Private family document. Preserved as written. Not intended for public distribution.
1. Childhood & Grandparents
I loved spending time with my Grandma and Grandpa DeRosa. I remember going on trips to Williamsburg, Wisconsin with them to visit Grandma Mae’s sister, Great Aunt Karen. She was a performer—stage actress and singer (very wild for her time). Sometimes when we were there, she would get us all dressed up in costumes and makeup, and we would put on a show for all the other people around. We would sing and dance and tell jokes and stories.
One song was “On the Good Ship Lollipop.” One story was “I’ve Got a Pain in My Sourdough.” I can still, more than 60 years later, remember most of these. It was a really good time.
2. Play, Imagination & Radio
I spent a great deal of time playing pretend. I was the only child in my family until I was 10½. Then my sister was born. Three years later my cousin Jack was born, so I was raised pretty much alone.
I always loved paper dolls and spent many hours dressing and undressing them and making up plays or stories. I often played on the stairs so the dolls could stand up.
We did not have TV. Radio shows for children were often on from 5 to 7 in the evening. “Jack Armstrong, the All American Boy” and “Little Orphan Annie” were great favorites.
My best outside activity was playing jump rope with friends. We jumped and sang until one missed, then you became a turner.
Rhymes included:
“Buster Brown, touch the ground”
“Turn around”
“Touch your shoe”
“Better scadoo”
3. Travel & Early Memory
When I was 7½, my mother, father, and I went to New York City for eight weeks on business. It was great fun. We stayed in the St. George Hotel. I remember it so well.
On the way, I had a yellow-tan teddy bear that today would look a lot like Winnie the Pooh. On our drive to New York City—no interstates or big highways—the drive took three or four days, with overnight stays at tourist homes. There was no air conditioning in cars.
I dropped my bear out the window. My poor dad had to pull over, stop, and walk back to get my bear. We surely couldn’t go on without him. After my sister was born three years later, I lost track of the bear. I don’t remember his name.
4. Safety & Society
When I was a child, everything was safer. I grew up in Chicago, so we locked our doors, but you could walk to the store, go shopping, and not be in constant fear. I believe the rapid news coverage of all world activities has hurt society.
5. World War II
World War II meant rationing, shortages, fear, and uncertainty.
7. School
Grades one through eight were in one building. There were perhaps three first-grade classes. Not unlike yours.
8. Summer Evenings
On summer evenings we would sit out on the front steps and visit with neighbors or friends who stopped by. At some point someone would walk to the drugstore and get ice cream. Sometimes with sauce, sometimes root beer soda. We would go in and have sundaes or Black Cows. These were great treats.
9. Work
I was not paid for jobs at home. My first job was as a salesgirl in a five-and-ten-cent store. I made 17 cents an hour in 1944.
11. Clothing
We wore pleated skirts, pullover sweaters, bobby socks, and saddle shoes—just like in the movies about World War II.
12. Hairstyles
Girls wore pompadours and long hair turned up on the ends. Boys wore pompadours.
13. Reflection
My youth—at 71 I would go back in a minute and play there again the same way.
14. Family & Security
I was very blessed. Being an only child for so long, I was the darling of four grandparents, two uncles, and doting parents. Even during the 1929 Depression when my young father was out of work, my grandparents saw to it that I had everything I needed. I was greatly loved and appreciated. I hope my children and grandchildren feel as great as I did through childhood.
15. Expressions
“Kiszon was here.” “Super.” “Nifty.” “Yikes.” “Jippers.” “Creeping.”
16. Collections
I collected pennies and stamps. I never cared much for either one.
17. Rules
Cross the street carefully. Stay where told. Taste all foods.
19. Discipline
Spanked?
20. Fairness
Fair—not all. Great compared to some. Not so good to others. Government surely tries.