Mom's Napkin by Susan

I always enjoyed Mom making these folded napkins for us while we were growing up. When I married & moved to Utah, I had her mail me one so I could learn to make them on my own. I'd unfold hers & refold it until I had the technique. Since then I have folded many a napkin and make them for our birthday dinners. Each time I make one, I think of Mom. Hopefully this will be passed on through my family members.

Uncle Leo by Susan

In our family those people that were especially close to us we gave them the title of "Uncle" or "Aunt" even if they weren't related to us.

Leo and George were Navy ship mates and they remained friends for years. I remember Uncle Leo coming to visit us in his big Cadillac car. I'd sit in the back in the middle tinkering with all the gadgets on the middle console. Most of our drives I believe were to the beach but wherever we went I remember coming home and having wieners and cabbage with potato cakes - it was one of my favorites.

I loved the way my Mom could take leftover mashed potatoes and patty them out. Then she'd fry them in melted butter slowly enough to get a nice brown crust on each side. Whenever my family makes mashed potatoes, we always make plenty so we can have potato cakes with another meal - they are definitely our favorite.

Daniel was born on Leo's birthday, June 13th, so Mom gave Daniel a small end table that use to be Uncle Leo's. He must of been a really close friend to George for him to give him the title of "Uncle."

Best Friends by Susan

Judy Laurie lived across the street from us. In our neighborhood, if there was more than one person named the same, we'd call them "Big" or "Little" before their name. This is why Judy Laurie was called "Little" Judy. She was one year older than me and she attended a Catholic school. It was at her house that her brother, "Little" Danny, caused me to fall off the ladder knocking out my front tooth.

I did many things with Little Judy. Her parents would take a few of us neighbor kids to the beach during the summer. One time in particular I remember us all being way out in the water when a huge wave came towards us. Everyone ran but I couldn't get back to the shore fast enough so instead I climbed this huge rock and just held on TIGHT. The wave went completely over me and it was very difficult to hold on. That really scared me that to this day I don't like going out too far into the ocean.

Little Judy's mother taught the two of us to play canasta - a card game. It was so much fun. Jean was in a canasta club so she had fun teaching us a game she loved. We'd spend many hours playing this game together. She was a nice lady.

Little Judy's father, Sam, owned a grocery store in downtown LA . I was invited to go with Little Judy to help out at this store during the night shift. It was way cool to go up behind the scenes of the store where we could look out through secret windows watching people but they couldn't see us. We slept on cots in the storage area and woke up really early. It was a different experience seeing downtown LA during those hours we spent there.

Little Judy and I would ride our bikes to an Italian store down Burbank Blvd a few blocks into to the city of Burbank. We would get these giant dill pickles and munch on them riding our bikes home, or pepperoni sticks that were quite tasty, buy my favorite were the individual boxes of Spumoni ice cream that we were sure to eat before leaving the store so it wouldn't melt during our bike ride home.

Little Judy and I even raised some baby ducks. When they were tiny, they were so much fun to have around. But then they grew and began to fly. It was crazy to go down our street and see theses ducks flying back and forth to each other's houses. What a site! When they got to be unmanageable, the Lauries had some relatives that had sort of a farm that they took them to - at least that's we were told.

When the Barbie Doll came to be in 1960, Little Judy and I really had fun. We'd make clothes and play with our dolls all the time. We even found a shop in Glendale that sold individual Barbie accessories that we both visited often. I still have my Barbie suitcase with all her clothes and even Ken. After Little Judy she was gone, I closed my little pink suitcase with all the memories inside.

This was about the time that Little Judy was diagnosed with leukemia. I remember sitting on the curb talking together and she showed me all these red little bumps all over her legs. She wondered what they were. Shortly later my Mom told me about her having leukemia but to keep quiet because her parents didn't want her to know.

Our Mom was so kind, she'd have things like carrot juice and other food things in our house so we could offer them to Little Judy when she was over. As the months went by, Little Judy changed a lot. The medication affected her and she was in and out of the hospital a lot. When we were gone on our Ohio trip, California had a thunderstorm and it was really scary for Little Judy. She crawled into her mother's bed and cried that "she didn't want to die." I can't imagine how difficult that was for Jean.

The last time I saw Little Judy was November 1, 1961. She was laying in her bed & I visited her before going to school. She had been in the hospital and the people gave them Halloween treats and she wanted to share it with me. The next day, November 2, I was on my way to walk to school when Charlene Smith, a neighbor a few doors down the street, told me Little Judy had died. I cried all the way to school that day and had a really difficult time with it.

I remember her viewing so clearly and the funeral scared me to death. I lost a really close friend and I became afraid of death myself. I'll always remember Judy Laurie.

