I would like to go back......

and write about what it was like growing up as a boy. In California we lived in modern homes with bathrooms and kitchens with running water and electricity. I don't recall any hot water heaters except at the Mosier place in Delano. It was equipped with a 1930 roof solar water heater. It was a box about 4' x 6', glass covered and filled with black water pipes. This would give us one tub of warm water. Any other hot water needs were taken care of with heating the water on the stove. Bathing was a Saturday night even (whether you needed it or not). Everyone used the same water, so one would hope that they weren't last.

Most of our homes were 2 bedroom. We always had a garden and Mom had chickens when she could. The hens for the eggs and pullets to raise for fried chicken. When we could, we would have a cow to give us milk and butter. We kids always had various duties. Hazel, Bill and I had the job of cleaning up after meals, washing, drying and putting away the dishes and pots and pans. Hazel washed, Bill drief and I put away and generally tidied up. We all had to help with the house cleaning, washing and ironing. I did the flat items. Mom baked bread three times a week and biscuits for breakfast. Our main meal was usually potatoes with gravy, vegetables and beans. We usually had meat on Sunday (dinner held at lunch time). It was either fried chicken, chicken fried steak or pot roast beef. We didn't get eggs to eat - they had to be saved to take to the store on our Saturday shopping trips where we sold them to keep the cost down. We would leave with two or three large bags of groceries for $1 to $2. Gasoline was 16 to 21 cents/gallon.

The typical Saturday shopping trip started at about 1pm and went on to 4 or 5pm. The men would hang around the sidewalks and the parked cars and visit - nobody special, just anybody that was there that wanted to talk. We kids were given 2 or 3 pennies and turned loose to shop. The five and ten cent stores had a lot of things for a penny or two - candy bars, crackerjacks, small cars, marbles and toys. It usually took a long time to figure out what to buy.

Compared to Oklahoma living, California was living 'high on the hog'. In Oklahoma we had no electricity, we had to draw our water from a backyard well and carry it in. There were no bathrooms - only paths leading to the 'privies'. We learned what old Sears and Roebuck catalogues were good for. We had one, two and even three hole privies. The schools were equipped with them also.

In the fifth grade in Tulsa we lived about a mile from downtown, the local store and the postoffice. Dad was working in Tulsa and used the only car we had so all our errands and shopping was done on foot. I was selected to do the shopping and since we didn't have a bank account, I would also buy the money orders and mail them to our creditors. Postage stamps were 3 cents.

This time period was the coming of age so to speak for me. One Saturday Dad got the day off and took us all to downtown Tulsa. He took us to a Restaurant and told Hazel, Bill and I we could order anything we wanted - not just a hamburger. We all three ordered a rib steak and piles of french fries. We were unable to eat it all. Jerry and Louise had a hamburger and milkshake (5 cents). Mom liked to have a fit - the steaks cost 35 cents each! The family took in a movie that night - Charlie McCarthy in "Looking who's Laughing". Another biggie for the family as Mom did not believe in allowing us to go to the movies.

Times were good at times, and other times very rough and it should be remembered there was nothing to fall back on in those days. No unemployment payments, no food stamps - charity came from your church and your fellow man.