Throwback Thursday - How Steph and Ettie met their husbands, Ray and Bob

The other day I was looking through things that I have kept track of on my computer.  I was specifically looking for information on Steph, my aunt Dot's best friend.    

The picture below was taken on Dot's 83rd birthday, along with the journaling that I wrote about that visit.  Steph and Ettie both talked about how they came to meet their husbands.

"Saturday, September 15, 2007 – Today we celebrated Dot’s 83^rd birthday.  Linda and Ettie came up on Thursday night.  I had gotten the day off on Friday and it was so nice to have some time to just visit.  We went over to Dot’s for lunch.  

Steph was there, and we had such a nice time.  Steph told us all about how she happened to come to live at Nan’s for a few years.  She came to Holyoke from New Jersey to help out her sister in the summer, went to Bethany and became friends with Ettie and Dot.  Her sister eventually moved back to NJ and Dot and Ettie talked her into living at their house.  She met Ray where she worked at Valley Manufacturing on Birnie Ave in Springfield.  She said it was an old foundry.  They hired Ray and his father because they were pattern makers.  She told us all about how they met, dated, and eventually got married.  

Then Ettie told us about how she met Bob at Framingham Camp in 1945 when she was about 15 or so.  It was the one and only time they had boys and girls camp together.  After that the boys went one week and the girls went another.  David Flower’s (one of the pastors at our church when I was young) mother, Alice Flower, was the camp speaker.  Ettie’s friend Allie Ree Eide (her father was the pastor at the time) wanted Ettie to go to camp.  Nan didn’t want her to go, but Dot got Nan to let Ettie go.  A girl from the Hartford church where Bob attended, Eunice Frick, introduced them.  He asked her to go to a bonfire with him, and also another guy, George Cook asked her to go and she said yes to both of them.  They both showed up at her cabin, and she had to make a choice as to who she wanted to go to the bonfire with and she chose Bob, and the rest is history.  Anyhow, we had a wonderful time that afternoon."

I am so glad that I wrote that all down.  I would never have remembered it otherwise.  Even though Dot and Ettie are both gone now, I still keep in touch with Steph.  She is so much a part of my family and I just love her.

Rest in Peace, Zeuss

Zeuss was my Aunt Dot's cat.  She got him in May of 2003.  She always said they were a good match for each other because Zeuss had long legs!

He really was a nice cat.

Marley was almost three when Dot got Zeuss.  We are a family of cat lovers.

In Dot's later years, before she went to the Atrium, Zeuss was a little hard for her to handle.  He was always trying to get out, and Dot would have to chase after him.  One day when we got to her house to take her grocery shopping she was all upset because Zeuss had gotten out.  She said that was it, he was gone and she wasn't going to try to find him.  I told her he would eventually come home when he was hungry.

Guess who was waiting for us when we got home?

One of the things I felt the worst about when Dot went to the Atrium was Zeuss.  I knew how much she loved that cat, and so did we.  Paul and I couldn't take him because we already had two cats.  Kris and Toby had a cat (and Toby is allergic to cats), and so did Mark and Janelle.

My friend Barbara at work, who is also a cat lover, offered to take him.  I was so relieved.  She had him for 7 years!

Barbara called me this morning to tell me that Zeuss passed away today.  I can't tell you how sad that made me.  All the guilt of taking him away from Dot came rushing back.  She spent her last 7 years without him.  I know it's silly to think that way; we did what we had to do, but pets are such a part of our family.

I'm so grateful to Barbara for taking him, and I know she loved him too.

Maybe Zeuss is up in Heaven with Dot now.  It makes me feel good to think so.

RIP Zeuss.

Dot and the Bethany Hour Radio Music

Today Paul and I went for a ride and brought Dot’s cassette tapes that she had labeled “Bethany Radio Music”. We went through them somewhat this week looking for a couple of songs that Dot and Emilio sang together for the “Bethany Hour” years ago, to play at her funeral. I’m not sure where she got the tapes from. I think maybe Lyle Chadwick made them for her. When she went to the Atrium we bought her a little cassette player so that she could listen to them. Somehow the tape recorder got lost and we ended up putting the tapes away. Today we listened to all of them (Paul has some type of inverter so that we could play them in the car). So many memories came flooding back, not only duets by Dot and Emilio, but solos of Emilio (one of my favorites was Bless this House), Men’s Quartet, Women’s Trio, and choir songs. It was wonderful listening to these old songs; I remember them so well. I have always felt so blessed to have grown up in Bethany, and I experienced that same feeling this week at Dot’s funeral. Bethany isn’t just a church, it is a family, then and now. 

