Today, I had an absolutely WONDERFUL visit with Aunt Grace! She had Nan, Jeanine and I laughing so hard, I had tears in my eyes. So, what was she saying that was so humorous? Let me share, while the thoughts are still fresh in my mind!
A few weeks ago, I assigned Aunt Grace some "homework" for our next chat. Her assignment? Think of two memories about your parents that really stand out in your mind; one the best memory, the other the worst memory. Well, she didn't disappoint and actually provided a few bonus memories! You all know Aunt Grace, so please try to picture her telling these stories. How I wish I could duplicate the inflection in her words and the expressions on her face! Priceless!!! I'll leave it to you to decide which of these memories are "best" and which are "worst," but even ones that started out good had some unexpected twists!
Memory #1: Grandpa's Treats
Grandma didn't go to the grocery store; Grandpa did. Whenever he went to the A&P store in Yorkville (or the Red Front Store, as he called it) he always bought Circus Peanuts and Marshmallow cookies (Kind of a graham crackery crust topped with a molded marshmallow). Sometimes, he would take Grace and Marge along to the store. Other times, they would watch for him to come home and run down the lane to meet him driving up in the Model T Ford. Grandpa would let the girls hop up onto the running board of the car and ride the rest of the way to the house that way. Oddly enough, she doesn't remember that there was anything to hang on to!
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| Marshmallow Cookies with Coconut |
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| Circus Peanuts, an orange-colored marshmallow candy, shaped like peanut shells and is usually banana-flavored. |
Memory #2: Time for Talks & Adventures!
As Grace got older and Ray was gone, she took over driving Grandpa whenever and wherever he needed to go. These times always gave her an opportunity to have some good talks with her dad, but they were also apparently times of great adventure! She remembers one time, as they were getting ready for the auction sale in February of '44, Grandpa needed to go meet with the auctioneer. So, one day late in '43, they set out in the '37 Dodge to go find him. Ordinarily, you wouldn't think that would create much of an adventure, except Grandpa NEVER had a map and all they knew was they were looking for a farm with a white barn! They drove 'round and 'round; up and down roads and laneways! To add to the adventure, Grandpa didn't believe in filling up the tank with gas; just a dollar here or there!!! She knows they were running on fumes by the time they reached their destination!
Memory #3: More Adventure with Cattle Sales
Grandpa apparently loved going to the Cattle Sales in Bristol, Illinois. It didn't particularly matter if he needed to buy or sell any, it was just his thing. He liked going to the sales. So, about twice a month, he'd get his chauffeur (Grace), and away they'd go! More time to spend with her dad for some good talks, but it sounds like the adventure was always the greatest if there was a calf to sell! They'd just hoist that calf into the trunk of the car and away they'd go! I questioned Aunt Grace as to how they were able to keep the calf in the trunk of the car; surely they couldn't close the trunk with a calf in there, right? Well, they just tied the poor little critter's legs together!!! It was usually okay, but sometimes that calf would mess before they got to the sale, meaning there was a rather unpleasant job to attend to after getting back home!
Memory #4: On the Road Again!
Another memory involving that Model T Ford! In this one, Aunt Grace and Aunt Marge were still little girls. They were on their way to Downer's Grove to pick up Grandma who had spent the previous night at Aunt Frieda's house before going to her Ladies' Aid meeting that day. They were driving down Maple Street between Naperville and Downers' Grove about 7:30-8 in the evening when that old Model T lost a wheel!!! Aunt Grace remembers being scared, worrying how they were going to get back home while she and Aunt Marge cried. Grandpa pulled off to the side of the road, got out of the car, chased that wheel about a half block down the road, brought it back and put it back on the car! She couldn't really say why the wheel would have fallen off or how he got it back on by himself, reminding us that he was no mechanic, but he got the job done well enough to pick up Grandma and get them all back home. I don't know about all of you, but I know I'd have had a good chuckle if I'd been watching my dad chasing a wheel down the road! It was certainly fun listening to Aunt Grace's account of the event today!
Memory #5: A Glimpse of Grandpa's Temper
It was a Staffeldt Family Reunion being held at the farm in Oswego with about 70-80 people attending. Farm chores don't stop just because it's a family day, so Frank and Alvin left the rest of their family at the reunion to run home and do the chores saying they'd be back to get the family afterward. Well, they didn't come back and they didn't come back. Instead they went for a drink! Grandpa was getting increasingly angrier as they waited for the two to return. When they finally returned, around 8:30-9, Grandpa was angrier than Grace had probably ever seen him and Frank was quickly acquainted with his wrath!
Memory #6: The Shoe Drop
Grandma was gone to Downer's Grove and the cooking responsibilities fell to Aunt Grace. She was sleeping in the front bedroom upstairs and as Grandpa was heading to the barn to milk the cows, he called upstairs to wake Grace so she would have his breakfast ready when he came back into the house. She responded and then reached to get her shoes and dropped them on the floor, so Grandpa would believe she was up. But, she didn't get up! She went back to sleep. She was awakened awhile later as he nudged her foot and then was swinging at her while giving her a few of his choicest words! She didn't remember him ever coming up the stairs before, but he certainly made it up the stairs that morning!
I hope that as you've read these accountings of Aunt Grace's memories of her dad, you've been able to hear her voice in your head; to hear the humor or the dismay as she recounted her thoughts and emotions of these situations! I also hope that these small memories might help you to realize how interesting/ important your smallest memories might be for your children or grandchildren one day.
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