A Box of Memories

Sue (my aunt) and I were going through some old art glass and collector's plates in the basement of the house. We were assessing whether they should be Ebay sales or if the auctioneer should be called to collect them for his next sale. 

Boyd lion

Bing & Grondel, Havilland, Frankoma all stacked in neat, labeled columns lined the top shelf of the basement storage. I never realized how many creepy clowns were melted into various colors of Moser glass. We found Degenhart and Boyd glass. Some of the colors are amazing, but how many relaxing lions in blue carnival glass can you have on a shelf. AND, who's going to dust it? I barely keep up with the work that needs done now! Same goes for the St. Clair glass paperweights of which I found a box.

I can't imagine the clowns would sell on eBay for as much as they were purchased. Maybe the St. Clair, but it's been decided that the auctioneer should handle their sale. 

Unique St. Clair paperweights

I did confiscate the Havilland plates for the 12 Days of Christmas (there are only 9 to be found). I also liked the bird plates but I think Alan would start to balk if I put those in the car.

But, the greatest find was a box of clippings. My great grandmother Graham had collected all sorts of clippings about all the members of her family, from her 8 children to her 15 grandchildren. In particular, two articles my mom had written when she was a senior in high school. 

I wanted to share her writing. I always found her funny, entertaining and insightful. And these articles seem to bear that out, and what she wrote about then is true now. 

Sandra's Column (circa 1959; Sandra Beanblossom, editorial)

Mom in 1966, that's me on the left.

Hi! Everyone seems to think I've reformed and quit writing articles that you can't understand or that irritate you. You're wrong. Let me say that I know that many of you will never finish reading this and there will be two reasons for it: (1) some of you simply will not be able to understand it, and (2) many of you will madden because I'll be stepping on your toes. However, undaunted by your criticism, I press ever forward into new fields of conquest!

Seriously, however, this is what I want to talk about —America's Education System. (Don't quit now—it's bound to get more interesting!) This is a period when we need more educated people who are prepared to accept the responsibilities of leadership in several fields. It has been much publicized that we need more scientists, mathematicians, chemists, engineers, and so on. You've had that drummed into your dear little head until you're as sick of it as I am undoubtedly.

How, though, are we expected to turn out people qualified in these skills with a school system like that which we have? Our schools are preparing fine homemakers and farmers, but is that good? Is that the goal of an education? 

We, here at Lapel, have one of the best schools of our size in the state, right now. Even so, we don't come up the the standards of schools in the European countries. The American people, as a whole, have become complacent about the educational system and have not worried whether Johnny could read and work math, but spent much good money on Johnny's social adjustment. We are, therefore, a bunch of still-maladjusted know nothings who spent twelve years learning such things as how to drive an automobile, draw a picture, make a cke and play baskeball! I believe these things are rather out-of-place at a high school.

Along the line of unnecessary interruptions let me cite some of my pet peeves: (1) class money making projects which take school time; (2) non school related convocations; and this is an unpopular idea, I know, I don't see the point of class trips. Education? Possibly, for a few. But, is it right that the class spend the best part of the junior and senior years running around the countryside scraping up the money to take a few people clear to New York to go on a drunk? It's ridicules and absurd!

Well, I suppose my fan club has dwindled and my popularity poll has gone to a new low, but that's my opinion. I make no apologies.

Before I go on another tangent, I'll drop it.

Thought for the week:

I hereby propose one dat to be set aside as "Eddie Coyle Appreciation Day" in recognition of his feat of courage and valor when he reported the recent fire at Standard Elevator.


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I really did want to know what her pet peeves were back then. They seem to have evolved over time.

When I was a child, mom was peeved about sexist laws, or the township not allowing me to join little league, or why more people weren't concerned about environmental damage, or how blatant ignorance abound. Mom was never short on opinions, informed and personal. And for those of you who know me, I guess you also know the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.