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around. Most definitely I cannot leave out a great appreciation to
Mama, Papa, and Burnette, they gave us all they could, to make sure
we really never lacked any of life's essentials. Each of you
contributed a lot to our happiness and well being. There were two
little brats who LOVED each of you so very much, and always had great
appreciation for you. We both thank God for you and the contribution
you sacrificed for us. We were fortunate to have much more while
growing up than they did, to a great extent thanks to them. There was
not money to buy everything we wanted, but we never lacked what was
really necessary. Vera and I never had to worry about being provided
for, we were never hungry, cold and we always had a dry place to
sleep, and a family that cared very much for us and gave us all they
could.

My biggest problem in clothing, was Mama always bought me bib
overalls, much to my dismay. All the other boys at school wore blue
jeans. The ones with the copper rivets at the pocket corners. But, I
always had overalls. It did no real long-lasting damage to me, but at
the time I sure wanted to wear blue jeans. Thanks to Uncle Curtis, I
did have a slightly oversized Ike Jacket, and most of the other boys
didn't. He also supplied me with long sleeved khaki shirts, they were
very durable, and I got a lot of wear from them. So, it worked out
about even as I see it now. Many times while recalling so many events
of my growing up, I get a strange feeling of sadness and even a tear
comes to the eye. Those days have gone forever along with most all
our older generations, and they and their memories have meant so much
over the years.

While working on the house Uncle Edwin would occasionally take some
time with us. When he and Lila Gail married he moved to Jacksonville
to work. During one of their visits, one afternoon he decided to go
squirrel hunting in the woods between our house and the river. This
was while he and Lila Gail were still married, Larry his son was
walking and beginning to talk, Ginger was just a baby. He lost his
way after the sun went down, and got confused on his direction of how
to get back home. It was a frantic time calling and making sure he
heard us to help him get home. Larry was running around on the back
porch calling "honey” for his dad, that is what he heard his mother
call him. Not long after this Edwin and Lila Gail separated and soon
divorced. On one occasion Edwin was running and playing ball with us
in the large front yard, and our dog at the time Ted, didn’t like
what he was doing and proceeded to catch and bite him. He left some
teeth marks, but no serious injury.

Edwin was somewhat of a dreamer, when he was in school he would draw
pictures of what he thought automobiles would look like in the
future. , So many of his drawings would look much like many

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