Middle Child

Welcome to the world
baby girl!
Diane and Jerry welcomed their fifth child on this day in 1968, Lisa Ann.

Our little cutie at 3 months old.

Lisa is the middle child of nine, she is also the middle girl--a double whammy! My fun loving sister, pictured front and center in 1971 in the brown dress, had to deal with four older siblings trying to tell her what to do and in turn had four younger sibs to boss around. I think here in her formative years is where Lisa developed her outgoing nature, her ability to multi-task, and her competitive streak.
My Aunt Patsy, who has a mind for details of people and events, as a child created a newspaper of sorts with all the stories she overheard her adult family discussing. Much to my grandmother's dismay, young Aunt Patsy then distributed copies to neighbors (what else do you do with a newspaper!). Lisa has inherited this detail-oriented mind and can remember soooo many things, even from early childhood--it is scary! She could definitely give our Aunt Patsy a run for her money in the memory department and would have made a wonderful co-contributor of the newspaper.

Lisa, loyal friend, generous sister, and devoted daughter,
Happy Birthday!

One last thought, please note in the above 1981 birthday photo, how I seem to be the only one singing, Glenn has covered his mouth to prevent himself from blowing out the candles, and Renee seems bored by the event...Hmmmm?

Lucky Number 7

I have six brothers and two sisters, my youngest sister, Renee, is the seventh child born in the eleventh month on the eleventh day.

Peek-a-boo!

Little Renee was always happy and smiling. I think her love of being a "girlie-girl" began early when Renee would toddle and dance around in ruffled underpants, earning her the nickname "Ruffle Butt"!

1st Grade photo, please note, the ruffles continued.

Birthdays were always lovingly celebrated with gifts, homemade cakes, and singing. Today, on your special day, Renee, let us celebrate the loving, joyful, caring person that you have become. Our family is lucky to call you daughter, sister, and friend.  Happy Birthday!

03-06-09

I looked at the today's date and I immediately thought of clapping game and song that my sisters and our neighbors used to do when were young, called 3-6-9. Two people clap their hands together in a simple pattern while singing the song, but they try to go faster during the second verse without breaking the clapping rhythm.

My two sisters and I could pair off and do it so fast our hands seemed like they were a blur. We'd try to stay focused as we went faster, but sometimes we'd just look at each other's silly faces and break up laughing, losing the rhythm. In the end our hands were always red and a bit sore, but we never stopped playing the game.

3-6-9
Three, six, nine, goose drank wine,
Monkey spilled tobacco on the street car line,
Line broke, monkey got choked,
And they all went to heaven in a little row boat.

My mommy told me if I were goody,
That she would buy me a rubber dolly,
So please don't tell her,
I kissed a 'feller,
Down in the cellar,
The other night--Oh what a sight!


My clapping partners and sisters: Renee and Lisa.