Counting My Blessings Again

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~   Counting My Blessings Again written by "The Philosopher" Della Ann Mikesell Binder 5 May 1998           The Virtues Of Sleeping 3 In A Bed                                                      Now that I am entering my late "Childhood', I am still trying to decide  what I'm                    going to be when I grow up. Many past events in my life run through my thoughts                    and I ponder the affects of them on my life.                      I came to the conclusion that among the many blessings I received in my                    lifetime, even sleeping "3 in a bed" was one! Now if you've never had to do it                    you wouldn't understand why I say that. So I'll explain my pondering  on the                    subject.                      Consideration -  If you have to sleep "3 in a bed" you learn to be considerate.                    You have to be, or one of your siblings might kick you back, or if you're really                    obnoxious they might tattle on you and you'll all get heck. If one needs to turn                    over then all must turn over, or it's a bad mix of knees and elbows, backs and                    noses. If one needs to get up, one must disentangle oneself with the greatest                    of care and avoid stepping or kneeling on anyone else.                       Compassion - You learn to feel sorry when you hear a tiny sob that none is                    supposed to hear. Someone is sad and too proud to let anyone know, so you                    pretend you don't hear it. You wonder how bad your big sister's leg hurts her.                    It happens to be in a cast and is wedged up against you at the time. You try                    not to move to avoid causing her pain. We must not wake little sister who                    needs her sleep, but also loves a comforting arm around her.                      Gratitude - Then there are all the little secrets you share, with whispers,                    when all else in the house is still, And the quiet expectancy that as soon as                    they awake, you could play "I'm thinking of". You'd pick out some item on the                    magazine wallpaper that you were sure they wouldn't guess. You might even                    have a pillow fight if we were quiet. And you love your sisters because it's                    much nicer than sleeping all alone. Daddy and Mama and the baby have one                    bedroom. The boys have a bedroom and we three girls have our own bedroom.                    No one is in the slightest bit spoiled. How could anyone be spoiled sleeping 3 in                    a bed, I ask you. Look at all the virtues we've learned.         Thelma, Della Ann and Betty Mikesell         Cast of Characters                                                    Daddy: Jefferson "Jeff" Osborn Mikesell                                                                                            Mama: Florence Vivien Allen Mikesell                                                                                            Brothers: Ernest "Ernie" Osborn Mikesell                                                                   and James "Jim" Allen Mikesell                                                                            Sisters: Betty Lou Mikesell; Della Ann Mikesell;                                                                 Thelma Florence Mikesell             and "baby" Leslie Arlene Mikesell                                                             TRIPLES with EMMA

Della Ann Mikesell Binder, 1931-2008

The Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA., Saturday, April 19, 2008 -  Death Notices [Della Ann (Mikesell) Binder -21 July 1931-17 April 2008]

BINDER, Della A. (Age 76) Passed away April 17, 2008 Community Cremation Service, Spokane, WA

Della Ann Binder (Mikesell) - Della Ann Binder passed away on April 17, 2008, surrounded by her family and other loved ones, including her very loving caregiver, Fanny Hanson.  Della Ann was born in Pocatello, Idaho July 21, 1931 to Jefferson and Florence Mikesell who both preceded her in death.  Her husband of over 50 years, Eddie Binder died in April, 2000.  Her brothers, Jefferson, Jr. (died at birth), Ernie, Jim also preceded her in death.  Della Ann is survived by her first husband, James "Bud" Walsh of Corona, California and her sisters, Betty Erlandson, Thelma Winters and Leslie Wood.  Left to carry on her legacy are sons Dr. Michael Binder and Patrick Binder (Teresa) and daughters, Beverly Baker, Jeannie Chambers and Naomi Rhodes, several grandchildren, great grandchildren and many, many other family members.  Della Ann was a member of the Genealogy Society, the Bukovina Society and the Prader-Willi Syndrome Association.  She was an avid reader and enjoyed listening to music, playing the piano and spending time with her grandchildren. Della Ann worked in the restaurant and grocery business for many years.  The celebration of Della Ann's life will be Saturday, May 3 at 10:00 at Hennessey Funeral Home, 2203 North Division.  In lieu of flowers, please give to the Hospice of Spokane or the Prader-Willi Association, 8588 Potter Park Drive, Ste 500, Sarasota, FL 34238.