Good Friends (by Jill)

Several years before we all moved to Utah, mom made friends with Jerry's grandmother, Grace. Jerry is married to my oldest daughter, Heather. Mother and Grace were funny to watch and to listen to. They would chatter back and forth like no one else was around. They had a good time together. Whenever Jerry's family would have a get-together, mom would always ask if Gramma Grace would be there and Gramma Grace would ask about her. Everyone got a kick out of the two of them. Jerry's mom, Jewel, would worry that Grace was bending mother's ear too much about religion. I assured her, it was no problem.

Celebrations (By Jill)

Our mother really knew how to celebrate special occasions. Of course, it was always for someone else. She never wanted anything for her birthday or Christmas, but she sure gave a lot. As I got older and became a mother myself, it was apparent, that moms make everything happen for their family but who makes it happen for mother?

I decided it was time to make our mother's birthday more special and to stop taking "no" for an answer. I just picked her up and told her we were celebrating her day. I know she was tickled to have her own special birthday cake and for us to fuss over her opening her presents. She was a very humble, giving person. The photo above is a cake I ordered from a bakery since I've never been able to make professional looking cakes like Susan. I love this picture of mom; she looks so happy.

Mother's Support (by Jill)

Mother was always such a help. One thing she would do for me was my ironing. This is pretty ironic because when we were young she always told us how much she hated to iron. One vacation we took with a rented trailer, she had to stuff the upper storage bin with all of her ironing or we wouldn't have had anything to wear while we were gone. Gil was always so appreciative of having so many shirts to choose from. Mother was very efficient, too. The copy of the card above is proof of that. On the reverse side of the card is a poem which reads:

The ones we love remain with us

For love itself lives on,

And cherished memories do not fade,

Because a loved one's gone!

The ones we love can never be

More than a thought apart,

And as long as there is memory,

They'll live on in the heart.

She loved poems, and if she wasn't found writing them, she was clipping them from wherever they could be found.

Let's Party (by Jill)

The Saturday night before Gil went on his mission, one of his friends had a surprise going away party for him. Mostly church friends and buddies from High School came. As you can see by the photo above, Susan was also invited. She's rocking out with Tim Adams, one of Gil's friends. You didn't know she was such a "party animal", did you?

I was so sad and concerned what I would do without Gil for two years, I actually made myself sick. He was actually gone two years, four months. The extra months were because they did a language training mission in Utah before going to your destination which was three months and the other month is because he volunteered to stay an extra month in Peru. What was he thinking!?!?

Songs (by Jill)

There was always "100 bottles of beer on the wall" we'd sing in the back of the car when we started getting bored. I've changed the word "beer" over the years (hey that rhymes) but it's not as easy to sing. We'd also sing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" in rounds. Then the following song, "Old Mill Stream", I don't think I'll ever forget but not really sure where, when or who I learned it from.

Down by the old, not the new, but the old

Mill stream, not the river but the stream.

Where I first, not the second, but I first

Met you, not me but you.

With your eyes, not your nose, but your eyes

So blue, not green, but blue.

Dressed in gingham, not silk, but gingham

True, not false but true.

You were sixteen, not sixty, but sixteen.

The village queen, not the king, but the queen.

Down by the old, not the new, but the old,

Mill stream ---- not the river but the stream!

This and That (by Jill)

Hand stand contests on our front yard where the grass dipped down; dad's whistle when he called us home; skating in socks on newly waxed floors; putting playing cards in the wheel spokes of my first blue bike; playing pick-up-sticks with my really long nails; playing jacks with a golf ball so it would bounce higher and allow more time to pick up the jacks.

Our dough boy pool we'd run circles in and then get down and let it move us round and round; our tether ball; dad's nights in the garage when we got so silly he went out to the car to sleep -- and, of course, my being volunteered to go say we were sorry and to please come in.

Always a kiss goodnight or good-bye. I'd be dropped off at school and dad would lean over part way to kiss me. I was embarrassed someone would see and think I was a baby or tease me or something. I would still lean over the other half and kiss him back. I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I'm so glad I did.

Lightening bugs in jars when we took our trip to Ohio, my shows in our garage using mom's old bedspreads for curtains, slapping Judy Laurie in the face when she refused to come to rehearsal (something I'll always regret), the way mom cut sandwiches like a triangle.

And last but not least, "Jinks you owe me a coke" whenever two people said the same thing at the same time.

Thanksgiving by Jill

We always had a fantastic spread at Thanksgiving time. Everything tasted wonderful. When I was dating Gil, he joined our family for Thanksgiving one year. We were eating in the "back porch" as we called it. It was a fairly good sized room with a big sliding glass door that let in a lot of light. We were all sitting around the table talking after dinner. Everyone was getting to know Gil better by asking him questions about his family, etc. Judy popped out the question how he spelled his given name and he responded G i l i s p i e. He explained he was named after his grandpa but it really wasn't the same spelling. His grandpa's name was spelled it G l y s p y. Judy said it was a good thing they spelled it wrong or we would be calling him G l y!! That has always stuck in my mind.

