No Rose Gardens

By Lily Flower

Since I had to conquer life on its term, I felt the need to write this book—in hopes the reader will find strength and control in their own life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 10, 2019
• ISBN: 9781796039283

Book preview

Copyright © 2019 by Lily Flower.

Library of Congress Control Number:            2019907005

ISBN:                Hardcover                 978-1-7960-3930-6

                          Softcover                   978-1-7960-3929-0

                           eBook                        978-1-7960-3928-3

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 08/12/2019

Xlibris

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CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Chapter 40

Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Chapter 43

Chapter 44

Chapter 45

Chapter 46

Chapter 47

Chapter 48

Chapter 49

Chapter 50

Chapter 51

Chapter 52

Chapter 53

Chapter 54

Chapter 55

Chapter 56

Chapter 57

Chapter 58

Chapter 59

Chapter 60

Chapter 61

Chapter 62

Chapter 63

Chapter 64

Chapter 65

Chapter 66

Chapter 67

Chapter 68

Chapter 69

Chapter 70

Chapter 71

Chapter 72

Chapter 73

Chapter 74

Chapter 75

Chapter 76

Chapter 77

Chapter 78

Chapter 79

Chapter 80

Chapter 81

Chapter 82

Chapter 83

Chapter 84

Chapter 85

Chapter 86

Chapter 87

Chapter 88

Chapter 89

Chapter 90

Chapter 91

Chapter 92

Chapter 93

Chapter 94

Chapter 95

Chapter 96

Chapter 97

Chapter 98

Chapter 99

Chapter 100

Chapter 101

Chapter 102

Chapter 103

Chapter 104

Chapter 105

Chapter 106

Chapter 107

Chapter 108

Chapter 109

Chapter 110

Chapter 111

Chapter 112

Chapter 113

Chapter 114

Chapter 115

Chapter 116

Chapter 117

Chapter 118

Chapter 119

Chapter 120

Chapter 121

Chapter 122

Chapter 123

Chapter 124

Chapter 125

Chapter 126

Chapter 127

Chapter 128

Chapter 129

Chapter 130

Chapter 131

Chapter 132

Chapter 133

Chapter 134

Chapter 135

Chapter 136

Chapter 137

Chapter 138

Chapter 139

Chapter 140

Chapter 141

Chapter 142

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CHAPTER 1

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I was born; my formative years were in the suburbs of Cleveland Ohio, I was the last child born of six children. I do not feel my birth was of a special joy to my parents since they already had three boys and two girls, and the depression was upon them, that’s all they needed was another mouth to worry about. But as faith would have it they were blessed with another girl. I must say they handle the event very well. As for my siblings, they didn’t have much of a choice. All and all I was very lucky indeed to be born into a family that had a lot of love to give, would be supportive when things got terribly difficult for me, but I am getting ahead of my self.

My father who was of German descent believed in complete control of his family. Believe me, he did just that. To show just how well he ruled his home, one of many things come to mind, when we all sat at the dinner table, my father sat at the head of the table, 1, being the youngest, sat at my father right. Chad, my youngest brother sat at my father left, each of the other children took their places accordingly. Next to Chad, came Ray, then Ron. Next to me came Fran, than Gertty, with my mother at the other end of the table. There was not to be any talking at the table except to pass what ever it was that one wanted. God help you if you forgot to say PLEASE, but this also presented an opportunity for all of us kids to turn this into a match of skill. We would try to get someone at the table to laugh, by kicking under the table, or by making faces at the one across the table. All this had to be done without my father knowledge. The one that could not contain them selves was the one that got into trouble with Dad. It seemed as though it was my brother Chad that mostly lost. One time he came to the table with his hat on. I’m sure when he went to wash up for dinner it was just an over sight. But when he sat down. My father took one look at him, and backhands him. Well, he hit the brim of the hat just right that caused it to spin around on his head. The whole table was in stitches, it was so funny. Chad had to leave the table before he even got a bite to eat. Poor kid, I am sure he took special care to check himself out the next time, so there would not be repeat.

Yes, my father was lord and master of his home and family. I can understand why he felt the way he did. He and his Younger brother my Uncle John, were left a lone at a very early age to live with their paternal Grandmother when they lost their parents. I don’t know what happen to them, as my father, nor my Uncle talked about them. Strange, that nothing was ever mentioned. I do know that my father had to work long hours at the ripe old age of eight years old. He continued this pattern all through his life.

My mother was of Irish descent, which was fortunate for us. She had easygoing ways, with a smile and a twinkle in her eyes, she had a ready laughter at the crazy things her brood would do. She was a willing listener to our problems, and always found ways for us to find the solution. She was a pro at this. Its uncanny how she always had a story to tell that related to the problem at hand. She was able to let you see the whole problem through someone else’s point of view, and you weren’t even aware of it.