The picture is of Dot at the microphone, reading the Scripture for the Bethany Hour.

I have often questioned why Dot had to suffer with dementia for so long.  She didn't deserve it.  She was a wonderful person and so good to me.  But then I think that Dot is mobile now, no longer confined to that reclining chair, and I wouldn't wish her back for anything.

Saying Goodbye to Dot Today

Saying goodbye today...to a very big part of my life, my Aunt Dot. I can only imagine the reunion in Heaven today. I love you Dot.

Egg and Olive Sandwiches

Today I made egg and olive sandwiches in honor of Dot.

Last night we went to visit her at the nursing home, and part of her dinner was either an egg salad sandwich or tuna sandwich, I couldn't tell. I was trying to get her to eat it but she just wasn't having it. It reminded Paul of the egg and olive sandwiches that she and my grandmother used to make all the time. I asked Dot if she remembered that and she gave me a smile and said yes.

I haven't made egg and olive sandwiches in a long time. Neither of my kids like olives and so whenever I made egg salad I never added the olives.

Paul always liked egg and olive sandwiches and one day at work he asked them to make him a couple for his lunch. Evidently it's not a well known thing, because what he got was egg salad with whole olives all over the top, and they were black olives! Yikes! No! They have to be green olives and you slice them and mix them in with the egg salad.

So tonight Paul and I had egg and olive sandwiches for dinner and thought of Dot and Nan.

Throwback Thursday - Gilbert and Barker Days at Mountain Park

When I was young, my Aunt Dot worked at Gilbert & Barker Manufacturing Co. in West Springfield.   Every year they had "Gilbert & Barker Day" at Mountain Park.  It was a day where employees could bring their friends and family to spend a day at Mountain Park free of charge.  I remember it as being one of the best days of the summer.

These are pictures that Dot took over the years at Gilbert and Barker Day.

1957 - Deb, Maureen and Linda Lockerby

1957 - Dot with her friend Jane Starzyk (who also worked at Gilbert and Barker).

1962 - Bob and Don Lundstrom in first boat

Lynda Lundstrom and Deb in second boat

1962 - Left to right Bob Lundstrom, Donna and Debbie Waite, Don and Lynda Lundstrom

1962 - Left to right Bob and Lynda Lundstrom, Donna Waite, Don Lundstrom

In 1965 Gilbert and Barker closed their factory in West Springfield and relocated their headquarters and US manufacturing facility to Greensboro, North Carolina.  As Dot did not want to relocate, she was out of a job.  She found a new job, also in West Springfield, at the John H. Breck, Inc.  They made Breck shampoo.  No more Gilbert and Barker Days at Mountain Park, but now we always had lots of different types of shampoo and hair products.  Dot worked there until she retired in March 1987.

Happy 93rd birthday Dot!

This was the last picture that I have of Dot before she went to the Atrium.  It was taken on April 7, 2011, and she went to the Atrium on May 29, 2011.  Mark and Mason had come with us to bring Dot her dinner (for awhile Paul would get her a dinner to go from On the Hill and we would bring it over to her).  She was so happy to see them.

I looked back in my journaling to get the exact date that we brought Dot to the Atrium and, reading it, I got a knot in my stomach.  Even now, 7 years later, I feel so many emotions about that day.  I wrote that it was the worst day of my life.  It's still true.

We went to visit Dot at Wingate of Hamden for her birthday on Monday, the 18th.  My Dad's wife, Marge, is there now. We brought both of them to the dining room for a little "birthday party."  We had cupcakes and ice tea.  Dot doesn't walk, without their assistance, anymore so we wheeled her down to the dining room. They suggested we take Marge there in a wheel chair too. We gave Dot a present from Steph, wrapped in a box.  She didn't know how to unwrap the present, or even how to open the box.  We brought her a balloon, and took some pictures.