Della's Life p 2

Autobiography of Della Ann Mikesell Binder 21 July 1931 Pocatello, Idaho - 17 April 2008 Spokane, Washington Written November 1988  [Page 2]   We were headed for Spokane, WA. and a new life.  Aunt Mary (Mae) [Dean] was going to help us.  We met her in Spokane and she took us to her home on Mt. Kit Carson.  I remember sleeping in bed with her by an open window and waking up with a horse licking my face.  I thought it was the greatest place in the world.  She found us a house to rent a couple miles away.  It had never been painted and I remember Mama sat down on the ground and cried and cried.  Then she stood up and made us build a fire and boiled all the bedsteads.  Then we mixed up flour and water paste and papered all the rooms with magazine and catalog papers. I loved the house. It had 3 bedrooms, one for Dad and Mom and Leslie when she was born, one for Ernie and Jimmy and one for Betty, Thelma, and I. I always slept in the middle, you know, where it sags.  We played games by the hour, mainly "I'm thinking of" and there were so many things to guess. At first we had no food, and it was too early for crops.  We picked pigweed and cooked it like spinach and the same with new dandelion greens. Aunt Mae gave us potatoes and beans to plant. We picked wild strawberries and finally a Dutch neighbor named Shorty Van Megen gave us plants. We played in the woods and never felt fear of wild animals. Our brothers and cousins guided hunters to earn money. Dad walked 8 miles and earned $1.00 a day on the W.P.A., bought groceries and walked home. Everyone around was poor, so all the women and kids went to a building in Chattaroy, and we all helped make quilts and pajamas. The government provided the material so all the people had the same color quilts (purple with white flowers) and pajamas (striped I think). I always remember my dad fixing our shoes on the old shoe stand. And Mama making bread and frying some for lunch. I think Dad and the boys found a honey tree and we had honey. We didn't have toys to speak of. Dad taught us to play poker with dry beans for money (or matches). Mom went to the Salvation Army and got us a set of books called "History of the Countries of the World". I read those books like a story book, all about Queen Elizabeth, King Henry and Mary of Scots. Somewhere along the way they disappeared. But I loved those books. And if any poor hungry soul came by, we fed him. One man wanted to cut wood for something to eat, but he was so hungry, when he started to eat he passed out.  I know the greatest burden was on the older kids. We helped pick dry beans and strawberries and wild berries and washed dishes, but without electricity, I think most of the washing, diapers and all and a lot of hard work fell on Betty. Because Mama was sick before and after you were born. I think she must have had Toxemia. I know when she came home with you she had to stay in bed and we had to tiptoe because she had migraine head-aches. You got eczema from milk and we borrowed someone's goat. Yuk!  Dad did a lot of cooking. Somewhere in that time Betty had surgery on her tendons to her toes and heels and spent a long time at Shriners Hospital [in Spokane]. Also I think somewhere in that time period, we met people from the RLDS Church.  They brought toboggans up and sleds.  We had a lot of fun.  I remember sitting on a real long toboggan.  The last of a whole row of people but when it took off down the hill, I sat down with a hard thump on the ground, and away it flew without me.  Betty and I also took a bad tumble off a gentle old work horse when some dumb guy hit it and it bolted and we were not expecting it.  We had really nice neighbors, especially the Marshalls.  They lived down the road and had dairy cows and one mean bull.  We went up to the dances at Kit Carson School, folks, kids, babies and all, and when someone got tired they just laid them down on the coats to sleep. We also went somewhere and I think it was Soap Lake, Wa. where Uncle Carlos and Aunt Nellie [Allen] lived.  I remember them dynamiting the rattlesnake nests in the rocks and it rained snakes.  Daddy was a crack shot and he also threw knives. He threw a knife and pinned a Blue Racer Snake to the ground. He used to have the rattles from snakes he had killed around too.  We had a picnic that day. Finally Carlos and Nellie [Allen] and family moved up not too far from us.  We spent a lot of time together.  Aunt Nellie was strict and she had Asthma but I loved her and going to visit them.  They had a lot we didn't have. Uncle Carlos hooked up a generator and they had electricity. And a Maytag gas powered washing machine. We had great big dinners up there and I still make Spaetzels (german noodles) the way Aunt Nellie showed me.  All I got out of the Baked Bean recipe she gave me was 3 casseroles of hard rocks, so I think I did something wrong. 1938,  back: Ernie, Jimmy & Betty Mikesell, Carlos Allen holding son Earl, Florence & Jeff Mikesell. front: Ceathel & Carlos Jr., Della Ann & Thelma Mikesell & LaRaine Allen. Florence was pregnant with Leslie.   We were still close to Aunt Mae and Uncle Gilbert [Dean] and family and I really thought the world was perfect.  I liked school at Chattaroy Grade School and split my other knee open running a race to a tree that had a knot sticking out, at our picnic on the last day of school.  They didn't sew that one up, just taped it.  Like they did Thelma's finger when it got cut nearly off when we were cutting grass or hay or something in the fields at home. Mom was determined to get a better life for us.  Thelma and I had been seriously ill with scarlet fever and they quarantined the house and burned all our books and clothes.    <Back to page 1           Continued on page 3>

