Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Old Stories

I sneaked another peak at one of Dad's old diaries last night and found he had been hospitalized as a teenager because of some abnormality with his heart. He spent a week in the hospital while they ran tests and did x-rays and another week in bed at home, after which this entry was recorded in his diary... Wed. December 1, 1948- "The doctor came to see me and told me I can't go hunting, tramping, take gym, play mouthorgan, work, and just about anything else for a few months." Ten days later was this entry... "Sat. December 11, 1948- "This afternoon Arthur (his brother) and I went out to Victor in the Model A and started home after dark. On our way home we decided to follow the unfinished Cloverleaf highway (dirt and high). We rode a few miles going about 50 or more when we came terribly near to going off a high drop-off onto a railroad track where they're going to put a bridge in. Arthur swerved the car around on two wheels, blew a front tire, crashed through a pile of iron bars and tore one running board in two. If we'd gone over the bank we wouldn't have had a chance. When we got home Mother, Dad, and I went to a show and saw "Mr. Peabody and the Mermaid" and "A Southern Yankee". So much for taking it easy! Whenever Dad told this story I could see him heave a sigh, shake his head, and wonder in disbelief that he and his brother survived so many boyhood antics. He never laughed when he told this story. Note- As best I can tell the "Cloverleaf Highway" refers to Interstate 90.

9 comments:

  1. I don't think I ever heard him tell this one. Between his Polio, his huge ulcer, his heart, and his "boyhood antics", he's fortunate to have lived to 77 yrs.

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  2. Not to mention gastritis with duodenal ulcers...

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  3. I don't remember this story either.

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  4. This was a story I only heard a couple of times and only in recent years. Priscilla, look at the Auburn Trail in your Rochester area "Take a Hike" book. There is a place where the old railroad bed goes under I-90. I think this must be where it all happened. Want to go for a walk?

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  5. I wanna go for a walk there! :)

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  6. I wouldn't think of going without you, Rachel!

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  7. Oh I would love to join you girls.

    I love that your dad kept a diary. My kids will someday read mine.

    Love the photo too.

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