Easter and Cindy Plays Hooky!

This is Easter Sunday, 1960, in Medford, Oregon. Mom says these were the first store bought dresses we had for Easter (usually Grandma Pope made our Easter dresses). It was so thrilling--from head to toe we were decked out. Notice Cindy's hands--once again they are perfectly folded. Ali's youngest baby, Emilia, always amazes us by folding her delicate little hands in her lap. So we've decided she's inherited that trait from Grammy Cindy!

I remember we had a kiddie pool at that house. Mom set up her step stool at the side so we could climb up and jump in. We had a large chestnut tree in the backyard, and we would create the outline of a house with all the fallen chestnuts. Then we'd play in our two-dimensional playhouse.

Cindy started school in Medford. She was terrified at recess because she couldn't find her way back to the classroom. So there was a boy in her classroom she would spot as soon as the bell rang, and she'd follow him back to class. One day, however, he was absent, and when the bell rang she panicked. She couldn't find anyone from her classroom, and ended up alone on the playground crying. A fifth grader found her, and helped Cindy find the classroom. Her teacher was clearly irritated.

So, one day Cindy decided she'd take a day off! When Mama took me to the sitter's house, Cindy would usually cross the street to the school. But Cindy stayed home instead. She vigilantly stood watch at the window waiting for the children to be dismissed from school. Then she would call Mama like she always did, and nobody would know. As soon as the children poured out of the classrooms Cindy made the phone call, but it was only the first recess! Luckily, Mama didn't make Cindy face school that day.

With mother's sister, Lois, and her husband, Roy Lee Hern.