My parents made a good balance for us. My father showed us the importance of responsibility of family, hard work, rules, and order. Sprinkle with the knowledge of feeling secured within our selves. My mother showed us the importance of sharing and caring. Not to take our selves too seriously, to be able to laugh when things would go wrong, to look for the humor, and look for the good that all people possess.

My siblings were of equal importance to my growing up years. They taught me how to use my wit and humor, never to be cruel or destructive. The other person must be able to see the humor too, or it is just plain meanness. Needless to say, we all played at pranks, and exchange wits with each other. It was a fun house to grow up in. There was times when our pranks would get out of hand, but it was never intended, it just kind of happened.

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CHAPTER 2

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As a child I can remember every day of wakening was like sunshine to me, full of life, joy, fun, and love. I had a lot of love to give. It didn’t make any difference if it was for cats, dogs, and children. I like to be around babies and small children, and entertaining the small children in the neighborhood. Many mothers told me they enjoyed having me around their children. The feeling was mutual.

That not to say there wasn’t time to enjoy my siblings, for I did. My brother Chad and I were the closest in age so we seem to invent our own excitement, which at time didn’t make us very popular with the rest. Especially when they were the focus of our prank. One thing that comes to mind is when my sister Gertty and my brother Ray; had a disagreement that escalated in a physical conflict. Now this may not sound like any big deal, but there is only thirteen months difference in their ages, Ray being the oldest, and they were around sixteen and seventeen years old. My mother and father was out, this created a wonderful opportunity for Chad and 1 to make a little bet of money. So we ran around the neighborhood announcing the big fight that was taking place in our living room. There was a huge bay window at the front porch, where everyone could stand and view the action, it only cost them a nickel each. The living room was big and long where the two of them had plenty of room to fight it out, Gertty could hold her own with the best of them, so, Ray couldn’t get the best of her. He met his match. It only lasted about ten to fifteen minutes. It ended with a new found respect for each other, and Chad and I a little richer, if it could have gone longer we really could have cleaned up.

Another one of our adventure, involve my Grandfather. I’m not very proud of this, but I want to show the whole picture, I was a good kid, but I had my moments too like every one else. I think I could write a book just on the antics my family could do, and did. Back to the story about my Grandfather.

One morning while my mother was out, Chad and I was sitting around the house, wondering what we could do. My Grandpa was still up stairs a sleep. He was a creature of habit so it made it easy for us to play a prank on him. First, you have to be filled in about how my wonderful dog fits into this story.

Had this wonderful dog that was mine, I found this poor dog lying under a tree of this house that was torn down. It was so cold, and the poor thing couldn’t even stand. I check his collar to see if I could find his owner. After walking up and down the streets with the dog in my arms, and no one acknowledging him as their, I had no choice but to take this animal home. I made a bed for him in the basement, than ran down to the butcher to see about getting him a bone. That was when the butcher would give the bones away.

That evening when my father got home from work, he went down to the basemen to stoke up the fire in the furnace; he was met by my dog Spot. Which hurried my father ascend back up the stairs very angry to say the least.

I told Dad how I found him, and he was close to death. Please let me keep him, just till he is stronger. My father said he was strong enough now, by the way he came after me. I had to get him out of the basement that was an order. I went down the stairs, trying to explain to Spot that we have a problem; I put him in the garage till I was able to sneak him up into my bedroom for the night. I had hopes that I would be able to talk my parents into letting me keep this poor animal. Well, to make this story short, I did win. Spot knew what I had to go through to keep him, so in return-he gave me all his love a loyalty.

When I would be finished riding my bike, I would tell Spot to watch it for me. He would lie by the wheel; God helped anyone that came near it. He would snarl, show his teeth, and growl; everyone knew Spot would bite if they didn’t move away. No one could pet him except me. He really did love me and 1 loved him. Now that I gave some of the back ground on my Dog; you will see how the prank was played on Grandpa.

As 1 said before, Chad and I were sitting around, when we came up with this great prank to play on Grandpa. So we cleaned out the refrigerator and put all the food in one of the chairs in the dinning room, then we cover it with a tablecloth so Grandpa wouldn’t see it in case he decided to go through the dinning room on his way to the kitchen. As I said before, Grandpa was a creature of habit. He always came down the stairs, went through the doorway from the living room into the kitchen, open the refrigerator, then close it, without ever taking any thing out, then went over to the stove to see what Mom had fix and left him for breakfast.

This morning after we had taken care of hiding the food, we were waiting for Grandpa to get up, and start his descend down stairs. The second step from the bottom creaked. That was my signal to pick my dog up and place him in the refrigerator. Then we waited for Grandpa to be surprise. Boy! Was he, Spot come charging out at him, teeth showing and snarling. Poor Grandpa. When I now think about it, he could have had a heart attack. At the time Grandpa thought it was Chad that did this. With him being so angry, he was chasing Chad around the dinning room table, telling him he was going to kill him when he got his hands on him. I was so scared; the only thing I could think of was for me to root for Grandpa. Telling him, Get him Grandpa.

