Today would have been my mother’s 115th birthday. When she was born her father was 40, and her mother was 32. She married my father on August 19, 1929. They had four children of which I am the youngest and only surviving. She died in September 1994 at the age of 87.
There were only 45 states in the United States of America when my mother was born. That means she was older than Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska, and Hawaii.
She was 10 years old when world war one began. She was alive during World War Two, Korean, Viet Nam, Bay of Pigs, and the Persian Gulf.
Mom was born three years after the Wright brothers flew, the year after the first radio broadcast and before: Electric washing machines, Coffee filters; water coolers; paper cups; assembly line production; the model T – first affordable motor car; neon lights; Brillo pads; crossword puzzles; bras; zippers: Sonar; Hair dryers; kiss-proof lipstick; submachine guns; insulin; Hearing aids; Frozen food; Geiger counter; television; Liquid fuel rocket; pop-up toaster; aerosol sprays; ‘Talkies’ at the movies; Iron lung; penicillin; Jet engine; mechanical toothbrushes; Scotch tape: Electric razor; Radio telescope; parking meter; folding wheelchair; Electron microscope; angle-poise lamp; Cats eyes marbles: Electric guitar; Sun tan lotion; electric blanket; Ballpoint pen; photocopying; Helicopters; cloud seeding to trigger rain; nuclear reactor; napalm; Aqualung; Kidney dialysis machine; Nuclear Bomb; Microwave ovens; automation; bikini; tupperware; and tupperware Parties. And those were all before I was born in 1947.
Ella and I skipped breakfast at “home” and drove to Dunkin’ Donuts in Des Moines. We had coffee (I very seldom drink coffee). Ella had a pastry and I had a bacon and egg croissant.
After breakfast, we drove to Merle Hay Mall where we met up with nieces Kara and Karla.
From 11:00 to 3:00 we played Fast Track, ate Maid-Rite sandwiches, talked and laughed.
From 3:45 to 7:30 we visited with Nathan and family. We had supper with them.
We then drove home to Linnea and Rob’s.
©2022 Thomas E Williams
husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, and Santa
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