How I Became the Wise Old Lady I Am Today

By Barbara L. Laubert

Throughout ones life there are moments, that stay etched in our minds. These moments and experiences soon become memories, as we grow old. For one particular woman, these memories created knowledge and wisdom, which carried her through many trials. With her faith in God and the love for family in her heart, she has become the wise old lady that she is today.

Growing up in the 1930s, Barbara endured an uncertain childhood, which was unlike any other young childs experience. At just eleven years old, she was sent off to a boarding school in Florida because of chronic illness. Alone and in unknown surroundings, she learns about her own strengths and how to create a life using her own talents. After regaining her health, Barbara returns to New Jersey with her parents. Her teenage years quickly turn into her young adult years with a wedding and babies to follow soon after. Her family creates the safe environment she so craved as a young child, and her sense of belonging was cemented in her husband and the family they created together.

As years pass by, she faces many challenges as a mother. These trials test her in ways she never imagined. With her faith and devotion, she continued to share and pass on her wisdom gained from her challenges.

With over 50 grandchildren and counting, the family can feel comfort in her life lessons and the connection to her struggles. Her story is one full of hope that family stories and wisdom gained throughout the years can help others in the journey through life. By Amy R. Glinski

• Language: English
• Publisher: LifeRich Publishing
• Release date: Jan 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781489712486

Barbara L. Laubert

Barbara Lee Wilson was born June 23,1933. She married on February 16, 1952 and went on to have nine children. She experienced many kinds of episodes in life. All of these experiences were lived with the protection of God, thus helping her to be the Wise Old Lady She Is Today.

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Copyright © 2018 Barbara L. Laubert.

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ISBN: 978-1-4897-1249-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4897-1248-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2017905912

LifeRich Publishing rev. date: 01/24/2018

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my husband Andy, for his devotion and constant love. Abiding patience and understanding, while I tackled the undertaking of this project. He either works on repairing a piece of antique furniture or sits all by himself, watching TV. Then, goes to bed at night without me. I appreciate his subtle and reassuring smile, with a kiss goodnight.

Thank you Andy, for encouraging me ‘to be me’, so that I was able to develop the gifts that God has given me. Thank you for giving us 9 talented children and especially for the wonderful, secure sixty-five years of our marriage. I’m glad I took you for that ride, in my little powder blue, 1951 Rambler convertible. Vvvvv Rooooom !

I appreciate your endless love, you are my ……… Everything !!

Picture11951blueRambler.jpg

1951 Nash Rambler American,

powder blue convertible with white wall tires.

Andy asked me to take him for a ride, on August 14, 1951.

I live under God’s Protection.

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Embracing my trust in the Lord.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

1. Robinson Avenue

Part I

Part II

2. Naylor’s Run Road

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

3. Academy of the Holy Names

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

4. Family When I was a Child

5. My Life in Egg Harbor City

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

6. Meeting My Prince Charming

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

7. Our Wedding

8. Building our First House

9. With GOD’S Protection

Part I

Poem: ‘Quiet Time’

Part II

10. Incidents along the Path of life!

11. Our Children

12. Striving To Accomplish Our Dream

Poem: Life is A Daydream

13. I didn’t realize what I was giving Up

14. Our Country Home and Trailer Life

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Poem: Things Shared

15. Little Kids Will be Little Kids

Part I

Part II

16. Deciding to Sell the Big House

17. New Life on Heidelberg Avenue

Poem: Children

18. Our Billy

19. Grandma Wilson, My Mentor

20. Miles of Fire

21. Pondering

Poem: My Child

22. Omissions

Poem: Beads of Love

23. Bernie Shares her Home in Ireland

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

24. Caring

Part I

Part II

Poem: In Strength I Grow

Part III

Poem: Thanksgiving ****** Thanks for the Roof *****2009

Part IV

Poem: ~~~~~~~~~ Friends ~~~~~~~~

Part V

25. Reading the Will

Part I

Part II

Poem: **** Dear, Dear LORD ****

26. Moving to the Sunny South

Part I

Part II

27. People Who Have No Limits

Part I

Part II

28. Journey of Love

Part I

Part II

29. My Many Talents

30. Wonderful Memories

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

Part VIII

31. How I came to be the Wise Old Lady I am Today

32. The Holidays

Afterword

Poem: ‘‘Memories of life’