Della's Life p 3

Autobiography of Della Ann Mikesell Binder 21 July 1931 Pocatello, Idaho - 17 April 2008 Spokane, Washington Written November 1988  [Page 3]   The war in Europe was expanding and when they declared war here, the factories were starting up. So Mom and Ernie left us in Dad's care and came to town [Spokane] to get jobs.  So now you know why I love the mountains, trees and streams that you probably don't even remember. I thought the most wonderful thing in the world was sleeping outside and watching shooting stars.  And I learned to love western music from Uncle Carlos and Aunt Nellie and the kids.  Although I never could yodel like they told me.  LaRaine and I spent hours on the outside toilet (you know where mostly all the bees stayed) waiting for the dishes to do themselves but they never did. My best friend in Chattaroy School was Marily Werner. Her dad was the principal of the school. One time, I got to go fishing on the Grande Ronde River with them. In the second grade, Marilyn and I got up a petition to have the teacher fired. For some reason, none of the adults liked it. We couldn't figure out why because we got all the kids to sign it. Another of my good intentions and causes went down to defeat. When they could, our folks always canned and put away everything they could for winter.  Even to this day when I live 1/2 block from a large store, as the first chill of Fall comes, I try to fight the Chipmunk urge. I find myself buying and canning and storing food for winter. Up on the Mt. the neighbors got together and butchered hogs.  We got to have fresh ribs cooked and they dried the bladder and we blew it up and played ball with it.  We raised rabbits and other animals, but you can't butcher your kid’s best pets, and no one would eat them if you did.  They were all pets.  Lots of times our lunches were bread with lard and salt and pepper on it. Some of us traveled and picked hops in central WA. somewhere. We picked all the wild berries and fruit we found and we thrived. At least I did - happy, healthy, secure and totally without fear of anything. Good family, good relatives, good friends, and for me it was a good life. But we had to move in to Spokane and start a new and different life. When Ernie and Mom got jobs and a house for us we all moved down to 709 S. Freya. It was a 2 room house and pretty crowded for all 8 of us. The wood stove in the kitchen had a water heater in it. One time that winter, the thing blew up and Ernie had to run out in the snow in the back yard, (in his shorts) and shut the water off. I didn't like the town very well then. Before long the Kiwanis Club of Spokane (mainly Mr. Seiverson) helped us by renting us a big house at S. 424 Haven St. for $25.00 per month.   Dad was getting worse and had to go to Edgecliff  Hospital. We were all scared and I remember us kneeling on the kitchen floor praying for him. As soon as anyone was able to find work, we all did. I think I must have been about 10 or 11 when Betty and I worked at a nut factory a couple of  blocks away. Mom worked at Galena (the war factory), then Ernie went into the Army Air Force. Jim worked in the Forest Service my first year at Libby Jr. High (7th grade). The reason I know that is because Phyllis Wahl, Dolly Whiting and I skipped school and hitchhiked to Coeur d'Alene to try to see them. Of course we wrote our own excuses and got caught. I don't know how long or how many times we had to wash the school cafeteria windows, but one whole wall was glass. We didn't do it again. I didn't do a very good job in school that year. Dolly and I were babysitting that spring and were attacked by a man who cut the phone lines and broke in the door.  We ran away fast and he chased us.  I got hit on the head just as someone looked out the window to help us.  The guy got away but was captured later on.  I woke up inside on the daveno with cops all around.  They took us home and told our folks what happened to us. From then on, I was afraid to go to sleep and started shaking and crying all the time. Dr. Luger put me in St. Luke’s Psychiatric Ward with a nervous breakdown. They gave me shock treatments (electric).  Another little girl was also in with me.  She was the sole survivor of a train car wreck that killed her family.  She also had shock treatments.  They said that for a while we would forget things, but when the memories returned we wouldn't be scared of them anymore.  Believe me, it doesn't work that way. I was scared most of the rest of my life. I'm sure a lot had to do with the times we lived in.  Life moved faster and faster.  I worked with adults, shining shoes and in theaters and soon lost the little girl in me.  At 12 or 13 I did all the things adults did so I quit school shortly after starting the 8th grade.  At that time, I worked at the Orpheum Theater and was getting a lot of attention and making steady wages.  I know I caused my folks a lot of heart aches and I'm sure they couldn't figure out what to do with such a stubborn child. But it seems I was on one straight course to do everything in a hurry especially to run my own life. The only thing wrong was that good judgment didn't grow as fast as the rest of me. Again, I never intentionally hurt anyone.   about 1943, left: Edith [Ernie's wife]; Ernie; Della Ann; Thelma; Dad Jeff; Jim [in Merchant Marine uniform]; Leslie [in front]; Mom Florence; and Betty. In front of Mikesell home, 424 S. Haven, Spokane WA.       <Back to page 1           <back to page 2          continued on page 4>

