I was born on September
7th, 1953 on Labor Day. My
adoptive father named me Patricia Ann. I was brought home and
introduced to my 6 brothers and sisters. Rex, Richard (Dick), Shirley,
Betty, James (Jim) and Robert (Bob). The four older ones being out
of the house already, married and starting families of their own.
I grew up
in the (then) small town of Norfolk Nebraska. It was a good place to grow
up. Back then, no one locked their doors, and we knew the neighbors by
their first name. Except that is, us kids, we didn't dare call any of them
other than by Mr. ___ or Mrs. ___! And if we did Mom & Dad knew
about it within 10 minutes and we were then marched right over by our ears
apologizing!
Dad
was a mechanic and Mom was a cook. That was quite liberal for that time
for my mother to work. We were lower middle class although, I thought that
we were rich! Why, we had all that we wanted and weren’t that the way
rich people lived? I didn't realize that maybe we weren't rich after all
until we got our first TV in 1958. But, we were still a happy family, and
that was what counted.
The
years rolled on and I remember the English invasion of the Beatles, the
Stones, and a few others too. I remember "hippies", Woodstock,
Ike and Tina when they sang together. I wore "Petal Pushers",
"Bell Bottoms", "Elephant Legs", and "Mini
Skirts". I remember "Twiggy" , Flower Power, The Jim Jones
Massacre, The collage "sit ins", 5 cent candy bars,
hula-hoops, The day JFK died, and all my music was on 45's
I met
and married my first husband in Ga. on a vacation there. Charlie, and I
had 2 beautiful children, Charlie Joe Ray Jr. and Brenda Kaye. We were
divorced 5 years later. I met my second husband closer to home, and
married him 2 years after we met. We had a son 2 years after we were
married and named him Morris LeRoy Jr. after my husband. In 1990 we moved
to Minnesota. We lived together for 15 years before we divorced. I have
been divorced now for 7 years and I am not looking for a relationship. Two
times was enough for me. I am happy being by myself. I have loved and have
been loved. Now it is time for me. I am finding out new things about
myself that I never knew or thought possible
In
1997, I decided to work at the “flea market” as a vendor out of need
for money to go with what I was making at the fast food chain that I was
working for. Never, ever had I been at a flea market before, I really
didn't know what I was doing! But, it worked out! I would buy a little
more each time I sold something, and it grew! No one was more surprised
than me! By, 1999, my youngest child was 18 and I quit my job and
left for AZ to sell in the flea markets there. I was amazed at how much
money there was to be made! But, I missed my children and moved back to
MN. 6 months later. I still do the Flea Markets and now have a web page
too! But, I do miss the traveling. Maybe someday......?
That
about brings me up to date. There maybe some pieces of my life that I left
out intentionally, but, they are not important. Boring . . .
huh?
8-18-02 Update
As
I was reading through this, I found just how out of date this is! (LOL)
Not a whole lot is new, but a few things here have changed.
I
was doing poorly at the market and I have more or less given it up for the
time being (only!). Now I only "dabble" in it from time to time.
I also do keep a few things at a friend's table to sell, and I have also
given up the web page. (Hopefully I will start a new one next year.)
I
am now working at "Wal~mart" and as bad as I complain about it,
I do think that I like the work. (Go figure! LOL) It's as close as working
the "Market” and getting a regular paycheck for it as I can get !
(LOL!) I'll probably stay there until I decide to travel with the market
again.
I
am also trying to teach myself to sew! So far it's a disaster! My home
will be completely filled with my mistakes before anything good comes out
of it, I am sure! LOL But, I'm a determined gal, and I WILL get it right
yet! (Or die trying! LOL)
I
also see that I had slipped up and didn't mention that I was a grandmother
to the 4 most beautiful children in the world! Mike, Jennifer, Eric,
Megan. Unfortunately, none lives close enough for me to see on a regular
basis. But, they are my heart, and I hold them close.
1-17-06 Update
How time flies!
I had "lost" my files to this web due to an computer crash...OMG!
( guess that'll teach me to BACK-UP on a regular basis! LOL) But as you
can see I "found" them again and I'm back.
I moved from the Twin Cities ( Minneapolis for you ppl who are not Minnesotans)
and onto a farm in Pine City MN. I stayed there for a little over a year,
and then it was off to FLORIDA! I am now living with my daughter, who has
been trying to get me here for years! I'm still working at Wal~Mart , but
the Flea Markets are calling me! lol
I have had 2 new additions to the family. Haley Ann on May 6, 2003 and
Hunter Reid on March 10, 2005! Pictures to come you can be sure!
That
about wraps it up for now. TTYL !!
Pat
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