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Posted on 02/15/2008 6:36:15 PM PST by Soaring Feather
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In honor (?) of Presidents day, 9National Sale Day or whatever else you might call it) Here is an excerpt from my book, In this chapter I cover the Holidays, and had a small bit for this holiday.
Presidents Day Feb. 18
This is a weird day, no getting around it! We put two president’s birthdays together so it seems stores can have more sales, and we might only get one day off if we’re lucky.
I can always remember how mom went shopping for the big ticket items for the house on this day, especially that clothes washing machine she had been lusting over in the Sears Catalog for nearly a whole year. I mean it was almost indecent the way she had a space already for it, all measured and even new hoses to the faucets and all. We couldn’t even toss our toys in that space, it seemed to block her mental view of it somehow.
The day came, and she got it, and with much fanfare and noise my Uncle Ernie and I got it placed and hooked up. Mom filled it with clothes, and just sat there and sipped a cup of coffee and watched it. I mean she just watched it, a small smile on her face, as if it were a TV! Ernie seemed to understand, cause he took us kids out for a hamburger, and we let mom just enjoy watching that machine run, quietly sipping her coffee.
Great story! I guess I can appreciate your mom’s joy just watching the washing machine.. My dear mother scrubbed by hand, on a scrub board, the clothes we wore. Later she inherited my grandmother’s gas washing machine, it made live for her easier.
My mom went from a childhood where she rode in a horse drawn wagon from Adel Iowa to Brodus Montana and lived in a Soddy along a small creek, to a house of her own (and that washing machine.) Quite a journey. It shows how life has its share of treasures, minor to some, and utter precious to others. I wonder if folks ever think about how their life isn’t so bad, or so hard as they think, if they were to place themselves mentally in time back thirty to fifty years. Then you had to do everything for yourself, and it wasn’t with the aid of a lot of appliances, corner malls, or on-line, yet it still got done.
I think I remember my mom talking about a Soddy that my grandmother lived in -it was in Lakota, South Dakota. This was before the turn of the century, my Grandmother came to America in 1899. She went West after learning her husband had died three weeks before she arrived in Canada where he was in hospital. She was 24 years young, lived to be 95.
“my grandmother’s gas washing machine’
My Aunt Nona had one of those, and she said the reason she kept Uncle Ernie around was cause he knew how to keep it fixed and running! With six kids on a farm, I imagine Ernie had to rebuild it a time or two.
Here’s one of putt-putt laundry’s in action!
Just like on her porch on the week ends.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIWswiLaMbY
LOL Ours was round and Green in color, can not remember the make.
I had an electric MayTag wringer washer in the 60s, bought it brand new.
ROTFLOL, well ours was one piece with the engine mounted at the bottom.
I got to tell you, watching that thing work, I think if the washing machine was that much mechanical fun, guys would volunteer to do the wash! (I wonder if I could get a Chevy v-8 to run that thing, hum-m-m-m-m-m-m-m-m)
Yeah, I did notice that guys were hanging around the demo. We ladies are very inventive, I bet a woman invented that gas powered engine. ;0)
Breaking news off Tass news wire Russia and Serbia has urge UN not reconize Koservo as indepdeant state
Guess this report from BBC wire group of Ethinic serbs has taken over Vodka company at this hour they just smash up Vodka in the storage area OH LORDY LOL!
LOL, oh poor Tom is going to be worried sick.
Hello out there, are you well, on vacation, or working your tail off, or none of the above.
Check in when you can, okay??
“I bet a woman invented that gas powered engine.”
Nope, engine invented by a man, but I bet his wife nagged him to put it on her washboard when she got tire of hearing how the engine was going to change everyone’s life. I could just hear her, “Well if that thing is so great, let’s see it get the laundry done quicker!”
From such situations do great inventions not come, for is not “Mother, the Necessity of Invention?”
One thing about Iran you got give props to them report from AFP wire claim that Iran just hang two men who rape and murder 4 Iranian women in villages
Even Texas is saying DAMNNNN
According to Kydto news wire report our US Navy going give Japan some weaponary to counteract Chia Pet even Godzilla is giving props to thattt
OH MONK get your geeky butt over to Kydto news wire they going announced late Tuesday afternoon Tokyo time about BLue ray and Tobisha
http://home.kyodo.co.jp/modules/fstStory/index.php?storyid=363594
WHOA report from KYdto news wire Japanese whaling ship almost collading with one of US navy ships in Sea of Japan just now it is cool everybody is okay WHOA
Breaking news from Xinurea news wire report Chinese market claim inflation has hit CHina with 7.1 on market highest in 11 years
Also another report from Aussie Age wire claim that Islamic group back in da day try whack former PM John Howard when he was in office because they tick off over his support war in Agahtairon
Also report from BBC wire claim that Musfahrah party in Pakstien is lagging in election results OUCH
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