The Years in Your Ears - April, 1933
I can't tell you how happy we are to see you again, dear. When you signed up with the Conservation Corps, I thought it would be forever until we'd see you again. I hope you took good care of yourself down in Oregon.
Yep, and now that you're working back up here, keep a good eye out for some secret fishin' holes while you're up in the mountains planting trees.
Oh hush, John!
Seriously kid, you're mother and I are proud to see that you're doing good, and you'll be proud of us and the town, too. I don't know if you've heard, but we're the first town in the United States to be 100% blue eagle! Every merchant in town signed a letter and sent it to President Roosevelt vowing full support for his national recovery plan. And now every store, including the one your father used to work at, has a blue eagle in the window.
And if they hurry up and repeal prohibition like they keep saying they're gonna, I'm gonna send my own personal letter of undying thanks.
Don't listen to him. He's been in a mood ever since I got the best of him last week. I've been telling him to clean out his pockets before throwing his trousers in the hamper, but you know your father. Finally, last Monday, I told him that I was going to start keeping any money I found, and wouldn't you know it, by the end of the week, I was richer by two dollars. So, I bought myself some new shoes and some hose down at Penney's.
Yeah, but since she was swimmin' in the dough, I made her take us out to the pictures at the Gateway. Went and saw Tugboat Annie. You won't believe this, but in one part of the show, Wally Beery bumps his boat into another one, and at one point you see the other boats name, and guess what it was. The Kirkland of Washington! Can you believe that?
Oh! And the night your father and I went was Treasure Night, and I actually won a prize! Wait here and I'll show it to you...
...did she close the door? Here, before she gets back, I want you to have this. No, I insist. Your mother worries about you being out in the damp, so buy yourself some extra longjohns and galoshes and what have you. No, don't worry about the money, I won it in a poker game. Your mother keeps track of every nickel and dime in this household, so I can't spend it anyway without causing suspicion. About all I've been able to do is to slip some extra change in my pockets and let her find it. So keep this our little secret...Shh...here she comes...
...here it is. Isn't it just lovely? What? Can't you tell? It's an olive urn with a pick! It's pretty and functional
Well, I'll never get any use out of it. The last time I had olives I spent half the night sitting on the...
... Jonathan! He's just jealous because I won something. Why, your Aunt Winnie thought that this...Oh Goodness! I almost forgot! Your aunt and uncle arrived back at Olympia from their trip to the World's fair in Chicago, and did they have stories to tell.
Yeah, like how gasoline costs 18 cents a gallon back east, when its 22 cents out here. I tell you, I'm glad that Uncle Sam is finally putting some controls on those oil companies. Anyway, I don't know why anyone would drive hundreds of miles to see a Century of Progress when we've got some local progress right down the road. You know, Brown's Garage over in Redmond has a gas pump that calculates how much you owe as it pumps
I'm sure that the boy has seen plenty of those in his travels, dear. Anyway, your aunt and uncle stopped off at Yellowstone on their way out, and would you believe it, they actually fed bears from their car! And the hotel they stayed at in Chicago! It had ... Oh my goodness, what now? Jonathan! What on earth are you rooting around for? Your pipe tobacco? It's upstairs in the top dresser drawer. I swear, he might as well be filling it with soft coal with that aroma. Now, what was I saying? Oh yes, your ... Why what's this? Oh no honey, I can't take that. You worked hard to earn that. I know times are hard ... but ... well, it is our anniversary coming up. I tell you what. If you don't mind I'll use this to buy him that new tackle box he's been wanting. It will go well with the fishing pole I got for him on his birthday. No honey, I don't need to get anything for myself. I know your father gets cranky now and then, but as long as I have him, I'm the happiest woman in the world. Why without him, I wouldn't have the best son a mother could have! Oh, here he comes. Remember ... this is our little secret.
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Alan J Stein