Well, why do you care?

“Because someone we love is in heaven, there’s a little bit of heaven in our home.” — unknown

For my wild card I chose to interview my mom to get her perspective on family and listen to her stories about growing up. Grammie knew more about the history of my family, but my mom can tell me things about Doc and Grammie and about how the loss of her brother affected her and her siblings. My mom is the most genuine and loving person I have ever known. Her personality shines through this interview and I am glad for the opportunity to do this with her.

1. What was it like growing up with 5 brothers and sisters?

• Well, I dont know any different but I loved every minute of it because there was always somebody around. I especially love it today now that we are older.

2. What was it like losing a brother?

• It’s probably the worst nightmare you can imagine. At a young age I didn’t really know what to do. It made me think that the small stuff I used to worry about was not a big deal and that there are a lot more important things in life than to be popular or to get asked out on a date. You know, you would never wish that on anybody.

3. What are your favorite memories of Mike?

• Well, that’s easy, he was more like a big brother than a little brother. We were only 14 months apart. And so he taught me how to drive and I taught him how to dance. It’s true. He was just a very stable, solid, good guy, just there was nothing…nothing, he was just real. He was who he was and you couldn’t help but love him. I remember one time that I would be upset over girl drama and I would run down to the basement and he would say, “well why do you care?” That’s why I love that about you, you’re like him that way; you’re very secure. And when he would give me directions, he knew how bad I was, and he would start with, “back out of the driveway…” and when he hooked up my stereo he labeled everything so specifically. He had a big, big, big heart. He and Grammie were exactly alike in that way. He was very mechanical and loved animals. He was accepted to UGA and was pre vet. He was really cool, but he had his own challenges. He had a weight problem, he had to be weighed for football. He had to lose weight so he always ate tomatoes and cheese. He was one of my best friends and it was just really hard when he was gone.

4. What do you remember about when Doc bought the lake house in 1971?

• He bought (laughing), you know he got the appointment at Emory and he came down for a visit and Dr. Walton took him for a visit. He had a place in Dick’s Creek. Doc just said, “Hey I got 6 kids and I might be interested.” He met with Clyde Dixon and he bought it on the spot for $10,000 and Grammie cried. Best investment he ever made. We used to go up to the lake and we had no showers or washers and it was just a real tight group family times. You had fires and played games — no telephone or tv — we made our own fun. We had no showers, so we just didn’t shower when we were there. Mike and Doc built our first deck. Great memories, we had the old furnice where you had to light the pilot light and it would go out all the time. And when we bought next door, that’s a whole other story. We were getting older so we would go over there and bring all of our friends. We had a lot of lake friends; that was the difference between Debbie, me and Mike; Steve, Beth, and Kristin were younger. That’s where I met all those guys — Uncle Denis was Mike’s best friend and your Daddy’s roommate. That’s how I met your dad. That’s why I hung out with the SAE’s in college because of all those guys and why I went Kappa.
• I used to bring my friends up and we would be met by Dennis and all those guys and they would help us unload and Grammie would always always have enough food for everyone to come over for lunch and dinner. I mean Dennis and Tad and all of them would come over and Grammie would just feed them all. It’s funny now because she kind of under-buys because she thinks we have so much food up there.

5. How do you think Lake Burton has shaped your family?

• Oh, there is no question that the lake has been the glue that has kept us all together with a common bond. We all love it and want to be there together.

6. What was it like working for Delta Airlines after the 9/11 attacks?

• Umm, it was, well the whole world was traumatized. First time ever I think that air travel totally stopped. Fortunately I was not on a trip, but I was stuck in Chicago with my family. Daddy had it worse because he was stuck in Atlanta by himself. He told us not to go to the Sears Tower. I think 9/11 changed the airline industry forever.

7. What is a significant memory from your childhood?

• When we moved to Atlanta my first best friend was Beth Anderson and I had Mrs. Pullin who was the best teacher I ever had. I went to her funeral a couple years ago — kept in touch with her all that time. My first boyfriend was Nathan Lipscom; he was the cutest boy ever, had blonde curly hair and a soccer player, of course. That was in the fifth grade. I loved elementary school; we went through 7th grade. I was in South Pacific with Mike, remember that movie? and Mike was the sailor who rolled his belly in the play and I was one of the main parts; you’d have to know the movie, it was really cute. Most of my memories are from the lake; those are the best ones.

8. What are some funny stories when you were growing up?

• Listen to this, Grammie and Doc would go on these medical trips and leave us home alone, and I was in charge, of course. And Steve and his buddies would come home and play quarters after school. Grammie had to redo the whole kitchen because they dented the table so bad. That was actually after Mike was gone — Steve’s junior or senior year. You know Steve after Mike was gone, I told you this right? Steve was having chest pain and just wasn’t feeling good, so Doc took him to a cardiologist and they diagnosed him with a broken heart… (we had to pause for a long time because my mom started crying).
• I think Mike’s death affected Steve and me the most, besides Grammie and Doc.