Della's Life p 4

Autobiography of Della Ann Mikesell Binder 21 July 1931 Pocatello, Idaho - 17 April 2008 Spokane, Washington Written November 1988  [Page 4]     You were fast growing up. Betty got married, Jim joined the Merchant Marines and then got drafted later into the Army.  Thelma had finally learned not to listen to everything I said and was a very good girl.  Ernie and Edith married and somewhere in all this happening I ran away with Bud, a man I barely knew, who drove big fancy cars and hung around the theater crowd. He thought I was 18 years old but we were married when I was 14 years old. We went to California where he left me in a hotel in Berkley. I worked at an Ice Cream store. He came to see me now and then and when I told him I was expecting a baby, he quickly lost interest. We got to eat ice cream at the store and we (my girl friend and I) had a few bags of peanuts from tips we got. He picked up my check and paid my share of the rent.   Thelma, Bud and Leslie   One day a nice man told me I should go home and gave me the money for the trip. So I came back to Dad and Mom. They helped me and after Mike was born they tended him while I worked. They were very good to us.   Della Ann Mikesell Walsh, Leslie Arlene Mikesell, Michael James Walsh, Thelma Florence Mikesell, 1947, at S. 424 Haven St., Spokane, WA. 1946, Della at the Big dipper cafe on East Sprague Ave., Spokane WA., Della (2nd from left) was 15 or 16 years old. She also worked for awhile at Fernie's cafe, also on East Sprague.     The year I turned 17, 1948, I married Eddie Binder. The rest is history and well known. Over 40 years of marriage, 5 children and 19 grandchildren.   Eddie and Della Ann (Mikesell) Binder   I have had a good life. I am very fortunate.  I have lived from the days of the cylinder, wind up phonograph to the days of landing men on the moon and bringing them back.  From the days of a well loved, hard to get pencil, that daddy sharpened carefully with his pocket knife, to computers that little children operate skillfully. I have lived through wars and never lost my loved ones in them. I have lived through a Volcano eruption [Mount St. Helens] and had people explain the geological reasons it happens. 50 year anniversary, 1998, during Della Ann's cancer treatments I raised my children much as my mother did. Not realizing for too long, that I couldn't bear all their pains for them but hating to see them hurt so. (Perhaps a lot of this, I will do better at when I finish growing up.)  I remind me of my mother. I got very close to her in her old age, and saw again much of the young girl she had been, still in her. I still feel her very close to me. Dad and Ernie are also gone now, but the bond of love is still always the same. Also because I knew Mama could do anything she had to do, I also know I have that same inner strength, and can do whatever I must do when needed.  I count my blessings everyday, a strong responsible husband with an eternally optimistic attitude, 5 strong responsible children who will direct their own lives as they should, and my loving grandchildren, who I pray will call on their inner strength when they need to.  And for my loving brothers and sisters who have always been there for each other, and especially to you Leslie for reminding us of our heritage. We come from a long line of strong people including you.                                                                       Love, your sister, Della Ann   P.S.  I don't know if anyone else remembers the little boy who lived across the street from us on Haven St.  I remember babysitting him at times, when I was 10 or 11 yrs. old. His step-dad was overseas in the navy, and his mother liked to go out. I remember when I'd go in the house, there would be a terrible smell of combined whiskey and perfume. The little boy was quite crippled and a sweet dark haired little guy maybe 4 or 5 yrs. old.  I never saw her mistreat him in any way, but he was usually in a crib when I was there. Daddy didn't drive and we didn't have a car then. He would watch that woman pretty close and if she took off in her car and didn't come back soon, he would start walking the floor and cussing.  (Yes, Daddy could use some choice phrases when he was mad.) Then out the door he would go and walk up and down Sprague Ave. until until he spotted her car. It was usually parked in front of a tavern and the little guy would be in the car. So here would come Daddy back home, carrying that little guy on his back and we'd wait till his mother came home and got sobered up. Dad sure yelled at her. One night, in the middle of the night, we heard a loud bang. We all woke up and Daddy grabbed his clothes on and ran across the street. He came back with the little guy and called the police. The woman had put a long gun to her head and pulled the trigger. I think it was a rifle. I saw it the next day when we went over to the house. It was laying on the bed and there was blood and something like raw meat clinging to the wall. The step-dad was sent home from the Navy and I heard Mom and Dad say the dad was really good to him and raised him. He also had several surgeries at the Shriners Hospital. I can't remember his name but still can see his face and often think of him and hope he's O.K. I sure laughed when you said that for all these years you've thought it was your fault that I got a spanking over spilling the coffee. You wanted your Ice Cream cone and someway I dropped the coffee and the jar broke. (All coffee came in jars then.) The reason Dad spanked me was because I sent Thelma in for an empty jar and put all the coffee in it. I thought I got all the glass out too, but Dad was still mad. I remember he had hold of one of my arms and I kept running around him, so I think he missed most of the time. I was getting pretty leggy at that time. I really was a trial to raise. I know they loved me, but I'm pretty sure Mom had Dad convinced I took after his side of the family.  All God's Children and no two alike. At least I felt the razor strap more than once and probably needed it more. It never bothered me. If you did something wrong you got punished, and that's fair!   left: Della Mikesell Binder; Florence Allen Mikesell; Jim Mikesell; Betty Mikesell Erlandson; Ernie Mikesell; Thelma Mikesell Winters; Leslie Mikesell Wood. Taken 1962, shortly after Jeff Mikesell's death.   2003      <Back to page 1           <back to page 2           <back to page 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Betty and Evan Erlandson, by Della Mikesell Binder

