2- 1965, January Part 2, Snow & Measles!
For the southwest corridor of Georgia, snow was certainly an unusual phenomenon. During my first 25 years of life, I could count on one hand the number of times I saw snow! And so began the annotations from mid January 1965. These writings from my childhood diaries transport me back in time in a way that perhaps only photos can occasionally do. The contrast in those memories relived through my writings, however, are more pristine and there is a clarity of detail that I normally do not get just from looking at old pictures.
“16 Jan 1965, It has been freezing cold. It snowed all day long, but the snow didn’t stick. At least we could see it. We put our dogs in the basement (so they could stay warm) Temp 15 degrees. 17 Jan 1965, It has not snowed today, but it is still frigid cold, 12 degrees. I went to Sunday school this morning and then watched the Wizard of Oz on TV tonight. 18 Jan 1965, I had a semester history test. I made an A on that one and also on the English exam from Friday. My piano lesson went well. Ms. Ruth chose “Butterfly” as my recital piece. Kay came by the house and we studied math together.”
“19 Jan 1965, We had our Math semester test today. Tonight I went to the basketball game. Both our boys and girls teams won. Ken and Jackie were here awhile, again, visiting Adie. 20 Jan 1965, Semester Science test today. President Johnson’s Inauguration was today.”
This was Johnson’s first official inauguration. He won the November election, but had inherited his first couple of years in the presidency resulting from Kennedy’s assassination in 1963.
Junior High offered first experiences with semester tests, wherein the exams were administered on specific days and no other class sessions were held those days. That was very different from elementary school days.
From unexpected snow to enduring semester tests, I also think this Inauguration was my first cognizant recollection of that aspect of the presidency. Kennedy’s Inauguration back in January 1961 was not an event I remember, as I was only 8 years old.
Another fond memory of these years was the annual televised Wizard of Oz. That movie was one of the first that had a segment of technicolor. When Dorothy landed on Oz, the entire world came alive in living color. Of course, it would be another year before we actually had a color TV, so we were still awe inspired with the black & white version.
“21 Jan 1965, I have been really sick. I shouldn’t have gone to school. I had my regular piano lesson. It’s 9:00 and I’m going to bed. My head hurts alot. 22 Jan 1965, I stayed home from school today because I have been so sick. Laurie came by to see me after school. Debby, Diane and Brownie were also sick. 23 Jan 1965, Mrs. Patterson, my third grade teacher, had a very bad accident today. Nan moved way today. I thought she might stay here longer, but she’s gone now. I’m really going to miss her. She’s moved to Vandenberg, Alabama. I am feeling a little better health wise. 24 Jan 1965, Laurie was here today. She and I can still talk about just anything. Even though we are kind of on the ‘outs’ we’ve been friends a long time. David called her while she was here.”
25 Jan 1965, Today, I stayed out of school again, I think I’ll get to go back tomorrow. Ken and Jackie spend a good deal of time at our house. When they do come by, they often tease me. Kind of like having two more brothers! Claree started working for us today. She helps Mom with the evening cooking and does some minimal house cleaning. Parolee is still working most mornings, as well. 26 Jan 1965, Today is Mama’s 51st birthday! I went back to school, but when I got home I noticed that I have little red bumps all over my stomach. I also have a fever. Maybe this is the measles!”
Childhood illnesses of this era are no longer a normal initiation into life. US children of today thankfully do not suffer the sentence of dealing with measles, mumps and chicken pox, as we now have vaccines which have eradicated those diseases. Children of the early ’60s had access to polio, small pox and diphtheria vaccines, but most expected to go through chicken pox, measles and mumps as part of the passage through childhood.
Claree and Parolee were very much like members of my family. They played major roles in my upbringing and were like second moms in so many respects. See my writing “Chosen Family” published last year in my Growing Up In Dixie publication here on Medium.
Friends play such an important role in our lives, no matter our age. Seeing annotations mentioning Laurie, Kay, Nan, Brownie, Debby and Diane remind me of shifting ties. Ken and Jackie were household names in that friendship list as well. The acknowledgement of old friendships and the emergence of new ones were on the horizon. My mom turned 51 and I am reminded that I only had her around for three more years.
“27 Jan 1965, Well, I do have the measles and I’ve really felt very sick all day. I stayed in bed the whole day. I wasn’t allowed to read, write or do much of anything. 28 Jan 1965, (my mom’s handwriting) Mama is writing for me. Dad fixed hot lemonade to help ‘break me out’ and up went my fever to 104. I have felt very bad all day and gladly stayed in bed. 29 Jan 1965, My mom is continuing to write for me. I had a visit from Dr. Pugh this morning. He gave me a shot of penicillin and some medicine that is not doing much good. My fever is still sky high. 30 Jan 1965, Mama continues to write for me. Dr. Pugh came again. I am really breaking out now (measles full blown!) Mama called Uncle Rody to wish him a happy birthday. My fever is so high and aspirin doesn’t even help. 31 Jan 1965, Mama wrote: I missed my first Sunday from Sunday school since September. My parents are working so hard to try to get my fever down. Cold compresses; tepid bath; I got flowers from Aunt Gladys and Uncle Rody.”
Even though I was deathly ill, I recall this period of growing up with tenderness and appreciation. Having a home-town doctor who made house calls seems like something out of The Waltons or Little House on the Praire, but truth is that Dr. Pugh made many a house call in Stewart County back in the day. That shot of penicillin was the cure-all for everything, whether one needed it or not :) I also have to laugh a little at my annotation of my dad giving me hot lemonade to “break me out.” Well, that little concoction was actually what folks referred to as a hot toddy! There was definitely a slug of straight whiskey involved in making that infection come through so to speak.
What was February to bring after this rather dismal beginning of a year ? Certainly better days were ahead. Two weeks in bed with the measles represented a tough start to 1965! The flowers from my aunt and uncle reminded me of hope and better days to come. Certainly more adventures await. Stay tuned.
