maddash

About 1988, I bought a 14' wooden cabin cruiser (tugboat actually) with a 1955 Elgin 5hp outboard from an old guy that built it, in Tarpon Springs, Florida. It had a fog horn, windows that opened in front and lots of wooden extras. Then engine was made by the ELGIN Watch Company. My friend Gordon, Lisa and I took that boat out into the Gulf, cruising the scallop beds along the coast. I loved that boat but would not be crazy enough to take it out in the Gulf today. I always thought of Humphrey Bogart in African Queen when I boarded her.

One picture I have has always intrigued me. It is one of my favorites. This is that picture's story. My grandfather, Cal F. Peterson had a younger sister, Dorothy (Pete) Mildred Peterson. Not much is known about her. I am probably the only family member that is aware of her life. Dorothy was born in 1907. She had two brothers and two sisters, Cal (my grandfather), Bea, Thelma, and Ralph. Dorothy was evidently an accomplished athlete, as were her other siblings. Decatur, Indiana's high school had a girl's basketball team, unusual for this period of time. The team went four years (1923-1927).....undefeated. Dorothy's sister Bea and cousin Isablel also played but it appears Dorothy was one of the stars. Dorothy married at 21, died at the age of 23. According to the death certificate she died of a faulty heart valve. A contributory cause was indicated as: Athletic Shock (the cardio-vascular system fails to supply enough oxygen-rich blood to the organs. She died a

This is Linda's uncle Ed Stiles, in his bear skin coat. Linda's mother wrote a poem about him and his funeral. Ed always seemed larger than life.  He was a salesman, selling cigars and beer and an avid  sportsman.

My Dad turned 17 in Feb 1944, 3 months before D-Day, June 6th. He had been waiting to turn 17 so he could quit school and join the Navy. His brother was a Seabee in New Guinea. A large number of his Decatur Indiana high school classmates did the same thing.   In my wildest dreams, I can't imagine this happening today.  

A short bio of Cal F and Edna L Peterson, my grandparents. Cal Peterson and Edna Neukom were married on 19 Dec 1924. Cal was 22, Edna 21. At the time of their marriage, Cal was a clerk for Erie Railroad. Edna was a housekeeper. Cal moved his family (at the time only baby Cal Merlin and Edna) to Indianapolis to serve as chief clerk of the Supreme and Appellate Court of Indiana. 1926-1930. Cal had aspirations of becoming a lawyer. At this time, serving an apprenticeship was needed. I suspect that the Great Depression and Edna’s eyesight played a factor in the family moving back to Decatur. It is not confirmed, but it appears that Charles, my father, was born in Indianapolis. 1927. The depression was hard on the young family; Cal reportedly left his family with Edna’s mother and rode rail cars to California (had family there) looking for work. The residence at 603 Penn St. was acquired about 1930-31. Grandma Edna told me it was purchased for $300.00, and had to be financed. Edna’s vision

 

Tomorrow May 26 is my mother's birthday.  She would have been 95 years old. Many years after she passed away,  I was scanning some old photos and found a picture of our farm barn.  I vaguely remember taking the picture, probably around 1985.  On closer inspection of the scan, there was a hidden image of my mother.  She always sat by the window in her rocker and looked out at the barn yard.  I bought her a few Bantam Chickens one year and she would spend hours watching those birds in the yard. I think my mother was thanking me for the chickens in this picture.  She always told me that the three greatest, most relaxing things in life were: watching a crackling fire,  watching moving water and watching birds. You are welcome Mom.

  Linda grew up in West Los Angeles, near Santa Monica. Her family doctor was William L. Mortensen. Dr. Mortensen's father founded the Santa Monica Hospital and his son was president of First Federal Bank. He treated all of Linda's family and technically was our daughter Lisa's doctor in the womb. Oh.....and he was married to Beaver's Mom.  Barbara Billingsly.

I first met Linda at a party in Thousand Oaks, California.  I was in the Navy, stationed at a submarine base in San Diego and Linda was in her senior year at California Lutheran College.  Linda's father had been transferred to Moorpark and they had a home built in Thousand Oaks. This world was all new to me.  Suburbs of Los Angeles were popping up all around LA and each one became a new town.  EVERYTHING was new.  Linda lived just off the exit of the Ventura Highway, famous in song by the group America. Where Linda lived was once the ranch of Joel McCrea, famous cowboy and motion picture star.  Walter Brennen owned an adjoining ranch and in 1971 there was still an abundance of wide open spaces.   Hollywood took advantage of this area and most of the westerns, TV and Movies were filmed on the ranches surrounding Los Angeles and the old sets of buildings still stood in Thousand Oaks and other towns. 

 Want to complain about how hard it is being a parent?  Read this first: this young lady in the orange was a mother of many children. She worked and took care of her kids and home.  Can you guess what makes her special? She was blind. She never got to see those smiles of gratification or the mocking faces from her kids. But what she saw was pure love for each of her children and worked hard to raise them right. She lived to be 94 years old and I can still remember her carrying a smile around for no reason other then God had given her another day. I'm proud to say that this amazing human being belongs to my family. Although she's not alive today, her hard work and love for life helps me push through struggles. In loving memory of Edna Peterson. By Andria Peterson This was written by a great grandchild of Edna.  I am a grandchild of hers.  I took this picture in 1982.  That is our house in Hoagland in the background and the young girl is Carrie Peterson, a grandchild.  Carrie was