When I was 15 years old our family moved from Woods Run to Kilbuck Township just north of Pittsburgh. We lived on Camp Horne Rd. Our house was in the hollow of this township. Since we no longer had a street to play baseball, our dad constructed a volleyball court for us in the side yard. We would play volleyball or madmitten until it was so dark we couldn't see.
Because of the isolation of our new country living, my five sisters and I had to resort to board and card games. That first summer we were all still at home. I don't know who or how we got started playing cards. Because we didn't have any real money, we used different color beans to stake our games. One day we were playing gin rummy, and we got in to a mean fight. We were making so much noise, and it must have sounded as though we were killing each other because my mom ran out on the front porch and yelled, "Stop, Stop this nonsense... you are not playing with money or for blood you are playing with beans, BEANS." "I swear you all are going to kill each other over BEANS." We all took a deep breath and started to really laugh. But, we still continued to play with the beans as though we were playing for blood. I guess that competitive spirit has served the family well over the years. Just a thought. By Karean Williams
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You are too funny. Yes, I remember jacks, My sisters and I used to play jacks and pick up sticks for hours. I think we had more fun arguing and bickering with each other. It has served me for many years.
Once I had a co worker who I asked to help me with a project. She got mad at me because I was the supervisor and felt that I could ask her rather than one of the other employees--she was right. She snapped at me; of course, I snapped back. Every day we ate lunch together, so at lunch time I went looking for her. I had forgotten about the encounter. She would not talk to me. That evening I called her home to find out what was wrong with her. She told me that we were supposed to be mad at each other. I told her that in my entire life I have never been mad at anyone for more than a few minutes. Once you say what you have to say it is all over. I never carry a grudge nor do I carry any thing piety to bed. That was a rule in our family. We had to kiss, made up, and forgive right away. She told me that she wished she could be more like me, but she wanted to stay mad. I didn't know what she was talking about because I have never been angry just to be angry for any reason.
So, I think the way we grew up having good fights were really healthy. No one resorted to a gun or hitting or even hurtful words--although we would cuss like sailors when the grown ups weren't around. If you get to heaven before I do, please don't tell my folks.
Yes, we are close in an adult sort of way.
Before my mother died we were closer, because the "Town Crier" would tell all your business. There was nothing confidential or sacred to my mother. If you shared a concern with her, she would find the money or whatever needed to help with some ones family--shoes, clothes, food, pay a utility bill or help with a doctor bill or rent. She was the first to announce a pregnancy, an engagement, a break up, unemployment or even that some one broke a finger nail.
When my sister’s husband died, my mom forced me to go to Michigan to help my sister with the funeral. I would have gone, but it made my mother feel good that she bullied me into it. When my sister called, I was so tired, I had just finished finals, and I thought she was kidding, I told her that I was too tired I needed to sleep for a couple of days then call me when you are rational. Needless to say, she called my mother and told on me. My mother got on the horn so fast it made my head spin. My sister was not kidding with me. I had to pack so fast and before I knew it my mother had enlisted a couple of cars loaded with people. And, outside my front door ready to go to Michigan. What an experience. You know I am full of them--HUH!!
By the way, we don’t have a family we have a small town. That is why we need a "Town Crier."
Wow... did you stir up my memory bank. We did it all... you know how competitive sisters can be. We use to sneak and wear each others clothes. I swear to this day if I have on something that looks vaguely famlliar to one of my sisters, she will quietly ask if it belongs to her. Nowadays, it is a suggestion for a gift.
We used to tear up shoes skating on the streets. We skated like a "posse" and we knew the best streets to skate on. I can't remember ever getting tired.
Our street dance was on the 4th of July, and because most of the people in our community were of Polish descent we had wild polkas. I used to know most of the polkas and square dances.
Other times when we were teenagers we use to go to the Woods Run Settlement House. Did you have a Settlement House in your community? I only learned about the significance of a settlement house when I was in grad school. The concept was designed by Jane Addams in Chicago. She was instrumental in saving the lives of many infants because of her social work.
I have so much to say.... thanks for putting a spark to my memory bank. It really makes me smile and even laugh at some of our antics.
Karean
I received many comment about my journal entry on the AARP website and I tried to respond to many of them. In all good honesty I could not put the responses here with breaching a writer's confidence, so I transferred my own comments. It help to jog a little more of my memories.
You and your family are quite welcome to join our family. We have so many people in our family that another family doesn’t matter--so the saying in the family goes. My grandmother would just put more water in the soup.
