpa Baltes

Move West

It’s Saturday morning! Mom, can I go over to Grandma’s house?

Yes. I guess so.

Hi Grandma, does your Mom know you’re over here.

Yes, it’s okay. I like your little cozy house and I really like this little rocking chair. It’s a small size for a little grandma!

Well, would you like some cookies and milk?

Oh, that sounds good? What are you going to do today, Grandma?

I’m going to plant some flower bulbs; you can help me.

Okay.

Then finish your milk, and out we go!

Grandma and I are planting all kinds of flowers that grow in the winter and bloom in the spring and summer. They are all colors, too. Grandma likes planting things, and she is outside most of the time.

Grandma when did you move here? Well this is how it was in 1928 when I was 58 years old. I said to your Grandpa Pete, we have lived here about fifty years and I am damn tired of the ice and snow. I want to move to California. I have talked about this for years!

Yes, I know you have Pete answers! When are you going?

Next week, first I have to get a train ticket. Do you want to go with me?

No thanks, Pete says.

Okay then, but I really intent to go! Lismore, Minnesota. for six months of the year is just too unbearable and then summer’s no picnic, either! Lismore is farm country, but Grandma says we didn’t have a farm. They just like the wide-open spaces and country air.

Pete, will you drive me over Lurverne, to buy a train ticket?

Pete says, Wow you really are serious, huh.

I am very serious and also anxious to go.

The following week

Pete, will you drive me to the train station, I am leaving on Friday at 2pm.

Yes I will drive you on Friday.

Two weeks later

January 10, 1928

Dear Pete,

California is really nice, the weather is wonderful and it’s wintertime. There isn’t any snow on the ground and the days are sunny and very pleasant, really Pete!

I have found a house in San Fernando Valley. It’s a small one-bedroom house, on a large corner lot. The lot is 50 X 150 feet space for a large garden if you like! I think you will like Van Nuys. There are a few neighbors around, but mostly just open space. There is a little country store near by. the town of Van Nuys is only three miles away! Write and tell me what you think. I am ready to move west!

Love always your wife,

Minnie

Write: Minnie Baltes, General Delivery. Van Nuys, California.

January 30, 1928

Dear Minnie,

Gee it didn’t take you long to find a house. I hope you looked around. But if you decide that’s what you want, it’s okay with me. If you need more cash I will send it. Otherwise go ahead with the deal you made with the owner and we will move! What should we do with the car? I think we should give it to Matt. I will pack up the stuff that is easy to bring on the train. The big items I will sell before we leave. When will you be coming back here? Write soon and tell me the results.

Love,

Pete

February 13, 1928

Dear Pete,

We will soon be residents of California. I bought the house and it will several weeks before we can move in. So I will be home on the train on the 20th of February. Meet me at the train station in Lurverne at 3 pm.

Love Always,

Minnie

Grandma said as soon as she got home they began selling their furniture.

They moved west on the train in about March 1928. They also sold their winter clothes. Grandma didn’t think she would need them in sunny California. Grandma and Grandpa loved California and never plan to leave!

The sad part of the story was that Grandpa Pete only lived until January. 1933. He was born in 1868. So he passed away at the age of 63 years old of a heart attack, I believe!

Grandma Minnie was born in 1870 and died in Van Nuys, Ca. 1975

Grandma and Me

Grandma takes care of us kids when Mom is working. Grandma always has cookies at her house. She is a good ole Grandma, but she talks to herself when she is outside, hanging up clothes, on the clothesline. I wonder, is she so old she doesn’t know I am here to talk to? She talks to me most of the time. Why doesn’t she talk to me now? I think she is pretty old! But she does know to have cookies at her house, all the time!

One day she came home, late in the afternoon.

I said Grandma, where was you all day?

I was working at the Sunkist Orange Company.

Why were you working, there?

I just wanted, too she said.

Grandma you don’t have a car. How did you get to work?

I walk out to the street, put out my thumb out, and the people pick me up in their car. How do they know where you work? They don’t know, but I tell them, and they take me in that direction, as far as they are going! Then I do the same thing over again, when I go a different direction. Well, do you come home that way too? Yes, there are always people going the same way I am going.