My brother was not happy with me. What else could I do, I was just a little kid.

Up to that time I guess my young years were as normal as the other children in our neighborhood. Except for the time I was hit by a car,

One of my sisters was entertaining some of her boy friends while my parents were out for an early evening. The boyfriends wanted to get rid of my brother and me, so they gave us some coins to go and get ourselves some candy. They didn’t have any trouble getting us to go. We were running to the candy store, along with my dog Skipper.

We bought our candy and was on our way back home, Chad got across the street, what I would say was then our busy traffic street, Chad started calling my dog, as Skipper started to run across to my brother, I saw a car coming that would hit my dog, so I ran to grab my dog to make a dash to the other side of the street. Well, needless to say, neither one of us made it. My poor dog landed about 75 feet up the street. I fly upward and landed close to where I was hit.

The man that was driving the car, wanted to know my name, when I told him, he was surprise. It turned out he was my father’s boss. He and another man were helping me to get home. They soon realized I needed some medical attention, so they took me to the closest hospital for treatment. It wasn’t long before my parents arrived. With instructions from the Doctor. I was allowed to go home with them. I was having troubles standing and walking, my legs would not hold me up. I missed school, my teacher would come to the house to bring some school work for me, so I wouldn’t fall behind. It didn’t help.

One day, two -men came to the house to talk to my mother. I was placed in a chair in the living room, as my mother welcome the men in to sit down on the couch. As she excuse herself to go to the kitchen to serve tea, and some kind of goodies. While she was out of room, the two gentlemen asked me some questions, than they came over to me, pick me up under my arms, stood me in the middle of the living room. Then let loose of my arms. At that exact moment my mother entered the room just as I fell to the floor. My mother was furious. She ordered these men out of her house, what in the world were they thinking of. They saw her furry, and didn’t waste any time to get out of the house as fast as their legs could carry them, before she pick up something to hit them. It was a long process, but I did make a full recover.

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CHAPTER 3

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Then came World War Il. Two brothers were gone from home. The youngest brother was too young to enlist, he quit school, but he did get a job working in a factory. One sister left for California to stay with our Aunt. The other sister married a GI that was sent to duty, so she was living in Florida with his parents, since she was pregnant.

Everyone was doing their share with the War effort. School children were gathering tin cans, papers. My father was now working in the ship yard building Battle Ships. My mother was busy donated her time to Red Cross, rolling bandages, some times my mother would take me with her, and, I would also roll bandages.

This one particular day; when I came home for lunch. Back then, that was the norm, all the school children went home for lunch, we also walked to and fro from school. As I came in the door, I called out, Mom I’m home there was no answer, which was not unusual for my mother, she was gone a lot, either working, or visiting her friends.

I went straight through to the kitchen, fix my self something to eat, when I finished with my sandwich, I went through the dinning room that was a jasent the living room. That is when I saw my mother on the living room floor, along side a over stuff chair. That is why I didn’t see her when I came in.

At first I thought she was just taking a nap, for she had done that before, lay down on the floor to take a nap. I went over to her and saw she was foaming at the mouth. My first thought, Oh my god! My dog must have bitten her and she has rabies. I tried to arouse her with out success.

I ran out the door to get help from the neighbor across the street, I was telling her something is wrong with my mother, to help me. She sent me off to another neighbor, which I told the same story. She came down to my house, some how, they knew how to get in touch with my father at his place of work. Plus, call our family doctor. Everything began to get a little crazy then. Dad finally arrived home, about the same time as the doctor’s arrival. I sat in the back ground observing everything that was going on, very confused, not knowing what was wrong with my mother.

My father went up-stairs to get one of the mattresses off of one of the twin beds. He hauled down stairs and placed it in the living room where my mother laid. The reason being she was not to be moved. She was still unconscious, with the help of the doctor they were able to place my mother on to the mattress with the lease amount of problems.

She remained there for about a week or so. The Doctor came every day to check on her. My father took care of her every need. At time I was appalled at him having the audacity to put her on a bedpan. Of course being only ten years old I wasn’t able to understand.

One day, my father was out, probably at work, when he came in, my mother told him to move her up-stairs to their bedroom. He was telling her, no way, she was not to be moved! She told him that the Doctor was in, and that he said she could be moved up-stairs when he got home to help her.

Dad turned to me and asked, Did the Doctor come today? And did you hear him say your mother could be moved up-stairs? I told him the Doctor had been there twice. I left the room, so I don’t what was said. My mother’s strong feeling regarding about lying,