When we were married, I started having Thanksgiving at my house and everyone would join us there. Judy would bring drinks galore and/or vegetable dishes, dips, etc. and mom would clean out Martino's Bakery or Marie Calendars of their pies. Being in California, it was warm enough to go to the park and we'd fly kites, swing, etc. in between dinner and dessert. My kids have many fond memories of this holiday and ask from time to time whether Judy and the girls will ever come to Utah to have Thanksgiving like we used to. After dad got sick we started going to the restaurant and it was never quite the same. I think Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday -- I love to eat!!

Food (by Jill)

Grilled cheese sandwiches were so good growing up. We used our grilled cheese maker which made them perfect. They were especially delicious after a swim in the neighbor's pool. Grilled cheese and a coke; the perfect lunch.

I remember eating at Clifton's and also Schaffer's Cafeterias. You'd go through a line looking at all this delicious food behind the glass and take what you wanted. Sometimes I didn't even end up with a main course and dad would make me go back to get something substantial. I did love the hard rolls (lots of butter) and E'clair dessert. They were the best. To this day I haven't found a hard roll that's even half as good. We must have loved cafeterias because that's where we ate at school every day. We'd always leave home with our "fifty-cent piece" so we could have a warm lunch inside. I thought it was gross to bring your own lunch in a paper bag. Every time I'd pass the outside area where kids who brought their lunch ate, it smelled really gross. We were really lucky we got to eat in the cafeteria every day.

Dad made the best scrambled eggs. They always turned out perfect and we couldn't figure out how he did it. I think he added just the right amount of milk and maybe a little cheese. Mom was a great cook too but she was very modest about it. After I got married and asked her specific questions about how she made certain things, she'd just reply, "I just throw it in the oven." I'd always tell her mine didn't turn out as good and I just "threw it" in the oven, too.

When I tried to make chocolate chip cookies the first time when I was young, I did it all wrong. I thought you put ALL the ingredients in the bowl at the same time. BOY! Was that ever hard to stir. Mom was concerned we'd have to throw it all out, but I stirred and stirred and made it work. Thankfully, I've learned over time because I sure love chocolate chip cookies.

Mom use to use a cone-shaped collander with little holes all around it to mash potatoes. With it she used a wooden utensil to mash the potatoes through the holes. The potatoes looked like rice once they went through the collander. Then she'd add warmed milk with melted butter and they were the best ever. Mom never had "lumpy" mashed potatoes.

Custard always turned out when mom made it. I appreciated more as I got older. She made it as a pie or by itself and always was the perfect consistency.

Then their were Bob's Big Boy hot fudge sundaes. Nothing like it. They brought the hot fudge in a separate container so you could put it on as you ate. The best tasting hot fudge you could ever imagine.

In Burbank, there was a restaurant called Sargent's (they've since turned it into a Mexican Restaurant). It was a special treat going to this restaurant. Hush puppies were a favorite and we always got dessert at Sargent's! I loved the tapioca pudding.

I've always loved chocolate dipped cones. Once I ordered a king size dipped cone at Tasty Freeze near our home but when they dipped it, the ice cream fell in the chocolate. This may have been the reason why they stopped dipping the larger cones.

There used to be a really good drink they sold in a large can called Hi-C. We'd get it in orange mostly but we'd sometimes get grape. I can almost taste how good it was when it was ice cold from the frig. Mom and dad always bought a lot of really good food from the store. There was always plenty to eat at the Kendrick home and mom always offered any and everyone something to eat and made them feel right at home.

I sometimes don't remember much . . . (by Jill)

But I do remember The Lawrence Welk Show, My Three Sons, The Donna Reed Show and thinking some day I would marry Ricky Nelson.

I remember Judy watching us when mother had to work nights and dad was away working on some "secret" project for Lockheed. One night she let us watch King Kong. I got asthma watching the girl run through the jungle (who'd think). Judy would also make cooked carrots (not my favorite) and force me to eat them until I gagged. I'm sure she didn't do that because carrots are good for your eyes. Why did you do that???

I remember Susan's long hair and not letting anyone comb it. When we tried, she'd cry because of all the tangles. And, of course, their were the torn up strips of sheet that mom used to put banana curls in our hair. I think Susan was the Ginny Pig the longest. And the best story I remember about Susan involves giggling (ALOT). We left her in the closet to finish painting and we heard laughter from the other room. She had been in their with no ventilation and mom and dad said she'd gotten "drunk" from the paint fumes. She was so funny to watch, listen to her funny comments and giggles. They've changed paint ingredients quite a bit from those days so as they say "don't try this at home."

