In Germany

Memory Lane

You may have thought that when we lived in Redondo Beach we lived on Ralston Lane. Actually, I think it was Memory Lane. And in Placentia when we thought we lived on Swanson Avenue...no it was really Memories Avenue. Fast forward to Pocatello where we lived on Spaulding and Centennial- really just another version of our own Memory Street or Road.
Pictures paint a thousand words and fill me with thousands of memories.

We didn't live in the house on Spaulding very long- but think of the memories provided in that short time-

• the downstairs shower was too short for John of Jeff to stand up in
• thinking that the school was providing the trumpet we didn't rent one for Shaunika until the night before chair tryouts - and she still place for "first chair" beating out the two boys who had alternately had first chair
• the big pot of clam chowder that Judy brought over
  
• dad had to drive the U-haul to work so I had the van to take Jeff to ISU early mornings for band practice
• I took Birke for a haircut and he told the lady he wanted it cut like Batman's - with 2 pokes
• Merika started her second year of second grade
  

Jeff is "Boot Boy"

While we were living in Redondo Beach the McConkie cousins lifed in Manhattan Beach and we had many time when those cousins or some of them were at our house or when our kids were over at their Aunt Shauna's house. Jeff and Alison McConkie are pretty close in age. When Jeff was about 5 years old he used to do a funny thing whenever he was over to McConkie's The way Shauna tells it is that every time (for months)Jeff was dropped off there to play he would go into Alison's room and dig to the bottom of her closet to find her old white boots. He then put them on and wore them the entire time he was there. This went on for months, till Shauna finally just gave them to him, and she told me about it. Apparently, when he had on those boots he was "Boot Boy", I guess they gave him superpowers. He continued to wear them very often, he felt strong when he was wearing them and often took the muscle stance.

Logan says, "Jeff gets to do all the fun stuff!"

In September 1980, we left Kansas and drove across America to Redondo Beach. We stopped in Orem, Utah and stayed a few days with GG and Grant. When Kirt checked with Wayne about the house we had bought it was not quite ready, but Wayne really needed Kirt there. Since we thought Kirt would come back in a week to get us, we went ahead and sent Logan (Kindergarten) with Kirt to get him into school.
It turned out to be a month before I ever got down there with the kids- but that is a different story, for later.

While we were staying with GG & Grant they had the opportunity to go up to Star Valley to see Grant's sister, Carol and her husband, Jack. They were farmers/ranchers. They decided to take Jeff (4) with them, so then I just had Shaunika (3 months old) and John (2). When they returned Jeff told me he had ridden a horse(with someone).

Several months later, when were all settled in Redondo Beach, we were sitting around the table at supper. When I brought a plate of fried check to the table and I guess that caused a light bulb to go on in Jeff's head, and he said "When I was up visiting Uncle Jack and Aunt Carol I saw them chop off the head of a chicken, and then the chicken ran around the yard and then a dog come and licked up the blood!" To that comment, Logan remarked "How come Jeff gets to do all the fun stuff!"

Logan- "when I was a little boy"

All through the years, Kirt has told kids all the interesting stories about when he was a little boy.

When we lived in Kansas, and I was pregnant with Shaunika I had had a really rough day. We had supper, and then I went upstairs and got John (20 months old) to bed. Putting John to bed was quite a routine. He really liked Sesame Street, and around his entire crib he had stuffed characters and bears and toys. He had to say good night to each one. I came back downstairs and after a little while it was time to put Jeffery to bed. I was just so tired, I asked Logan(5-in kindergarten) to take him up and put him to bed. He took Jeff up and it seemed like quite a while before he returned.

When Logan came back downstairs, he told me that he tucked Jeff in and told him "a story about when he(Logan) was a little boy." I had to chuckle.

Jeff and "a note"

Jeff was in 1st grade at Washington Elementary School in Redondo Beach. One day he came home from school and said he didn't feel well and crawled into bed. I think he woke and had a little supper, but then went back to bed. In the morning, I let him sleep in thinking he would just stay home sick. When he woke up he was worried that he was late. I said he could stay home. He got really worried then and said that he had to go to school. I couldn't figure out what was possibly so important that he couldn't miss that day. When I asked him, this was his response. "The teacher said if we are sick and miss school we have to bring a note - and I don't know how to write a note!"