Preserve Those Memories!

My parents: Jerry and Theresa Johnson

In one of my first blog posts, I mentioned inviting my parents to be "guest bloggers." Since then, I've been pestering them to jot down some of their favorite memories. They finally finished their assignment!  

Here they are:

It Could Have Been Ripley's Believe it or Not

Written by Jerry Johnson - 83

"Many years ago I lived on a farm, near Blue Grass,  Minnesota. It was the winter of 1942-43. I was 9 years old. We had an R.E.A. electric high line pole with a transformer in our yard. One cold winters day I saw something by it. There was a little snow on the ground but something looked different from the snow. It was an owl with a rat in its claws. 

                                                     Click to enlarge all pictures.

A young Jerry Johnson. How cool is that?

The owl had caught the rat then flew to the pole to have his lunch. But instead of sitting on the pole, it landed on the R.E.A. power line leading into our yard and was electrocuted. My dad and I took it to the nearby town of Wadena. The local paper took my picture holding the owl and rat. Afterwards, I found out the story made it out to a California paper. Strange things do happen!"

Poor owl, must've been a real shocker! But imagine what a find that would be for a nine year old boy! Dad says growing up on a farm in those days was hard work. Fields were still plowed using horses. He has some interesting stories. I've heard him tell the owl story numerous times and it never gets old.

Railroad Town
Written by Theresa Johnson - 82

"Staples, Minnesota was a railroad town and I was born there. Growing up we would say: 
 

"I'm from the Railroad Town. Toot, Toot. 
We make the wheels go round and round. Toot, Toot"

  

Staples Depot - mid 70's

Several freight trains would pass through Staples daily. There were always hobos riding in the box cars. Some of the hobos would get off the trains and look for food. We lived 5 blocks from the depot. My mother fed any who came to our door. 
She never turned them down. 

Grandpa and Grandma and the very
 steps those Hobos sat on.

The Hobos would pass onto others how generous she was. They would give others our address: 425 - 5th St North. Some days she would have 2 or 3 stop by. They would knock on the door - she would say, "Wait a couple minutes". Then slowly hand him a plate of hot food. They would sit on the steps  and eat it all. Then they would put the plate on the steps and leave."

Grandma Wrede - Isn't she lovely?

Typical Hobo

Grandma never had any problems with the hobos. They were always polite and humble. It was the Great Depression era, nobody had money. They were simply poor, hungry men wanting a hot meal. She fed the hobos for many, many years. Long enough for even my oldest sister to remember them. What a lovely testament to my Grandma and Grandpas compassion and generosity.

Staples, MN - Circa 1910

Railroads and railroad towns were the lifeblood of many rural communities back then. They employed many, including my dad and Grandpa.

Seattle - St. Paul Mpls. Northern Pacific Train - 1950's

Our family frequently took the train back and forth to Staples or Wadena to visit our Grandparents or other relatives. Passing from one car to the next was always a little scary. I remember feeling cold air, the rumble and sway of the train and watching the ground speed by below my feet. "What if they separated I wondered?" I always walked quickly! When I was 6, mom and I even took a train to Seattle, Washington.

 
Folks born around the years of my parents: Dad - 1932, mom - 1933 have seen the world change more then any other generation in history. Think about it...

Transportation: Horses, trolleys, the newly emerging automobile to ALL forms of mass transit and even space travel. 

Communication: Scratchy radios, shared party line phones, five channel TV's, to smart phones, limitless TV access and the instant anything internet. 

Not to mention the advancement of modern medicine.  They've witnessed the Great Depression, WWII, the Atomic Bomb, Korean war, Vietnam war, the Middle East wars and the rise of global terrorism.  


Except for the invention of the wheel and the discovery of fire, they've seen pretty much the invention or evolution of just about everything!!  

 






It's important to preserve their memories!!  

Thanks mom and dad for sharing your stories. Keep 'em coming!

PS: I think the ditty is my favorite, toot toot!  ;)

Time Marches on.

I've found that as I get older reading the obituary page in the St. Cloud Times has become an important part of my daily routine. It is with a sympathetic heart that I read about the passing of a parent of a friend, previous co-worker or former acquaintance. These moments are particularly sad (but honest) reminders of how time marches on and there is nothing that can stop it or slow it down. I know part of my discontent is the deep down (scary) thought about how I, and everyone around me, is getting older...who hasn't thought THAT would never happen!

Jerry and Theresa

  

But this morning, what really made me start pondering was that I couldn't help but notice that of the seven written tributes, the youngest was 82. I guess that's a good thing: seven people who lived long and fulfilling (I'm hoping) lives. The youngest, being born in 1933, part of a generation that is slowly declining. One that has witnessed more changes in the world than any other generation. I could go on and on about how great they are. Within them, they have incredible stories, most of whom enjoy telling (and re-telling) them. 

So yesterday, (by coincidence) before this blog post was on my radar, I asked my parents (born in 1933 and 1934) to write down some experiences and stories about their earlier years. They really liked the idea and I am looking forward to  having them as "guest" bloggers--we don't want to lose these precious stories!!

My "most fun" craft post has to wait.