Kathy Franks Brooks
Mom's way of showing she loved us was to make something special for us, have a party, or take us on a "special" walk to Woolworths counter or Piggly Wiggly grocery store while walking by the Town Talk Bread Co. One day a man wolf whistled at her and she acted offended because she was an "old married lady", but she really liked it.
Mom made Christina and I matching clothes when we were little, people thought we were twins! (She did have twin girls later.) She was very good at sewing and embroidery. One of our favorites was a pink dress with white puffy sleeves and she embroidered flowers down it. She would also decorate headbands to match our outfits.
I got sick often and mom would make me scrambled eggs with sliced vienna sausages in the shape of flowers. If she had the money she would walk to Ernie's grocery store on 4th street and get me a chuck wagon sandwich. All of us loved when she bought BBQ beef sandwiches from Safeway after grocery shopping, or took us for an ice cold A&W Root Beer in frosty mugs on payday.
Most of our classmates remember the Halloween parties. Mom went all out on costumes, decorations, music, treats and of course the haunted house. Everyone had a great time. She always came up with clever treat ideas for us to take to school for holiday parties.
I can still remember the smell of homemade bread rising and baking, making and decorating Christmas cookies, and hot cocoa. They always tried to insure we got at least one present we really wanted at Christmas. My favorite gifts were my olive green easy bake oven, Cleo the white elephant with overalls, my black cowboy hat, Super Grover and Chatty Cathy (my nickname).
Besides her children and grandchildren, Mom loved Elvis! She collected his albums and movies. She cried the first time she saw our daughter, Emily.
Kathy Franks Brooks
Asbury MO