A Child's Memory As Things Change

Daddy Goes Overseas

The WAR started in 1942 after there was the attack on Pearl Harbor. By the time I entered the First Grade at the Elizabeth Elementary School in Sept. my Daddy was leaving for the US Army Air Corps. He would be stationed in South Carolina for his training. Everything was changing.
We now had three children in the family because Mama had had my sister Kathy. Mama moved us to a rental home that was on 7th Street - only a block from Granny's home which was also on 7th Street
I was so happy to be closer to her house. Granny arranged to have the rose bushes pulled up in her side yard. Itgave her space to plant a "victory" garden. We ate delicious vegetables in the summer and Granny canned as much as she could for us to eat during the winter.
Every evening Granny and Dad Jack listened to the news on the radio. If I was spending the night I sat next to Granny and listened with them without saying a word.
Daddy gave me an "over seas" cap before he shipped out. He was assigned to a base in India where he worked with a crew of mechanics who maintained the planes that flew the dangerous flight "over the hump" - that's what they called the mountains - to drop supplies into China.
Mama wrote to Daddy every night -
I always wore that cap as I stood at the curb and saluted the soldiers in the convoy trucks making so much noise on 7th street. All the soldiers laughed and saluted back to me as they rumbled by in front of our house.

(I am using Facebook and this blog to capture memories of my childhood and other personal stories.
If you want to keep up with it - check: Facebook and ellouisestory.com )

The BeeHive Hairdo

(I am using Facebook and this blog to capture memories of my childhood and other personal stories.
If you want to keep up with it - check: Facebook and ellouisestory.com )

Going to NYC

Maybe My Storytelling Started Here

Memories began to flow inside my head when I was sitting out a heavy rainstorm in my car parked in front of my house.  Rather than lose the train of thought filled with childhood memories I dictated them in the Dragon App on my phone. I am keeping these in Evernote.

 The Elizabeth Section - in Charlotte, N.C. was developed around a train crossing - so the sound of soulful whistles was the Musak of my childhood but I did not realize that until 45 years later when Jim and I spent a week-end in a B and B off Seventh Street and I heard that music again during all hours of the night and day. 

The house I lived in on 7th street had wide porches on the front and some wrapped around the sides of the house. We played on them in the hot summer and on rainy days. Or anytime we wanted to "put on a show".  A neighbor lady loved hearing me, at age 6, sing The White Cliffs of Dover. She was serious about ecouraging me so she took me downtown to audition for a local radio talent show.

It was held at the Visualite Movie Theater. I was selected and the Saturday morning I faced a large audience for the first time ever I was scared and shakings. The announcer coached me with a kind voice. "Go ahead, Ellouise."I took a deep breath and sang. I had forgotten all about that morning but when I remembered it the other day I could hear the sound of the applause.

Have to keep thinking about those days in the Elizabeth Section .

(I am using Facebook and this blog to capture memories of my childhood and other personal stories.

If you want to keep up with it - check: Facebook and ellouisestory.com )

Kites In March - Remembering Childhood

Capturing the story of Daddy making Kites and how it eventualy led him to a "Forever Home"
in Evergreen Cemetery.

(I am using Facebook and this blog to capture memories of my childhood and other personal stories.
If you want to keep up with it - check: Facebook and ellouisestory.com )

Summer in Brooklyn: 1957

Being a storyteller has taught me to gather stories from my life. Sometimes these are more difficult than others but I am always grateful for anything.

This story surfaced after I began digging into my memories of living in Brooklyn in 1957 - 62 years ago.

More stories of that time surface and they come alive and grow as I explore the incidents, the place, the people. What I remember of those days is sometimes difficult, other times funny and often sweet. All of them helped me to grow up.

Recently I showed this video to my son Jimmy.  We laughed togther. He does not remember those afternoon walks but he knows the story.