One funny thing about our visit - when we got back to her part of the nursing home, I had clipped the balloon to her chair. A little Hispanic man, who was also in the same type of reclining chair that Dot had, grabbed Dot's chair and pulled himself over so that he could reach her balloon and unclipped it.  He took the balloon and was having such a good time with it that we didn't have the heart to take it back, especially since Dot didn't even really notice the balloon.  He was still playing with it when we left, including wrapping the string around his bare feet and toes, lol!

So many times I wonder why Dot has to linger in that nursing home.  She used to tell me that our days are numbered by God, that it is written down when we are born and when we will die. Years ago Dot gave me a little daily devotional "The Grace of Encouragement" by Charles R. Swindoll.  Today's message was "All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16."  I have to believe that God has Dot's life in his hands.  I love you Dot, happy birthday!

Happy 92nd birthday Dot!

This was my Aunt Dot's favorite car, her 1959 Chevy Impala.

It was a convertible and I remember it so well.  I remember when the Mass. Turnpike opened in our area, Dot, my grandmother and I went for a ride on it from West Springfield to Lee.  I was so afraid that the ticket would fly out of the car and we would be in deep trouble.  They both laughed and said I was silly and that the ticket would be safe.

I also remember many times riding to my aunt Esther's house in Salem, NJ.  We would always leave after supper, around 6 pm, and arrive at my aunt's house about midnight.  I remember the first time I went over the George Washington Bridge in Dot's convertible.  It was almost surreal - night time with all of the lights on the bridge, being up so high with the wind whipping at us.  It's something I think I will always remember.  One time my Dad came with us and the wind was so strong that he wore a kerchief on his head while we went over that bridge.

In later years Paul and I bought Dot a car model of her 1959 Chevy.  She still has it in her room at her nursing home.

Happy birthday Dot!

Throwback Thursday - Disney gifts from 1975

The Gonsalves are back from Disney!  This got me thinking about other Disney trips.  This one is from July 1975 so Kristen was almost 3 and Mark was almost 1.  My aunt Dot had just returned from Disney World with my cousin Lynda.  Dot brought each of the kids Disney T-shirts and hats.  Where has the  time gone?

Dot and her friend Jane

This is a picture of Dot and her friend Jane in the 1960's.  I think they were at Storrowton at a friend's wedding.  Friends are important to all of us but now, sadly, most of her friends are gone.

A couple of Project Life App scrapbook pages - Taking Dot to Fred's Shoes, Mason's Splatter Duck

Happy 90th birthday Dot!

Dot will be turning 90 on Thursday, September 18th, but we had her birthday party today.  She really seemed to enjoy seeing everyone, especially Miriam.

The last time she saw her was Easter Sunday when Miriam was almost two weeks old.  She is now five months old so, big difference.

This picture is my favorite.  They look like they are checking each other out, LOL!

Dot is amazing to me.  She has had Alzheimer's now for over 10 years.  The disease has definitely progressed, but there is still a lot of the old Dot left.

Happy 90th Dot!

Dot and Steph

Paul and I took Dot to visit Steph today to celebrate Steph's 90 birthday (which is tomorrow).  They have been friends since they were teenagers.  In fact, when I came to live with my grandparents at 9 months old, Steph was living with them.  My grandfather gave her away at her wedding as her father was too ill to make the trip from New Jersey (where Steph was from).  I think it is wonderful that they have stayed close friends for so long.

Then.....

and now.

Throwback Thursday - "The Olden Days"

Last week on Facebook there were a lot of posts of these "old fashion" pictures.  I dug this one out from one of my photo albums.  It was taken some time in the mid '80's.

My Aunt Ettie, my cousin Lynda and her family were vacationing at Lake George.  My Aunt Dot and I drove up for the weekend and that is when we had this picture taken.  We had a lot of laughs over this picture, especially my Aunt Ettie's lack of a neck, or so it seemed. 

Good times, that now seem a lifetime ago.