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~       Betty & Evan   by Della Mikesell Binder, 1999          I have a few memories of Betty & Evan that I think would be labeled "SHEER  OPTIMISM".  I will try to    give you a couple of examples.  This trait is always accompanied by a determined look,a firm step forward,      and a bright expectant look to the eyes.  "The Art of Positive Thinking" is in full force.             As an example, their niece Jaime Mikesell, was to be married in Oregon City, Oregon a few years ago.       My husband and I had driven down from Spokane for the wedding, and we found a large crowd there.        Betty and Evan, at that time were traveling somewhere in the Arizona Desert, and drove back  to Oregon       City for the service.  We were in the church parking lot when they drove in.  Our  joy at seeing them       gradually changed to puzzled astonishment as they began to extract themselves from this really packed       small white car.  Between them in the front seat, and extending to the back seat, was a huge set of ????        Steer Horns?  Sitting on Betty's lap was her precious little dog Timmy, and looking over their       shoulders anxiously, with one blue eye and one brown eye, was Evan's beloved big  Australian Shephard,       Blue.  It seems they had been to a huge Swap Meet somewhere in the Desert. I don't know what       all they bought or what else was packed in that car.  All I know for sure was that it had everything but       ROOM, and they still had miles to go after the wedding.              Another incident, they could tell you about more fully, was when Betty and Evan and sister Thelma       and husband Wayne Winters, were hanging around the desert somewhere.  There was an old       concrete strip nearby and Betty and Thelma decided it would be a grand place to ride the bikes they       had with them. They were having a wonderful time when some mean pilot in a small plane started       buzzing  them over and over.  He finally came in so low that the girls fell with their bikes trying to get       away and got bruised somewhat.  I think they finally figured out that the concrete strip was an old       landing strip still being used, and left the area.  I imagine the pilot finally landed.            I have lots of wonderful memories of my big sister and the wonderful brother she brought to our      family.  Loving, caring, and always sharing, with her deep faith in  God.  I can just see them in the      far future, approaching those Golden Gates with the same firm steps, shining eyes and SHEER      OPTIMISM!               Forgive the teasing and enjoy today. God loves you and so do I.   Della      <back to tribute page       TRIPLES with EMMA

 

