In November 1956 we were living in the Great Stone House on my grandparents’ farm just outside Womelsdorf, Pennsylvania, but as my mother had been brought up in Richland and my father on a farm just outside Richland, and my mother’s parents still lived in Richland, we visited that borough frequently. On November 3 Richland's … Continue reading November 3, 1956
The Farm
Mint
On the farm there used be a patch of mint growing in the corner of the meadow nearest the house where my grandparents lived, and periodically my grandmother would harvest the mint and brew a pot of herbal tea out of it. I tasted the tea one time and didn’t care for it. It didn’t … Continue reading Mint
The Japanese Sandals
It’s funny how one’s memory can be jogged by the smallest thing. I came across a mention of zori, or Japanese sandals, and on a whim decided to look them up. On doing so I found this picture. Those are actually getas, a different kind of Japanese sandal, but that’s ok. It was that picture … Continue reading The Japanese Sandals
Johnny and Myra
Among my early memories from when we lived in the Great Stone House on my grandparents’ farm is a couple named Johnny and Myra. They lived in Palmyra, PA, which was about a half hour drive from our farm, and we used to visit them occasionally. Now this was when I was about four or … Continue reading Johnny and Myra
The Troutman Cousins—Bryan
I have one relatively clear memory of Bryan from about 1959 or 60, but I’m sure I must have known him before then. He was the oldest of the cousins and was married first, but he still must have spent enough time around the farm for me to get to know and recognize him. Because … Continue reading The Troutman Cousins—Bryan
The Troutman Cousins—Stuart
And then there’s Stuart. Thank goodness I have some memories about Stuart. Not a lot, but I do recall a couple of incidents, one of which is probably distorted. I remember Stuart being around on the farm quite a bit. He was five years older than I was, so he wasn’t a peer, but he … Continue reading The Troutman Cousins—Stuart
Clarence and Elsie
I believe I’ve mentioned before that when I was growing up we didn’t socialize very much with the Troutman side of the family. I think this was mainly because we spent so much time socializing with my mother’s side, the Zellers side of the family, that there just really wasn’t much time left to spend … Continue reading Clarence and Elsie
What I Learned from Writing This Blog
Writing this blog has been an educational experience for me in several ways, not the least of which is that I’ve learned a lot about my family. And by that I mean the simple act of writing about the events of the past has led to new insights at times. Now those insights may or … Continue reading What I Learned from Writing This Blog
Ice Cream: A Fable
When we lived in the Great Stone House on the farm, there was a radio that sat on a little table next to the staircase in the kitchen. As best as I can recall, it looked something like this, except it was whitish, not blue. There were two or three steps in front of a … Continue reading Ice Cream: A Fable
The Farm Can Be Dangerous
My sister reminded me that there might have been another reason for my parents’ decision to move from the farm and in particular to move so precipitously. There was, of course, the incident of my excellent adventure of traveling by foot into Womelsdorf to meet up with a school mate. As I said, I think … Continue reading The Farm Can Be Dangerous