Throwback Thursday - Sister Gibson



Christine A. Gibson (1879-1955)

Sister Gibson was the Founder of Zion Bible College in East Providence, RI, in 1924.  After high school, Dot went there for, I think, one year.  I never heard Dot talk much about Zion or Sister Gibson, but evidently she made a big impression on her.

When we brought Dot to the Atrium, it was a very difficult time, and something that she had no idea we were doing.  On the day of the move-in, she was very upset and friends of ours that go to our church were there visiting a relative.  They knew how upset Dot was and before leaving they went to her room and prayed with her.  I really believe that prayer was what caused Dot to think that the Atrium was a Christian organization.  She began to talk about Sister Gibson and how she built this place for people who needed a place to live.  Even now, a year and a half later, she still talks about her and what a wonderful thing she did to build this place, how she remembers it from when she was young.  I can see her thinking; it is kind of like a dorm!  I am so thankful that she thinks that, because I can tell it is a comfort to her.

This a picture of Dot (far left) at Zion, probably around 1941 or 1942. 

Throwback Thursday - Dot and Steph

Dot and Steph have been friends for about 70 years. This picture was taken in 1954; Dot was the Maid of Honor at Steph's wedding. My grandfather gave Steph away as her father was too ill to make the trip from New Jersey (where Steph was from).

Steph has been the one friend that has stuck by Dot during her years with Alzheimer's. She gave Paul and I so much moral support when we were in the middle of finding a place for Dot to live. She was the one who helped me get her to the Atrium on move in day. She faithfully stopped in on Sundays after church to visit Dot until she broke her ankle last February.

Since I knew that Steph could not come to any type of birthday party for Dot, we brought the party to Steph's. We sang Happy Birthday, blew out the candle, ate cake and had a wonderful visit.



They both seemed to enjoy the visit very much. I made a mental note to myself to bring Dot to visit Steph often. There's nothing like an old friend.

Happy birthday Dot!

Sold!

Well....today is an end of an era. We signed papers on Dot's condo; it is sold.

Nan and Dot bought this condo on November 8, 1979, and it officially sold today, September 5, 2012.

It seems like it should be a relief; I know it is for Paul. For me, I have such mixed feelings. Logically I know it had to be, but emotionally...as I said, an end of an era.

At least I can rest assured that Dot is doing well in her new home, and for the most part very well adjusted. I can thank God for that.

The Baking Club

The Atrium, where Dot lives, has a Facebook page and posted a picture of Dot mixing batter for muffins in the Baking Club.

The caption said "Members of the Atrium's Baking Club were hard at work this morning creating scrumptious confetti cupcakes for everyone to enjoy. Dot took the lead in mixing the ingredients while telling us that baking requires exact measurements unlike cooking where you can be a bit more creative with ingredients. We are looking forward to sampling the Baking Club's latest treat."

I was so thrilled so see this. It did my heart good. I love that they are so patient and kind to the residents there. Thank God that we found The Atrium!

Throwback Thursday - 42 Oleander St.

Over the last year, since Dot moved to the Atrium, we have been very slowly breaking up her home. It has been a sad process for me. The whole family, including my Dad and my aunt Ettie, have been to the condo, choosing things that they wanted.

This past week we met with a realtor, and the process is in motion to sell her condo.

Yesterday, we moved the last of her furniture out. One of the things that I took was the highboy that was in my room at 42 Oleander St. There were so many things in Dot's condo that go back to that home, things that I remember.

I wish that I had been into blogging and scrapbooking earlier in my life. I wish I had more pictures. My aunt Dot took a lot of pictures but, like most people, they were pictures that she took of events and people. If there was a picture of a room, it was just incidental. I wish I had more pictures of the rooms at 42 Oleander St. and what was in those rooms.

I am trying to take more pictures of everyday, ordinary life. Who knows, maybe someday my kids and grandchildren will find this interesting. Or, maybe I'm just weird and they will all wonder what in the world I took these pictures for. I'm not taking any chances though!

Dot's gift from Bethany

Tonight I brought Dot a gift from our church. Bethany honored all of their "50 years and over" members last week. It was a beautiful music box. Daisy received one also.

I am so thankful that Dot has such an old friend there with her at the Atrium. They both remember "the old days."