Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
Click on Mark Twain to jump to Troutbirders book review blog

Saturday, August 13, 2016

Spring 1942



It was the spring of 1942 and my mom is holding me outside our apartment on Earl Street in St. Paul, Minnesota. We were to live there throughout the war. I was five when we moved. I learned many things from her then and later. Here are just a few of the things she taught me:
1. Ophthalmology: "If you don't eat your carrots you'll become blind.

2.  Receiving justice: "You are going to get it when your father gets home!!!

3.  Roots: "Shut that door behind you and take off those muddy boots. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

4.  Extreme weather:  This room of yours look as if a tornado went through it."

5. Hypocrisy:  "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

6.  Geography:  If you don't eat your rutabagas think of all those starving children in China  who don't have any...."

7.  Analytical Forecasting:  " If you fall out of that tree and break you neck, you're not going to the store with me."

8. Irony:  Keep crying and I'll give you something to cry about."

9. Logic:  "Because I said so, that's why."

10. Stamina:  "you'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

Thanks Ma.  Love you....






18 comments:

  1. What a cute entry...thanks. I just posted something that refers back to the war years in the 40's. It's a perfect example of why I love blogging. (Your Mom looks very sweet in that picture.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think I had all the same lessons from my Mom. Nice memory of your Mom.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Pretty much the same for me!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your mother was an extremely wise woman. There are more of her needed.
    Though I've heard all of those sayings growing up, I never thought of what those were teaching--irony, etc. Nicely done TB

    ReplyDelete
  5. Your mother was a very attractive woman. I think she and my mother went to the same Mom's school. Thanks for making me reflect.

    ReplyDelete
  6. What a classic, I lived under the same roof. I never worried much about those kids in China, until I had my own children. Great share Ray!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Those wise adages sound a bit familiar!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Those are a geat 10 points that you put together. Very clever. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Good selection. I remember all of them!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can relate to those phrases, Trout! What a gorgeous vintage photo!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Moms are such great people! I love that picture of yours at the piano!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Sounds like an excellent mom to me! And you turned out just fine! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I think our moms were sisters! I learned all the same lessons growing up, TB. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Sounds like my Mom too...but we never had spinach...maybe all Minnesota Moms said the same thing. :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Words to live by! How many of the same ones did you use on your kids? I can remember a few of my mom's coming out of my mouth in a certain situation!

    ReplyDelete