Bounty
The shopping, cleaning, and cooking that go along with our national holiday might, perhaps, take the shine off the genuine feelings of gratitude that we cranky girls harbor in our flinty little hearts. But this artifact from a cousin makes me feel serious-as-a-heart attack thankful for all those post-war miracles: antibiotics, fluoridated water, free school lunches, GI Bill, the U.S. highway system, and the like. These are the O'Hern children at their mother Jane's funeral in 1933. My grandmother Nora is the fourth from the left in the back row.
Jane O'Hern was married at 16 and died before she was 60. She had 13 children; Jeez, the hamster in Grace's bedtime book only had 11.
Jane's obituary described her as quiet and unassuming. If you live with someone as tightfisted as her husband, Pat O'Hern, and produce 13 children, you probably LOOK like you're unassuming. But I think she must have been tough as a boot. Her 13 children all lived to adulthood; the only one missing from the funeral picture died at 18 in a farming accident. In other branches of my family, unattended children died from drinking kerosene or stepping on rusty nails. But not Jane's. She didn't leave any at the gas station, or let any drown in a creek. She must have been paying attention and not just phoning it in.
If Jane O'Hern, with no education, running water, or even a whiff of useful medical care can do all that, I think I can manage to unload the dishwasher one more time.
--mcg
For the liberal arts majors:
ReplyDeleteCount heads in the group photo -- 13.
Dale IS in that photograph.
He is NOT in the photo when his father Pat died.
You need to post that photo also.
MJH
Apologies to all liberal arts majors.
ReplyDeleteDale died in '24 so he is not in this posted photo. The 13th person must be Pat himself, perhaps to the left of Flossie.
Liberal Arts majors serve a vital function, they should not be ridiculed!
MJH
Dang, you are BACK! Missed you.
ReplyDeleteImagine trying to get 13 children in matching outfits together for a photo today. At least one would be wearing a t-shirt with glitter and an inappropriate saying on the front.
I am coveting the shoes of the girl in white in the front row...
But who is the fetching lass in white? What became of her?
ReplyDeleteThe sweet little girl in white is my mother's Aunt Winnie, who was 10 years younger than my mother. She still lives in Oklahoma; her son is an architect. I can't tell you where he is in this pic, but Charlie, 7th in birth order, is 101 and counting.
ReplyDelete