Well, who is going to take care of us kids, if everybody is going to work?

You’re Mom, she’s is not working right now, she will be with you, don’t worry someone will be home with you!

At a later time, Grandma decided to work somewhere else.

I asked her, where are you working now? You know over by your Uncle Franks store, near Saticoy Street & Balboa, Yes. There are many fields around there planted with tomatoes. I was there today, picking bushels of tomatoes.

Is that hard work, Grandma?

Yes its lots of bending down and hard on your back.

Do they let kids to that? I am thinking, I am much closer to the ground than Grandma is, so it should be easier for me! And besides I’m young and I can bend faster!

Some workers bring their children, during the summer months. But I don’t think your Mom will let you go with me so forget about that idea!

That night, I ask my Mom can I go with Grandma to the fields where she is working. Darlene, you get craziest ideas, that’s not a fun day, and you would soon want to come home, and you can’t until she comes home and believe me that’s a long day for a child. Then, you are going to have to walk a little more than mile home when you are already tired!

Hum, that’s true! I don’t have anything else to do so can I go with her?

You will not like it! But go ahead and go, but don’t expect anyone to help you, and you have to stay the all day!

After dinner, I run back over to Grandma’s house, I can go with you tomorrow Grandma! Mom and Dad said so!

Grandma says okay then, but your going to get very tired and don’t be giving me a bad time about wanting to go home. I will pack our lunches tonight, and I will see you early in the morning,

We walk about a mile to the fields; it’s nice early in the morning. We walk to Saticoy Street and almost to Balboa Boulevard. There are many acres tomatoes in these fields. Everyone gets a big basket. The man giving the baskets says okay fill it up!

The fields are just full of tomatoes and all have to be hand picked, and put into big baskets, the more you pick the more money you make you. In about an hour I have mine half full and I am sick of tomatoes, already. I am tired, and it isn’t even lunchtime. Grandma puts some in my basket. She has already filled hers. I want to lie down in the field and forget about tomatoes.

I wonder why, I wanted to do this? It was the longest day of my life and hard work. I am never going to do this again! That’s for sure! I can’t believe Grandma can do all that bending. She is sixty-nine years old, Wow! I really think my Grandma’s a really strong lady.

I don’t remember her ever going to the doctor!

Later I tell my Mom, it’s really hard work Mom, and it’s so hot when you’re working. And sometimes, the tomatoes are too ripe and they break in your hands, it kind of burns on my skin.

Mom asks did you eat tomatoes all day.

No, I didn’t and I don’t want any for a while, either.

Are you going again, tomorrow?

No I’m not! I am going to stand up straight all day. I am going to walk a few blocks away, and see if I can find some new friends, to play outside with me. Otherwise, I just set in our apple tree all day and eat those crab apples.

Mom asks how they taste.

Their good if you take a salt shaker out with you but I tired of eating them!

Yes, go and find a friend, that’s a good idea, Darlene! I am sure new people have moved in around here. And probably have children your age.

Thanks Mom I will. Like the teacher at school said, Seek and you shall find! I hope she’s right!

Sweet Devil

I am 8 years old now and the Gates family sold their lot next to us, to a builder.

Dad says, I guess everybody likes that lot! The builder, build a three-bedroom home on it. Later he sold it to Mr. & Mrs. King. They have three little girls. Almost all the other land is vacant land around our house.

A man called Mr. Bean farms it all. He planted winter wheat or oats, or something like that from Saticoy Street to Sherman Way and Valjean Avenue to Woodley, except for a few houses. It rains enough to keep the crop growing all winter. Mr. Bean says to all of us kids don’t flatten the crops down in the fields; I can’t cut it when you do that. Do you hear me?

Yes, Mr. Bean, I hear you; the others are quiet!

He does not want us kids to play house in these fields, anymore. We only flatten it down, to make different rooms. He sure doesn’t like that idea!