We have a friend Caroline. We taught at the college with for some years. Prior to her recruiting me to work at the college, she was my youngest sister’s best friend. At that time, they had been friends for about 25 years or more. Well, one day my mom called and told me that we were having a family meeting. Mom made it very clear that it was for family no friends were invited or to be invited. However, when Caroline asked me what I was doing for the weekend. I told her that my mom called, and I had to go to a family meeting. Caroline said, "OK. What time?" "Do you know what it is about?" I told her, "No, just that mom was very clear that the meeting was for family... no friends were invited." She said, "Ok. what time is it?" I said, "You know about 3pm." Would you believe, the day of the meeting Caroline was on time for the family meeting. No one said one word to her or to any other of the friends or so called relatives "play aunts and play cousins" who showed up and put their two cents worth in to the mix. It is as though no one even notices when there is a stranger or friend or any one else who is not supposed to be there, or are they really spiritually supposed to be there. So you and your entire family and any one else you want to adopt are welcome to join our family. You will be accepted loved and put on the "Town Crier’s" list, and no one will even know the difference.
As a matter of fact, I have 6 sisters, 3 brothers, 4 chlldren, 12 grandchildren, and 1 great ganddaughter due to arrive the 1st week of July, many in-laws and out- laws. My parent’s-- who are deceased--siblings and thier children, grandchildren, and great and great-great grandchildren are still alive. And, my niece informed me that I have 24 nieces and nephews. If any one is counting, I have to count all the children I have raised because a mom died and left them in my charge, plus, their children and now grandchildren.
At one point, I had to go to so many family reunions that I had to bow out of many and just pick the main ones. My mother’s and father’s side of the family. No husband’s two sides or married children’s two sides. Oooh! quit.
You see how a family slowly grows to be a town... how about a nation.
Karean
I invited a friend to the family reunion because she has a small family with an eccentric aunt that she didn't want to bring I answered her with...
I love you.
You all come and please bring the aunt, she would fit right in.... She is pale against the list of characters at our reunions. Now pick a reunion the Brown’s, the Carpenter’s, the Hubbard’s, the Hailey’s, the Haile’s, the Jones, the Smith’s, the Harrison’s, the White’s, the Green’s, the Campbell’s, it goes on and on. Oh, my goodness I forgot to sort by state. The Brown’s Reunion in Pittsburgh is always on the 4th of July. I will try to be there next year.
Just remembered...You know when a reunion is gathering someone always asks, "Is so and so going?" "Then, I am not going." That person really gets talked about for two seconds; then she or he really misses the fun and family information. Next, she or he wants to know every thing that was said, and who did what, and if the real embarrassing character(s) showed up and did the same interesting stuff she or he always does. "It is a good thing who is the oldest, who has the most children, who did what to whom or got what did to them, and more importantly who graduated from where, when, and/or what is always written in a small book." So, we either embellish on a story or simply say, "It was great we all had a fantastic time." So, "whichmacallit" just missed out--"too bad."
Just don’t forget to bring the aunt along with the potato salad and the cole. Please don’t put her in the salads. We need and love it all food and characters and chairs--more and more old people are showing up. Good grief...New Topic???
Karean
Nikki,
Your aunt possibly could not even match some of the characters in my family.
You will be on the floor rolling when I start to decribe them. I guess you have to see her with different eyes--try pink colored sunglasses-- to really enjoy her essense. I would love her especially in a book or a Miramax movie. Miramax loves our type of stories.
My grandmother loved every character God put on Earth. She would pick them up any where the beer garden, the grocery store, the streetcar, or the street corner. Would you believe, she even brought them home to dinner. She made them sit at the head of the table and had them to pray over our food. Some would pray so long, so she would keep saying "Amen" then, she would instruct all of us to say "Amen" in unison. Some one would say, "Thank God, let’s eat before the food gets cold" Gram would wink her eye. We had to celebrate and welcome any one who came into our home.
We (kids) would talk about them under the table and make signs about them unbeknownst to them or my grandmother because she would cut you to the quick for hurting someone’s feelings.
So yes, your auntie is probably a sweet little old lady who wears white gloves, who drinks tea from a small fancy teacup with her pinky finger flailing in the air like the hands of a clock that needs fresh batteries, and she probably keeps a whiskey flask in her purse. She probably laughs louder than every one else, so every one laughs a little longer. And so compared to some of the characters on our tree, she is a princess. As a matter of fact, I don’t even know how they got there. It is usually divulged at a funeral--go figure. Ooops! another topic coming on
Karean
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