Joe had rented a four bedroom furnished house for us in a little farming village called Dancevoir about 18 kilometers from the base. The village was nestled in a valley with hills all around. The landlady's name was Madame Fleurette and she came just once a month to collect the rent which was around thirty dollars. :) While there, she stayed in a little bedroom apartment in the back yard. We had no indoor bathroom so had to use the chamber pot tucked in its own closet next to the bed. Most times, we used the one outside but had to use the pot at night. Ugh! When Joe left for the base in the morning, I was left to my own resources. The town mayor, his wife and family lived across the street and she came over and took me around to show me the "neighborhood" so to speak. When their two girls came home from school (they were about 10-12) they would come over too. Now I had two years of high school French and had to try to talk to them but was very lacking. I was lucky that I could count! When my hold baggage came (trunk), I taught the girls how to jump double-dutch with the clothesline I'd brought with me. The French use wire clothesline so I didn't need mine. In the evening, I would take my basket and walk with the village women in the surrounding countryside to find "greens" for the salad for supper.
The priest came riding in on a bicycle to say Mass on Sunday. So I got dressed in my finery and walked to the church. I remember all of the ladies wearing black or purple long sleeve coats or jackets and here I was thinking how nice I looked in my lighter colors. Well, what a surprise! The church was ice cold. I thought I would die, I was soooo cold! The pews had family names on them so I sat in the back. I couldn't wait for it to end so I could get back in the sunshine!
Tell us about your first home after getting married.
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We lived in a little stone house in Enid, Oklahoma. I was all of 17 and scared out of my wits to do anything on my own. I didn't have a car, so I stayed home in the beginning while Robert went to work. It was rather lonely, and if I hadn't had my pets and my books, I would've gone insane. To get out and meet people, I took a job at a factory where they put iron on patches on uniforms. I was on the assembly line where I regularly burned my fingers and wrists- as a matter of fact, now when I burn my fingers, I don't even feel it. I did meet a few people, but the job only lasted about 3 months because I couldn't take it anymore. Enid had tornadoes, and I dreaded those sirens going off in the middle of the night. I was so very happy when we got orders for San Antonio, Texas!
I can just picture you living in France as a young woman, Mom. What an adventure!
I moved to Dallas right after Mark and I got married because he was attending school there. I had never lived in such a big city. We rented an apartment in a complex called The Snooty Fox (which we thought was a cool name for some reason) near Love Field. I got a job at a drugstore that was right around the corner because it was March and I had to wait till the next semester to go to college. The job was pretty boring and I can remember being embarrassed when guys came in and asked for condoms because we kept them behind the counter. I also had to take a lie detector test at work because someone was stealing from the cash register. That was a freaky experience, even though I knew I was innocent. :) I was scared to drive very far because of all the traffic and I didn't know my way around. I remember some of our neighbors had two Siamese cats who always seemed to be sitting in their living room window when we passed by on our way to our apartment. We called them the statue cats because they were so still and they didn't look real. I never really had a chance to get accustomed to Dallas because we moved to Odessa after a few months.
Somehow, I don't remember you working in the factory, Kath. That alone must have made up your mind about going to college! Jane, I do recall the Snooty Fox and I think I have a picture of you standing in front of the sign. My mind is blank about the drugstore. I guess it was that time in my life with Dad and all.
I am not sure I ever knew you lived in Odessa--that must have been even worse than Abilene for you. LOL
Yeah, it was not my favorite town. Although I did whip out 60 hours at Odessa Jr. College right quick since there wasn't much else to do.
First I must say that Kathi looks like an axe murderer in her picture. My first house was a brand new piece of shit on Arch Ave all 900 square ft, you walked into the living room and fell over the couch into the bedroom. Finally sold that to a guy and his family who still park 3 cars on the front lawn.
Well, I gave up axe murdering after I accidentally chopped off my own ear- that's why you only see one (ear) in my picture. And what's wrong with parking three cars in your yard? I love the smell of old tires burning on my lawn, and half the time we have 3 broken down pieces of crap PLUS a motorcycle on ours. It makes us proud.
We once lived in married student housing, an old military barracks, in San Marcos. The bed touched three walls in its room, and we could talk to our neighbors through our medicine cabinet like on that TV commercial that was popular at the time. There was not enough room in the living room for anything other than a carpet remnant, a bean bag chair, a stereo and a TV (priorities, you know). I can't even remember if we had another chair. The kitchen had a small square table from Pizza Inn with two chairs, which is all that would fit. Ah, those were the days. The funny thing is that our current duplex is not all that much bigger. LOL
I remember your apt. in San Marcos, Jane! You had your antique refrigerator that I thought was so cool, and we drank out of Pizza Hut glasses- those things lasted forever, didn't they? At this point in my life, I'd love to downsize! On the other hand, this house is great for when family visits, and I'd rather have them so guess I won't be downsizing any time soon...
Pizza Inn. Don't be blasphemous! LOL Yeah, that old "icebox" was one of our first antique buys. Mark still has it, as far as I know. His Uncle James refinished it for us and did a beautiful job. I still have photos of Kristinn as a toddler visiting us in that apt. when you and I were both going to SWT. Remember tennis and ballet classes?? And abnormal psych??
Abnormal Psych made me suspect all of neighbors and friends of deviant behavior. LOL
Ha! How could I have put Pizza HUT?? I never liked Pizza Hut! Yeah, those were the days- I especially loved (HAHA) ballet. Abnormal Psyche was quite bizarre. At the time I lived in an apartment complex owned by a guy who had named the complex after his son (Michael), and he was schizophrenic. He used to sit out in the courtyard and talk to himself and do things like toss pinto beans into flower pots and then clap. Taking classes with you was a good time even though you did talk me into taking things like BALLET! :) your friendly former axe murderer
Yeah, not sure what I was thinking about some of those PE classes. I only passed tennis because I got As on the written tests on rules, etc. LOL I am so uncoordinated. Ballet was not my forte, either. Remember that we had to make up our own dance? It was humiliating. :)
Yeah, the ballet dance thing was hilarious! I liked tennis, and I wish I still played, but I'd probably kill myself on the court now- or humiliate myself- probably both! Back to houses- we lived in that tiny 1100 sq. ft. house on the south side of San Antonio for 20 years- five kids at one time because by the time we had Eli, Kristinn was in college. The bedrooms were like closets, and there was only one shower! ahhhh, the good 'ole days.
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