Della's Life

Autobiography of Della Ann Mikesell Binder [daughter of Jefferson "Jeff" Osborn Mikesell & Florence Vivien (Allen) Mikesell]   21 July 1931 Pocatello, Idaho - 17 April 2008 Spokane, Washington   Written November 1988       Baby Della Ann Mikesell, 1931 and Mikesell kids, Jimmy, Della Ann, Ernie & Betty Lou, 1932   [Written by Della Ann Binder as a letter to her youngest sister Leslie Mikesell Wood] Dear Leslie, I am putting this in the form of a letter to you, because as you have been so interested in the lives of our ancestors, I realized something in listening to you tell me.  I realized with some amazement, that because you were so much younger than the rest of us, you lived a different life when you were young, than we older ones did.  Maybe I can fill in a few blank spaces I remember. Ours was mostly a life of extreme poverty, I guess!  But I really didn't realize or know the extent of it.  We had such a strong feeling of always being secure, because we had strong parents and were surrounded with a complete knowledge of being loved.  Our Mother had the fierce feelings of a Mother Lion in the protection and love of her family and we were taught from the time we were small to "Count Our Blessings everyday".  Anyway I never knew I was poor. I have a few memories of Pocatello, Idaho.  I must have been 3 or so, when Aunt Edna and Uncle Henry Mikesell gave me a red coat.  They lived at a mine and at one time Uncle Henry got burned some way.  Aunt Edna was a teacher and I remember brushing her long grey hair a lot.  I remember sitting on Daddy's shoulders, and he was over 6 feet tall, and dragging my hands in the snow while he carried me down a path, cleared of snow.  That must have been at the mine.  I remember their son Del really well.  He was very handsome and was married and had a little girl named Lorena, I think.  He was at our house, when I tried to get something off the back of the wood stove shelf, and slipped and put my hands flat down on the hot stove.  (As you will notice, I was usually doing something I shouldn't.)  I don't remember when Del died.  I remember Daddy was all upset and said the Sheriff did not investigate the shooting properly and that it was robbery and murder and in no way possible, suicide. I remember Connie, (our cousin) living with us.  We were the same age and looked quite a bit alike.  For a while Aunt Nettie, her mother, was with us too.  That was when, one night, we woke up to a terrible yowling and screeching and all jumped out of bed and ran outside.  An old Tom Cat had come and killed all the baby kittens and the mother cat was fighting with him.  It was also during this time sometime, that I went to play on the boards piled up in back.  I had been told not to, of course, and when I fell and started to yell, Daddy spanked me all the way back to the house. I had overalls on and he didn't know I had torn my knee open.  Well anyway, the Dr. came to the house and laid me on the kitchen table and sewed it up.  (So if you meet a lady who has full length scars across both knees, you'll know it's me.  I'll tell you about the other one later.) I think I remember a ditch by the house and someone fell in it and got stung really bad by bees in a nest there. We visited a lot with Uncle Narvel and Aunt Margie [Allen] and kids. Also Aunt Grace [Welles] and Allen and Egbert Beall. They were always very good to us and with many cousins, it was always fun. Uncle Clide [Allen] and Uncle Narvel owned farms across the street from each other in Bliss, Idaho.  Uncle Ross and Aunt Nettie lived somewhere around some rattlesnakes.  I know I stayed some with them.  One time Connie was asleep on a cot and a rattlesnake was on the sewing machine treadle next to her but the cat killed the snake before it hurt her. Della Ann, Betty and Jimmy, 1934 I don't remember Dad getting hurt but he did. We had to move. Mama was pregnant and sick and Dad lost his job on the Railroad and Jim had Rheumatic Fever- I think they called it leakage of the heart then. Ernie and Jimmie used to collect rags and sell them. All of the family’s best friends were in the Rice family and we hated to leave Pocatello.  I do remember before we left, I got my brothers and sisters in a lot of trouble.  We all went to the movie down town and they were supposed to take care of me.  I didn't like the scary show (I still don't) and they wouldn't turn around and go home, so I just crawled under the seat, up the aisle and walked home by myself.  They never even knew I left.  I don't remember everything, but these thoughts are deep inside me and if they aren't correct, I must have filed them in my memory wrong, years ago. I know Daddy get a one way pass to Washington (Spokane) from the R.R. and I always knew we were going to be all right and was excited about the train ride [1938]. They had little cups and a water faucet at the end of the car, and I'm sure we wore our footprints down the aisle.  I know it must have been very traumatic to my folks and the elder kids. Thelma was my special charge as always. Mama said she never had to do much for Thelma, because I raised her from the time she was small.  I even potty trained her.  I also poisoned her with some dandelion medicine I made to cure all her ills.  I think in later years, she figured out that I really didn't know all I thought I did.  I really did have good intentions though. 1936, Grandpa Mike (Andrew Jackson Mikesell), Thelma and Della Ann in Pocatello, Idaho.     Continued on page 2