Keeping up with the Jones'

   I have had a special request from Jane to start blogging again so here it goes.  I have many fond memories of my mom's side of the family.  I remember Aunt Reba and Uncle Lloyd picking us up at night and we would drive all night to get to Aunt Mil and Uncle Boyds house in Ralston, Oklahoma.  I remember their bull, Quarter, and going in the garden and getting a ripe and very juicy watermelon.  We would take a knife with us and cut it open right there and eat it.  Our cousin, Jan, my sister, Connie, and I used to have watermelon seed spitting contests.  Jan gave us her training bras and we would wear them around to keep cool on the farm.  Uncle Boyd picked up and delivered laundry to the Native American Hospitals and Connie and I would ride in the truck with him.  We went to parades where Uncle Boyd's dad rode his horse.
   Uncle Chester called me PeePot (Because I peed in the bed) and Connie was named YakYak because she talked a lot.  Aunt Bea would make us a new Easter and Christmas outfit every year/  She would take us shopping every year and buy us school clothes.
   Uncle Carl we would see once a year when he came to Missouri Pacific Hospital for his annual check up.  He lived in Hoisington, Kansas.
   Aunt Reba and Uncle Lloyd lived with us a few years so mom could work.  Aunt Re used to be a nanny for a wealthy family and she was an amazing cook.  She taught me how to cook and every year she made my birthday cakes.  One year since my birthday was around Easter  I got a 4 layer cake with colored coconut all over it a different color for each layer and jelly beans around it.  Connie's birthday is July 8 and she got a cake with several layers and 100 small flags on it.  The entire family would be there.  I loved the family gatherings,,,so much food and so much laughter.  Many times we had family and neighbors together for a mean game of canasta or rummy.  We always asked our family to revivals at church and always got the prize for bringing the most visitors.  I remember Uncle Carl giving us Sensen gum during church.  I can still smell it.  He also had a toothpick in his mouth at all times.
   Aunt Amy and Uncle Lawrence were always there for us.  One time Connie had eye surgery and I went to their house because I had strep throat.  They took me to the doctor and took care of me.
   I miss them all so much and wish our kids weren't strung out all over the US so we can have family dinners.  Right before our fire, all of our kids came to Omaha and we had dinner together.  I loved the time we had.
    Until next time....