I'd moved from my grandparents home in northern Illinois to live with my mother and her new husband in southern Illinois. Suddenly, I had a huge family. Right up the street, about a country block, lived my Aunt Peach and Uncle Nort. They had a television, something I'd never seen before. On Saturday evenings, we'd walk to their house and sit in the living room to watch the Ed Sullivan show. My cousin would make home made potato chips. Wow, watching dancing cigarette boxes was really something!
On afternoons after school, I'd walk to my aunt's house and we'd sit and talk until Howdy Doody came on. Then, she'd watch the antics of Buffalo Bob, Clarabelle the clown, Princess Summerfall Winterspring, Howdy Doody and all the Peanut Gallery.
As I grew older, the adult women would include me in their quilting sessions set up in my Aunt's basement. I learned to sew even stitches through the layers of beautiful hand made quilts. I remember lots of laughter and a feeling of togetherness.
Sometimes on weekends, many would gather in my Aunt's kitchen and we'd play cards. Fun games like "I Doubt It" that even the kids could join in on.
I miss those days in many ways. Life was harder, but simple, and families and friends made it very rich.
