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Barefoot In The Sand: Remembering the Waning Days of the Hopewell Community (1998) Bruce C. Gragg 36/123

been visiting the Hall's in Edith and while there she got so sick. No
one knew what the problem was, just that she was a sick girl. When
Mama found out what she had she was afraid the Hall Children might
get it, they didn't. I could only see and talk to her through the
window, however not too close, as not to get it myself. We were
totally lost during the time she was quarantined. We had only been in
the new house for a year or so, we were at war (W.W.II), and family
visits were curtailed due to the rationing of gas, oil and tires. In
about 1943 Vera went to Tifton, Ga. to live with Aunt Nita and go to
school in Ga. for most of a year. The schools in Fla. had been closed
due to a polio epidemic. Those were miserable times for both of us to
live through.

While we got most of the usual childhood diseases my worst trip was
with measles. One Saturday or Sunday I had been out with the rifle
shooting and came in midmorning complained to Burnette of a little
sore throat. She looked at it and to bed I went, she closed the
shades and said I was to stay in bed. Well they didn't appear as soon
as she thought they should so she gave me either some wine or a
toddy, the next day I began changing color, turning a blotchy red.
The big no no I did was to start looking at the Sears/Roebuck Catalog
(The Wish Book) when I went to bed, she came in and I got told right
quick like I was not to look at anything or I would damage my sight.
Soon I got moved to their bed room so they could care for me better.
Did I get a fill of radio soaps, I still hate the damn things. (Now
TV soaps must be added to the list.) That was all part of growing up.
When I was confined to bed, about the only way I could entertain
myself was to look at the boards overhead and see how many different
objects I could imagine with the knots in the boards. This room had
not been ceiled yet, and never was, so I was looking at the bottom of
the flooring for the second floor. It is amazing what you can do to
entertain yourself when forced to, anything to try to keep from
listening to the SOAPS. Of course routine needs or request had to
wait until a station break or the end of the soap. Emergency needs
only would be taken care of at any time.

I am sure I never adequately thanked either of Mama's brothers or
sister for them being there, and telling them how I appreciate what
they did for us. This is something we have a tendency to neglect all
too often. Their presence meant so much to Vera and Me, it seemed as
if they knew when we needed their visit or influence. They often
brought us something useful, but most of all they were there, a visit
we always looked forward to. We were always excited to see them
whether they had anything for us or not.

I cannot say enough about our mother Christine, she only had about 8
years of school but she could put in a days work along side

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