Mr. Bean has a horse and wagon, it’s big like a truck and when he cuts the oats, we can ride on top of it on the wagon for several blocks. It’s fun, and then we walk home. There are many fields so the rides go on for many days. Our reward for minding him, I guess!

The King family moved in and my sister Marley and I play with these little girls. On this one occasion Mrs. King says I’m ordering candy when they send it you girls can have some. The candy was delivered a few weeks later, while I was their playing with the girls. It was time to go home.

I said Mom you just can’t believe how much candy they had delivered. Its 25 lbs. Oh, Darlene I think you that heard that wrong.

No, Mommy, It’s soooo much candy it’s true, it’s a huge box!

A few days later Mommy and I went out to the mailbox, and Mrs. King was out there too.

She said May come on over and I will give you some candy. I ordered a large shipment. We went over and my Mommy could not believe her eyes either! Mrs. King gave all us kids a few pieces, and gave Mommy a Box of Chocolate covered Cherries. Wow, that was great fun! And very tasty treat! I never knew anyone could buy that much candy. It must have cost a lot of money. Mommy put her box on the high shelf of her closet in her bedroom. About a week later I decided to taste Mommy’s candy.

I took a chair from the kitchen into the closet. Standing on the chair with some catalogs on top and on my tiptoes, I could barely reach into the box of candy. I though, that’s good Mommy already opened it. I will just take one piece, there are a couple of empty wrappers but I found a piece. Wow is that ever sweet! I better get out of here! I put the top on the box, and took the chair back to the kitchen.

Several days later I went through the same routine. This went on for about a month. Finally there were only empty wrappers that I could feel in the box. I decided to get the box down and look into it. I have to put the Sear’s catalogs on the chair to stand on and reach it. I am getting scared because they were all empty wrappers. I go and look to see what Mommy is doing. She is still washing clothes. I took the empty wrappers out and there was a piece of cardboard, I took that out and found another layer of candy. Oh, thank God, I’m getting out of here no more candy for me!

Several weeks went by, and I wondered if Mommy ate the rest of her candy. I just had to see, and I started the whole thing over again! The chair, the Sears Catalogs whole thing, and just one more piece this time, and so on; pretty soon there were only empty wrappers, again. I’m in really big trouble now and I am terrified, why did I keep doing that? Mommy is going to give me away to the neighbors. I don’t know where to go! I’ll just stay out side. I didn’t go in until I was called for dinner, I was very scared, but nothing happen.

Days later, My Mommy called me into the house. Oh, Oh, I thought.

Then my Mommy asks what happened to my candy?

Mommy I’m sorry, I’m sorry.

Did you eat all that candy?

Yes, I’m sorry.

Well, you’re going get good and sick! So I am not going to punish you for that reason…

I didn’t eat it all at one time; no it took a long time. I’m really sorry, Mommy!

I never did get sick, but I don’t like chocolate covered cherries, they just too darn sweet!

I wonder if Mommy even liked that candy, she didn’t eat it. She didn’t very get mad me! Maybe she thinks that darn candy is too sweet!

The 1940’s

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School Days and Radio

My Dad no longer works at our school; he works for Timmy’s Aircraft Company near where we live on Woodley Avenue before Saticoy Street. Now my brother, sister and I take a city bus to school!

I’m in charge of keeping the bus fare for the three of us. On this one sad day I lost our bus fare. I’m really scared. I’m 9 years and don’t know what to do? We all had to walk home that day, its three miles.

My little sister Marlene is 6 years old and screamed all the way home. Everyone in Van Nuys could hear her yell! Donnie and I walked way ahead of her and our faces were red, we were so embarrassed! Donnie and I could not shut her up! We are walking in the middle of Sherman Way on the raised inland that used to be for the Red Streetcars to travel on a few years ago. It seemed like the safest place to walk as there are no side walks along Sherman Way going west.

Marley wants everyone driving to feel sorry for her. It’s not going to kill her to walk home but you would think so, to hear her yell! When we finally get home she can barely talk after all that loud yelling.

After that big problem, Mom bought bus tickets books and each day we tore our one ticket for each of us. This was easier to keep instead of loose change!