• We used to grease a watermelon at the lake. We would put crisco on it, Mike was always in charge and won every time. He got it up there; he was so strong.

9. How do you think Doc influenced his children and grandchildren?

• (sighing) That’s a tough one. Umm, total acceptance and unconditional love, the value of working hard and most importantly the fact that family comes first. How’s that sound?

10. What was it like living in Kentucky?

• Well, I remember the best part about living in KY was meeting the Stephens, who are still our family’s dearest friends. And that’s where I was a brownie, before a girl scout. I only went through third grade there, so I don’t remember much. My best memories from KY are when we would travel there for Thanksgiving from Atlanta. And after Mike died, Aunt Jane, Uncle Andy, Marsha, Cindie, and Stephie came down from IL every year to be with us.

11. What is your relationship like with Debbie, Steve, Beth, and Kristin?

• Umm, well, Debbie is the oldest and she read a lot; she was kind of more of an introvert. I wasn’t really close to her growing up. If it was just the two of us we would have been closer, but there were six kids in the house. Mike and Steve were on the football team and I was a cheerleader for their team. And then Beth and Kristin came along and I don’t mean it this way, but I raised them. I loved them so much; they were my babies. I loved playing house with them. They were so cute with each other and they never fought. I just loved having them as my baby sisters. And that’s the honest truth. In hindsight looking back, I could have been a better student. I just had so many distractions; I would rather give Beth and Kristin a bath than study. I am still so protective of them and I feel very blessed to have them.

12. Tell me about your grandparents.

• Umm, well GG I knew very well. Her dad I never knew, he died when we were in Germany. His name was Albert Anderson. I never really knew him. GG died at age 99, you remember. Now GG is amazing. She would ice skate with us every time she came down; we would go to the Omni. She was very helpful and energetic. She and I were very close; I would leave her notes in her suitcase when she left. She saved them and gave them to Grammie before she died. She was just a great lady. She called us all before she died to say goodbye because she was “just tired.” I think it’s because we threatened to throw her a 100th birthday party. She was just an amazing lady. She grew up with nothing, worked all her life, and had the most class than anyone I ever met. That’s the best compliment I could ever give someone.
• Grandma Dunbar died when I was in the 5th grade. I remember they always came with a whole bag of treats for each one of us. That was their thing, dollar candy and stuff. Grandma Dunbar was harder to get to know. But Grandpa Dunbar and I were very close. He died when I was a freshman at Wesleyan. He smoked cigaretts and died of bladder cancer. He would come over and I would always make him peanut butter sandwiches and buttermilk. That was his favorite. He was so sweet and very short. He was like 5'2. He was so proud of Doc. When Grandma Dunbar died he was really hurt; I would come downstairs and see him crying. I would always try and cheer him up and get him to watch a show with me. When he died they didn’t tell me because I was in exams. I was very very upset because I did not go to his funeral because I didn’t know about it. We were very close.

13. What do you remember about the old LaPrade’s?

• Oh my god. The very first time I went to Laprade’s, Mr. LaPrade had an office outside and it cost $3.25 to eat. It was a treat because we would boat over for dinner. I will never forget the time we boated over and we ate and everything and then walked back to the boat and Doc said, “Oh my gosh I forgot to pay!” You were supposed to just go to Mr. LaPrade and tell him how many ate and then pay. So, Doc went all the way back up there to pay and Mr. LaPrade said, “Oh Dr. Dunbar you could have just come back tomorrow and paid.” (laughing) Those were the good old days. You always had to gather at the top on the hill and wait for the dinner bell. The Dunbars always had the biggest dinner party.
• And then, Mr. Kastner, he owned this grocery store and was kin to the LaPrades. They had a little general store and we used to boat over there and get candy. But the best was walking down to Mrs. Wood’s store, do you remember her? She loved us — she would call us her “chillen.” “Hey chillen, what can I get for ya?”

14. Did you always want to stay in Atlanta?

• Well, eventually yes. But I tried to get based in Portland and Daddy would come out and live with me, but he ended up working for his dad and Portland was closed, so we stayed in Atlanta. It wasn’t meant to be.

15. Do you remember what it was like living in Germany?

• Yes, what I remember most is when I was walking on the inside of the stairs to the basement, I fell and had to be rushed to the medical center in Lahnstudl. I have a scar from the stitches. And then the best part I remember was Frau Katie, who was our helper. When Grammie and Doc would travel, you know they traveled a lot. And she would stay with us and take care of us. She was amazing; I remember her well. We stayed in touch and she came and vistied us and we took her to the lake. Wow, I can picture her plain as day right now. She was family oriented and the sweetest lady. Other than that I was pretty young so I don’t remember much more.