I remember when "tight" skirts were popular. I mean really tight. I wore one to go out with the family one night. I talked mom into letting me wear nylons. They didn't have panty hose in those days so I had to wear a girdle to keep up the nylons. It also made me look a little thinner in that "tight" skirt. I thought I was so grown up. As the evening went on, I couldn't wait to get home to get the daggone thing off; it was so uncomfortable. So glad they invented panty hose.

Going Out With Judy by Jill

Since I am four years younger then Judy, I was a little too young to "hang out" with her and her friends growing up. Once I got to Jr. High, though, I guess I looked old enough to be a part of the group for at least one occasion that follows.

Judy had a friend who lived in Burbank and she had a sister the same age as me. The four of us went out for pizza and to "cruise" Hollywood Boulevard. You'd think the highlight would have been Hollywood Boulevard, but I want to tell you about the pizza place.

It was a small Italian Restaurant and we were sitting around a table waiting for our pizza to come. A man sitting nearby, started blowing his nose and wouldn't stop. It sounded gross and we all looked at each other trying not to laugh. He blew, coughed, sniffed and hacked up who knows what. A little bit later the long awaited pizza arrived at our table. Judy discretely whispered, "You think listening to that man was gross. Wait til' the stringy, white cheese hangs from your mouth and you recall what you heard from our neighboring table." We all laughed and tried to eat our pizza. If mom and Susan would have been their, we could have had one of our giggling spells and forgotten all about the pizza.

I know this quote isn't Judy's exact words, but I'll always remember her saying a similar comment and thinking, "My older sister is not only cool but she's funny, too!"

Our Mother by Jill

Our mom was a very quiet person unless she had reason to speak her mind. She was also very loving, kind and sharing. She sacrificed for her family continually. She cleaned our plates instead of getting her own; she'd order the cheapest thing on the menu; she'd force herself to stay awake after a long day at work to help us with our homework; she'd get up extra early but ended up running around at the last minute to get herself ready for work because she had been doing so much for everyone else. Our mom was a character; funny even when she didn't know it. These are some cute little things I remember her doing:

Most people have notepads by the phone to take messages. Our mother used the good old "Kleenex" box. Her notes were very thorough, though; appointments, important telephone numbers, addresses, directions, etc. The key was to find the right box to read all these efficient notes.

Mom would keep important things in safe places. Like putting checks, greeting cards, important documents, etc. in books so they wouldn't get wrinkled or lost. Half of her method worked; they didn't get ruined but many times they weren't found for quite some time. Maybe if she would have used her purse to store these items?? Or maybe not, it would have been hard to find which doorknob she had hung it on.

One of my first memories of our "laughing spells" was trying to order at the Jack-in-the-Box. Now keep in mind, this was a long time ago and people were not accustomed to ordering food at a drive-thru, especially with this big Jack-in-the-Box towering over the order box. The first time we drove up to the "Jack-in-Box" in the sky and someone said "May I take your order, please?" Mom couldn't figure out where the voice was coming from. She looked all around and then looked up. She thought he was talking and started to giggle as she told us. Each time the person repeated "May I take your order please" because it was taking us so long to answer, we laughed louder, longer and couldn't stop. I think we might have laughed so much that we cried wet our pants. I don't know if we ever got our order placed.

To our dad's disappointment because he was so punctual, mother was always running late. Dad would give her the countdown and I'm sure that just made her later. One morning she was racing around looking for this or that trying to get ready for work. She didn't know Gil had arrived to drive me to high school. Of course, I wasn't ready either and so he sat down in the living room to wait. Our living room was the first room in the house and had doors on each side so you could run circles around it. Afraid she was going to be late for work and still looking for possibly her dress, mom came running through the living room in her bra and girdle, much to Gil's surprise. Of course, when she looked up and saw him, her scream was probably heard miles away.

These are just a few of the things I can remember at this time. I sure miss her.

In The Good Ole' Summertime! (by Jill)

Judy and I were so excited. Mom and dad had "dropped" us off at the North Hollywood public swimming pool. We felt so grown up to be able to be there by ourselves. We had lots of fun jumping into the water until I thought I'd try something new. I put my feet on the edge of the pool to do a back dive (more like a jump). As I jumped, I did not clear the edge of the pool. Unfortunately, I hit the edge of the pool under my chin and bit the inside of my lower lip. I didn't realize what had happened until I saw all the blood floating in the water. Judy was right their to greet me as I got out of the pool. Putting a towel around me and seeing how profusely my mouth was bleeding said, "Pretend like nothing happened." This statement has become funnier to me over the years.

I can't remember if that was the last time we were allowed to go to the public pool alone. I'll always remember hitting the side of the pool because I still have the scar to remind me.