Biography of Barbara Lee Laubert

Acknowledgements

First and foremost, how do I say Thank You, to you, Andy, Jr., Ruthann, Grace, Rosemary, Billy, Lori, Douglas, Beverly and Gregory? Without you, my life would not have been fulfilled. I enjoyed nurturing and loving you. I’m so proud of your accomplishments. I appreciate your understanding and especially for giving me your LOVE. You have made my life complete. An extra thank you, for giving me the 22 wonderful grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. They bring a whole new dimension to my life. I always look forward to their visits. New babies keep coming and this HAPPINESS is met with much anticipation.

My family was very small while I was growing up. I only had 1 cousin, who was Ann Harold Cowart. Ann passed on to be with our Lord on February 5, 2005. She and I were very close and she was a big part of my life. I miss her and wish I could share this work with her because we both had done genealogy and sewing together. Ann had a wonderful marriage with Clyde, who still keeps in touch with me. Oh, how I appreciate this friendship.

Very special thanks to Ronnie Boggs, a computer expert, for keeping my old computer in working condition. He has been a lifesaver!

One thing for sure, I’ve had the best friends since childhood, who have always had a listening ear to my sorrows and joined in with my joys. To mention those who have been the most sincere and never let me down are: Monsignor Joseph Stoerlein, Tom and Joyce Breder, Ellie Menner-Pistoll, Nancy Herbert, Joan and Bill Barlow, Minnie and Monty Montez, Mary and John Dickinson, Elaine and Paul Rundio, Ruth Hale, Dee and Vince Romaniello, Helga Klock and Sue and Tom Weisbecker. Then there’s Abe and Phyllis Rundio and my ex-sister-in-law Carol Adler; who is like a sister to me, all are special friends.

I don’t know what we would do without telephones, electronics or a computer today, allowing us to keep in touch so easily.

In the past twenty-three years, my newest great friends are Kathy and Charles Steelman, Evelyene and Bud Moon, Pete (Patricia) and Dean Williams, Jean and Roger Horton, Edna and Jimmy Germany, Mary and Rollin Thaxton, Thelma and Jacob Day, Judith Kitchens, Kay Ellis, Lonnie Seiavitch and of course, Ronnie Boggs.

I also need to include wonderful friends we’ve made from our church, The Catholic Center at University of Georgia. Father David Hyman who gave me beautiful plants; including the Pinus Pinea (umbrella Pine tree) that is 15 feet tall in my front yard; he started from a seed from Rome. And Tom Vigliotta, who counseled me and also officiated at our 60th wedding anniversary in 2012. Patti and Jim Law, Carl and Sandy Huberty, Christine Reynolds, Larry and Teddy Dempsey, Lou and Annette Richt, Tom and Lisa Ganschow, Chet and Ann Malanoski, Maury and Cecile Maher, Bill and Jean O’Neil, Diane Morrow, and Harry and Cecily Catchpole. Also, my friends from St Joseph’s Church, in Washington Georgia is: Lois and Bob Theis, Myrtice and Joe Carey, and Anita and Clarence Turenne. You all have a special place in my heart. I am privileged that you are my friends.

How fortunate I am, to have every one of these friends in my life. I am grateful for the many hours of laughter, great conversations, cups of coffee, guidance, consoling, good times, phone calls, and the love we have shared in church, playing cards, yard parties, out to dinner and the many visits to each other’s homes. I value it all.

Then, there is the expertise of my English teacher granddaughter Amy Glinski, who has been my editor-in-chief here at home in Lexington, Georgia. I do appreciate her time and talent that makes me so proud of her. Special thanks Amy.

My journey has taken me near and far away. I have truly been blessed to know all of you.

I hope I haven’t left anyone out because all of my friends mean the world to me. I appreciate your ear, your kindness, fun we have had together, laughter, and willingness to always be there in person or in prayer.

