Today was the day the "Whitman" cousins gathered together for a covered dish reunion. I have gone to several of these since they began about ten years ago. I remember that one year Mom, Dad, and the four Layne siblings (and some of our spouses) attended, and the fellowship hall was full of relatives. It was great to see the Whitman Aunts in attendance as well as some of their older cousins and family members. Sadly, as the years go by, we have some who were there one year, but no longer here to attend the next year. This year alone, I know of two aunts - Aunt Frankie and Aunt Olive - who have gone home to a much larger reunion! I'm sure there are others that I may have left off, but they are the two latest to pass away that I knew and loved!
I took Mom today, and she was so anxious to see her many nieces and nephews; her cousins; and her childhood friends! She has a wonderful time at these gathering - so many memories for her to relive with those still here. Today she was given a bag that had some of her things that had been kept at the home place. After Aunt Frankie's death, her son Scott went in to clean some of the "stuff" out and hopefully give things back to whom they belonged many years ago! Scott found many things he felt Mom would love to have back. They had been stored away in boxes or drawers for many, many years. We know that some paper items may eventually become food to silverfish and/or mice. As you look at the following pictures you will see that something had a meal out of the corner of a very special booklet!
This is a booklet that contain ration stamps that Mom used when living in Ypsilanti, MI during WWII. It has her name and the address of where she lived while there working at the Ford Bomber Plant. In order to purchase certain items - such as coffee - they had to use these stamps.
A page from the booklet showing the 48 stamps - minus the four eaten by a ???????
This is another page in the booklet with different types of stamps. It appears Mom used these more than the others. she doesn't remember which stamps were used for what items.
The back of the booklet had the instructions for the usage of the stamps! I found a date on this back page - check the lower right hand corner - the date in 1943!
Another item of interest included certificates Mom had received from the Logan County schools she attended. I always wondered why she was 20 when she graduated from high school. Apparently she didn't have to start as early as the kids do today, plus she said she was very sickly when younger! She was always have the croup or pneumonia. So if it looks as if she was a little older than kids in those grades today - she was. All due to her illness as a young girl!
Mom always loved sewing dresses for herself and me as well - now I know why!!! She was a member of the 4-H club with an interest in sewing!!
Notice the names of the subjects she passed with proficiency - this was the end of her eighth grade!
This certificate was given to her at the end of her ninth grade!
One of the most interesting finds for me was the following announcement which had been cut from the Logan Banner back in 1946. The announcement of my parents marriage!!! :):) This is priceless!!!!!!!
This is a picture we do not have of Mom - she's absolutely beautiful!!! My guess would be she is about 25, probably engaged at this time to Dad!!!! Maybe the reason for a beautiful smile!!! Guess I can be a romantic every now and then - even when it includes Mom and Dad.
Always look through those boxes and drawers because you may uncover a real treasure!!!!!!!!
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