After dinner we get to listen to the radio!

Dad says; quiet down you kids the races are on.

My Dad and Earl pick a winner, and place a bet (that is a win and 2nd place) in each race. This is just on paper to see if they can pick the right horses. If they did this for real it would cost money, so it’s just on paper! The names of the horses have funny names like Seabiscuit what does that have to do with the sea or a horse I wonder! Another is Daybreak, Unusual Prospect, Nine to Midnight, Golden Gait, Can Do, and Do It For Me Baby and such funny names.

After the races are over Daddy says, kids the radio is all yours now! Us kids all gather around the little dome shaped radio in the living room.

Earl quickly says tonight I Love a Mystery is on now. Other nights it’s The Shadow Knows and Eller Queen. These are all mystery thrillers on different nights.

I like Amos and Andy, Jack Benny, Fibber Magee and Molly and George Burns and Gracie Allen. Those are funny! On certain nights! George Burns and wife Gracie go to our church in Van Nuys. Don Ameche (a movie star) also goes to our church, too.

Donnie says likes the Lone Ranger and his horse, Silver and his faithful friend, Tonto!

These programs are very important to us kids! We enjoy them very much too!

Daddy says Okay kids it’s time for bed now! Another good night in Radio Land!

Not an Ordinary Sunday

It’s Sunday morning and Daddy drives our family to church. My Mommy doesn’t go with us. I wonder why she doesn’t go with our family to church.

It’s a normal Sunday, until evening. My siblings and I gather around our small dome shaped radio in the living room. Our radio programs are not on, I ask why not? The news broadcast has taken over all the stations!

I can’t believe what I hear the man on the radio say! The Japanese, in a surprise attack early this morning at Pearl Harbor have bombed our ships in the harbor, and our airplanes on the airfield. Bombs are bursting everywhere its chaos in Hawaii!

Daddy says we were like dead ducks in the water! We can’t even defend ourselves!

Daddy I ask how far away is Pearl Harbor? Are they going to bomb us here too?

No, Daddy answers, its thousands miles away from us and our country will keep the Japanese away from the United States!

So don’t worry your little blond head about that, okay!

Okay Daddy.

The following day President Roosevelt declared war on the Japan!

Our local valley newspaper is called, The Green Sheet and is full of awful pictures of ships on fire and explosions in the harbor in Hawaii. Our navy ships are on fire and sinking with-in minutes, with more than 1100 young men lost on one ship!

I live less than a half block from the Van Nuys Airport landing field. I could see all the aircraft coming and going from our home at 16209 Valerio Street in Van Nuys.

The P38’s especially caught my attention, as they had a double fuselage (as Daddy calls it) that double tail section. They look different than other airplanes. Many flew in and out, and on one occasion one crashed in the large melon field at Woodley near Saticoy Street. The crash was actually on Valerio Street if it was a thru street but it dead ends at Woodley Avenue.

Johnny (a friend) and I went over to the crash site, the guards would not let get us near to the plane. A few days later we went back to the site, one of the guards asked us if we were boy & girl friend.

I said No and Johnny said yes and the guard started laughing! He found a small piece of straight aluminum (from the crash) and gave it to Johnny and said you better make her a bracelet out of this! And Johnny did!

Large planes are now landing at the Van Nuys Airport, more activity than before the war began! Sometimes of us kids go over to the hangers where the planes are parked and these planes look so large.

Everyone is very patriotic and most people have Victory Gardens for their families, and are growing vegetables. Daddy shows us this new hospital and says this to receive the injured from the Pearl Harbor.

My brother tells my Dad, I going to see if I can get a job at that new hospital.

Earl I guess it’s worth a try, I’m sure they need a large variety of people!

My brother Earl did go to work at the hospital. He is eighteen years old, and he buys war bonds each week out of his pay check! That’s the patriotic thing to do if you could not serve in the war.

My brother couldn’t serve as he did not pass the physical. He is not handicapped but did not pass some type of dexterity test for the army. This hospital started in Van Nuys and is called Birmingham Hospital on Balboa and Victory Boulevard, then