Introduction

From the time I was a little girl, I wanted to be a wife and a mommy. I was born on a Friday, June 23 in 1933. My dad was a struggling electrical engineer. Mama was a stay at home mom. My memories range from happy to heart breaking. God blessed Andy and me with nine healthy, pink babies. I’m 84 now and wish I could figure out how to understand them all. Each child is so different. As in personality, their beliefs, ambition, routine and all the other characteristics and traits.

Considering the many challenges, emotional and physical, I’ve managed to remain a happy soul. I’ve had nineteen operations over the years and more than a few broken bones, but I mend well and regain my energy to continue my life-long dream of being a "wife, a mother, a grandmother and great-grandmother and recently a great-great-grandmother. I’ve had a wonderful life with my devoted husband Andy! Most of my hopes and dreams have come to be, and I look forward to see what the future holds, with God’s protection every day.

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Chapter 1

Robinson Avenue

Part I

My humble beginnings: It’s the year 1933. I was born on June 23, a Friday, named Barbara Lee Wilson, whose parents are Franklin David Wilson, Jr. and Mary Adeline Manwaring Wilson. I have a brother who is four years older than me, (Bud) Edmond Crawford Wilson. My sister Mary Eleanor came when I was two. Daddy nicknamed her Toby. We all lived at 1512 Robinson Avenue, in Manoa, PA.

The house was a small bungalow in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. I can still smell the yellow Honeysuckle that was growing at the end of our front porch. It was fun to pick and suck the sweet juice out of the little white flowers. The house only had two bedrooms, so Daddy made a bedroom in the attic for Bud. The attic stairs went up from a stairway in the kitchen.

I was a frail, blue-eyed blonde; about 5 years old back then. Sometimes, Daddy would take us for a Sunday drive, to watch model airplanes fly or go see great big locomotives coming into the station, where daddy would let us almost touch the train. Summer Sundays, Daddy would often take us to Ocean City, New Jersey to enjoy the beach, swimming in the Atlantic Ocean and watching people flying kites by the waters edge. Oh, how exciting it was, seeing the different shapes and bright colors, way up in the sky. I saw one person struggling to get his kite into the air. This event gave us the desire to fly our own kite, so Daddy took care of that; he bought us each a kite that we had to build ourselves. I can still see the big piece of tissue like paper and the light, long sticks that came with the kite to make it’s shape. Then we had to glue the tissue paper to the sticks. Of course every kite has a long tail, so Mama gave us an old sheet to tear up and make tails for our kites. We had a big field in back of our house where we kids learned how to fly the kites. It didn’t take long to realize it’s quite a job, to know just how to fly a kite and keep it up there.

After being at the beach, we would go to a friend of Nana Harold, Auntie Dot Miller’s house. It’s just across the street from a small train station, on Railroad Avenue, in Ocean City, NJ. There was an outside shower on the garage where we used to wash off the sand from the beach. Oh, I remember it was so cold, but we couldn’t take the sand into Auntie Dot’s house.

Auntie Dot was a plump, sweet old lady who always had a snack to welcome us. But the greatest memory was, we kids were fascinated with the scrimshaw whale’s tooth on the mantle-piece. Our inquisitive minds about the tooth, sure did make for great conversation. (Later in life, I also took my children to visit Auntie Dot and they too, had great conversation about the scrimshaw whale’s tooth.)

We stayed a little while to visit with Auntie Dot and then started the drive back home. From Ocean City it was about 80 miles to get home to Philadelphia. I can still feel myself all curled up, on the back window shelf of the car, for the long ride home. Some nights, Mary and I would fuss about who was going to get the shelf or the floor wells. Buddy was the biggest, so he usually got the seat. I still remember how the cars would be lined up for miles, as we were getting close to the Delaware River Bridge. Today, that bridge is named ‘The Benjamin Franklin Bridge." Sometimes it would take us twice as long to get home, as it did to drive down to the beach. This was a really big trip way back in 1938! Fun days were the best, but the sad memories also flashback into view.

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Part II

One day I was a crying 5 years old, because my mama and daddy were having an argument about Daddy not paying the milkman.