AT ABOUT THIS TIME, MY FATHER DROVE US TO AKRON, OHIO. WE WENT OUT TO WRIGHT FIELD WHERE THE DIRIGIBLES WERE MADE. IN THE HANGAR THE MACON WAS STANDING. MY FATHER BOOSTED ME UP INTO THE CAB. THE MACON NOW RESTS IN THE PACIFIC OFF BIG SUR WITH THE TWO LITTLE PLANES IT CARRIED. THE MILITARY WERE THINKING OF A WAY FOR LAUNCHING A PLANE FOR WARFARE. THE AKRON WAS THE SISTER SHIP.

THAT WAS A MOKENTUOUS SUMNER FOR WE WENT TO NIAGARA FALLS IN THE MODEL A. WE SPENT THE NIGHT IN A CABIN ON THE CAYUGA RIVER, AND DROVE OVER INTO HAMILTON, CANADA. BUT BEST OF ALL WE DROVE OVER THE ALLEGHENY MOUNTAINS TO WASHINGTON, D. C.  I RMEMBER COMING IN HAGERSTOWN, MD., THE SITE OF JOHN BROWNS REBELLION AND EVENTUAL HANGING OVER THE SLAVERY QUESTION. WE STAYED OVERNITE NEAR WASHINGTON IN A MOTEL WHERE THERE WAS A WADING POOL.

MY FATHER TOOK US TO THE LINCOLN MEMORIAL AND THE CAPITOL WHERE I HOPPED AROUND THE COLUMNS. I WAS 10, JUST READY FOR 7th GRADE. I SOMMERSAULTED NEAR THE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL WHEN IT WAS NOT MANICURED LIKE IS NOW. I VIEWED THE WHITE HOUSE FROM LAFAXETTE PARK AND OVER TO ARLINGTON TO THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER AND LEE MANSION. MY FATHER TOOK DOROTHY AND ME TO THE RINGLING BROTHERS
CIRCUS IN EAST LIBERTY ON BAUM BLVD. I HAVE NEVER LIKED CIRCUSES OR ZOOS. MY GRANDMOTHER TOOK US TO THE HIGHLAND PARK ZOO BY STREET CAR. I HATED LOOKING AT SNAKES.

KENNYWOOD PARK WAS ALWAYS FUN. WE HAD OUR ANNUAL SCHOOL PICNIC THERE. WE ALWAYS PACKED A BASKET. WHEN THE SERBIANS HAD THEIR NATIONALITY DAY WE ALWAYS ATE BARBECUED LAMB AND HOME MADE BREAD.

DOROTHY AND I HAD WHITE LINEN SUITS AND LITTLE WHITE STRAW HATS FOR THE SUMMER. WE WORE THESE TO ANNIE MACUTS WEDDING. MEL WAS THE RING BEARER. WE HAVE THE PICTURES OF THAT WEDDING. ONE NICE THING WE HAD WAS A ROSE BUSH OF AMERICAN BEAUTY ROSES UNDER THE DINING ROOM WINDOW. WE COULD CUT THESE FOR OUR LAPEL.

A GREAT FRIENDSHIP: THE RITCHEY FAMILY

I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT OUR GREAT FRIENDSHIP WITH THE MACUT FAMILY. WE WERE LIKE COUSINS WITH MIL AND KAY. THEY HAD A WONDERFUL MOTHER AND FATHER. MY MOTHER COUNTED ANNIE AS ONE OF HER BEST FRIENDS. WE OFTEN ATE AT THEIR TABLE. WE HIKED THE HILL AND PLAYED BALL IN THE ALLEY. WE READ THE SUNDAY PAPER TOGETHER AND LOAFED ON THEIR BIG FRONT PORCH. I HOPE EVERYONE CAN HAVE THIS BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP GR0WIN UP AS WE DID. MICHAEL CARRIED ME ON HIS SHOULDERS WREN I WAS VERY LITTLE AND SANG “THERE’S A RAINBOW ‘ROUND MY SHOULDER”. JOHN GREW UP TO BE A GEM OF A PERSON.

IT WAS MRS. RITCHEY’S BROTHER BILL PATTERSON WHO OWNED THE BIG OLD TOURING CAR THAT CAME DOWN THE HILLSIDE AND PLOWED INTO OUR HOUSE THRU THE DINING ROOM WINDOWS. WE HAD JUST PUT UP NEW CURTAINS AND A DINING ROOM SET INSTALLED. MY FATHER WAS SITTING IN THE BIG LEATHER ROCKING CHAIR WITH BABY MEL IN HIS ARMS. JUST AS HE AROSE TO LAY THE LITTLE BOY ON THE COUCH, THAT BIG CAR CAME IN OUR HOUSE. BUT MY FATHER HAD IT ALL REPAIRED AND TODAY I OWN PART OF THAT NEW CHINA CLOSET. IT BECAME THE WHITE HUTCH THAT SITS IN OUR HOUSE. EM WANTS IT, BECAUSE JOE MADE IT INTO A HUTCH WHEN HE CAME HOME FROM THE WAR.

SOURCES OF INSPIRATION: A FATHER AND A TEACHER

ON SUMMER NIGHTS WE SAT ON THE BIG FRONT PORCH AND SAW THE MOON COME UP. MY FATHER POINTED OUT MARS TO US. IT WAS THE RED PLANET, HE TOLD US. EMILY JONES WAS MY HOME ROOM TEACHER WHEN I WAS IN 7TH GRADE. I NAMED MY EMILY AFTER HER. SHE ENCOURAGED MY ART WORK. I WAS ON THE STAFF OP THE SCHOOL NEWSPAPER WHEN I DID A PROFILE OF LINCOLN FOR THE FEBRUARY ISSUE. WHEN SUMMER CAME SHE TOLD ME TO GET SOME ART MATERIALS OUT OF HER CUPBOARD SO THAT I COULD DRAW ON VACATION.

I REMEMBER MY FATHER TALKING ABOUT SENATOR BORAR AND SENATOR KNOWLAND FROM OAKLAND. HIS BUILDING STILL STANDS IN THE EAST BAY. BOTH MOM AND MY FATHER LISTENED TO THE FIRESIDE CHATS. ROOSEVELT GAVE US ALL HOPE FOR COMING THRU THE GREAT DEPRESSION. I VOTED FOR THE FIRST TIME AS ROOSEVELT RAN FOR HIS THIRD TERM.

DOROTHY MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE 9TH GRADE AND I JUST BEHIND HER IN 8TH GRADE. MISS DRUM ASKED HER WHAT THE MATTER WAS AND DOROTHY WAS SAD AND TOLD HER TEACHER THAT HER LITTLE SISTER WAS SICK AND MAYBE EVEN DYING. I ALSO ANNOUNCED IT TO MY CLASS.