Memories Of
Anna Kuhlman Meier Martin
by Patricia A. Johnson
The year was 1951 and I had
just turned sixteen. You were a young
wife and mother, age thirty seven. You
had a teenage son 18, and three small children ages 2, 6, and 7. The first time I met you was in your home on AK@ Street in Gering, Nebraska. Your home was small, but so neat, clean, and
homey. Family pictures on display in the
livingroom, plants at the windows, and fancy doilies on the end tables and
couch and chairs. I remember the feeling
of welcome that was in the air in your home.
Of course, the kitchen was a
special place in your home. This is where I first tasted AButterballs and Noodles@ ADina Kuga@(forgive
my phonetic spelling), AKraut Bidouck@ and
many other German dishes that I came to love, and still fix to this day.
Little did the two of us
realize, in the beginning, the many miles, trials and joys we would travel
together in the next twenty plus years.
There are so many memories it is hard to isolate just a few.
One of my fondest memories is
of your father, Fred Kuhlman. I would
pick him up on Saturday nights and bring him to our house to watch TV. Our regulars were Saturday Night Wrestling
and Lawrence Welk. When Grandpa Kuhlman
discovered I smoked he was delighted, I thought he would think I was terrible C but he was happy to have a smoking partner, and we
would sit and smoke and watch TV together on Saturday nights. Sometimes we would just sit and he would tell
me stories of his youth, and when he migrated to Canada in 1912 from
Russia. I wish I had asked him more
questions, but I treasure the things he did tell me.
I remember when you and I lived
together in Weiser, Idaho in 1959-1960.
How a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law could live a whole winter in
close quarters, and not have a spat or two is amazing. We never did, even
though I am sure there were times that I got on your nerves. Neither one of us ever said any words that
hurt the other, and I cherish that memory.
We were partners in 1960 when
we both worked at Ore-Ida in Ontario, Oregon. You would leave in the afternoon
for the 2nd shift, and I would be home with Roger, Carol, Charles,
Steve and Cindy when school was out.
Then I would leave for 3rd shift after the kids were in bed
and you would be home soon after, from your shift. We both needed the money, and this worked
out for both of us.
It was during this time, also
that I grew to appreciate how you could make a meal for a large family out of
so little. I still marvel at how you can
take a few potatoes, eggs, and flour and make a satisfying meal. Of course, you always had plenty of home
canned fruit that you put up in the fall.
Remember when you and Steve
and I would go into Weiser, Idaho and stop at the Bus Station for a cup of
coffee? Steve was about three years old
and loved to drink the cream out of those little glass cream jars. We would laugh as he smiled at us with a
great big white mustache.
I do have a momento and
reminder of you to this very day. Its
not a glamorous item, but I am reminded of you every time I use it. It is the ironing board you gave me when you
moved to Idaho. Yes, I still have it, after all the years of moving. And I think of you each time I use it.
I used to love to hear you
and Grandpa visit and talk about the many families you knew, and who married
who, who died, who was related to who. I
always wondered how you two kept them all straight.
I appreciate so much the
times you took care of Cindy when I worked as a solderer at JEK
Manufacturing. I knew she was in the
best hands in the world.
You have been the best mom,
grandmother, great grandmother and friend to so many people. I hope you know how much you are loved and
how much I cherish the many memories of our times together. I had a wonderful mother of my own, but I
always had room for another mom.
We have each seen many
births, deaths, marriages, divorces, trials, tribulations, and joys.
Through it all we have
remained good friends. I will end by
saying,
AYou did a great job, and thank you.@
No comments:
Post a Comment