Life History of Connie Olson

31. Did your family have a favorite saying? What was it, and how did you feel about it?

My father would always say this, I don't know how to spell it in German but this is what it sounded like.
"Ach Gott en himmel" Which I was told it meant "Oh God in Heaven" He would say this when someone told him something or he saw something startling or special.
So we would say it too.
My mothers favotite saying was "Wait until your father gets home" It kept my sister an myself on the straight and narrow. He never spanked us, but just one grump look from him we knew he was displeased with us. It had to be the fear of the unkown, we didn't want to get him mad to find out what the unkown was. He never laid a hand on us or my mother.
When I look back I wonder how it worked so well on us but didn't work on my kids when I tried it.

32. Did your family have a favorite meal or recipe? Could you share the recipe with us?

Here is a recipe that we in our family use and like a lot. We improvise with lots of different things, spices especially, so it may never taste the same. Depends what we happen to have on hand! It is one of many favorite meals we like. Our family lives in Northern Minnesota so hunting and fishing is a big part of our lives.

Connie Hunters Bouja Stew

1 ( 2-3 LB ) wild game meat, deboned, and diced can be anything, birds, venison, bear, elk, etc. 2 lb. deboned pork loin, cubed 3 lb. cubed beef stew meat 4 Tbsp vegetable oil 1 LB chopped onions 1 green bell pepper, diced 1 bunch celery, diced 1 large rutabaga, or 4 turnips diced 3 lb. carrots, diced 2 lb. cabbage, diced 2 lb. chopped fresh green beans 5 lb. potatoes, peeled and cubed 1 LB frozen green peas 2 ( 15.25 oz ) cans whole kernel corn 2 ( 14.5 oz ) cans peeled and diced tomatoes salt to taste

1. In a large stock pot over medium heat, cook chicken, pork, and beef all other meats in oil until brown. 2. Drain well. 3. Stir in onion, bell pepper, celery, rutabaga, carrots, cabbage, green bean potatoes, corn, tomatoes, salt and pepper for taste. 4. Simmer over medium-low heat all day long, adding water as needed, until thickened Servings: One Army

33. Do you have a family heirloom? What is it and what will you do with it?

In fact I have several favorite "Heirlooms". My girls have been given some items already to have and use. The old railroad watches have been distributed already to the grandsons. I did that one Christmas when all of us were together for the holiday. I put the watches into checkbook boxes and then into identical bags. Set them on the table. I had the boys draw numbers. Who ever had #1 that person took a bag first and so on down the line. Whatever bag they picked they had to keep, no swapping or shaking to see what was the heaviest, as some watches were ones with lids and they were older and heavier. I went well and no arguments that way.
I will do the same with the old junk jewelry with the grand daughters. Nothing is really expensive it's more who they belonged to and who wore them as their favorite pieces. I have my mothers, grandmothers, great aunts and my sisters jewelry, also some of mine. I will put the items into check boxes again and identical bags and have them do it the same way the boys did.
The old furniture and old lamps I have will go to my girls, they will draw numbers too but inside the check boxes will be the name of the item/items they get. I ended up with some furniture of my parents and lots of my great aunts and uncles things, they did not have children. So I ended up with it. If there are items left over I'll do it with the grandchildren too. Then they will have things to pass down to there kids.
I feel the way I'm doing it is the fair way and that way there's no arguments. If They want to swap they can but I'm out of it.
When I sell my house and move the girls will have to choose what they would like to have from my things and will do it again.
The furniture and items I was given from my hubby's side of the family will go to his children. We didn't have any children together.

34. Do you have a funny family story you can share?

With our size family there are many stories that come to mind. The one that comes first is when we were sitting in the local town cafe eating. We had all the children with us for supper. It was a birthday gathering. We had already ordered and was visiting while waiting for our food when the youngest boy says he has to go to the bathroom.
As I bringing him there they were bringing some of our food to our table. So I set him on the pot (he had to do the BIG job as we called it) I came back out to help the other kids with cuting the food and get them eating. Was going right back in there.
All of a sudden laughter breaks out all over the cafe. I turn around and here is the youngest one with toilet paper roll in hand, pants down to his ankles, he looks up at me and says "mommy wipe my butt." I believe I turned red from the tip of my toes to the tip of my hair. This could tie for my most embarrasing moment also, don't you think so too?

35. What is your favorite color? Do you prefer silver or gold?

It depends on my mood and what I wear. If I want to fell rich and elegant it's gold jewelry. Then I will wear clothes the color of white, lavender, or red
When I wear silver jewelry is when I feel devilish or want to be sexy looking. Then I wear it with black or green. Don't ask me why either. I haven't the faintest idea why I do it. So I like both silver and gold o preference.

36. Who gave you your name and why? Did you have a nickname? How did you get it?

My father gave me my name,he liked the movie star Constance Bennett. She was popular in the 1930's. So I ended up with her name as my first name and Beverly as a middle name.

37. Tell us a memory of your childhood.

Hmm. That would be buying Victory stamps at school for war savings bonds. All of us lined up around the flag decorated area waiting to get up to the table to guive our money for the stamp toput into our book. Then when filled we would get our bond. Our parents were there when we got the bond so trhey could take it home for us.

38. Tell us a memory of your teenage years.

Wow, thats doing some far back digging in the brain. Nothing much to remember back then. Being a teenager way back then wasn't much fun either. I remember that time of my life as being uneventful. I didn't stray to far from home.

It was a transition from a carefree child to being a young adult. I who still had childlike ideas but was expected to be acting like a young adult. Boring.

l remember the last few years in school. Watching my friends grow into young adults then wondering if I'd ever see some of them again after graduation. Which I didn't. I moved away, married started my family. I didn't keep in touch. So now that I'm older I've often wondered what they've done with their lives.

My 50 year class reunion is next year. They ususally send out a book with updates on the class members who are still living and a list of those who have passed away. So I'm looking forward to reading it and possibly going to the reunion if It's possible for me.

39. Tell us an experience you had as a parent.

How to pick out just one is hard when you've raised 12 children and half of the neighborhoods kids. I guess I'd have to say that one experience would be when the kids go out on their own. Or go away to school. Joining the service or getting married.

That is preparing them for life on their own after being at home. Most don't have a clue about the outside world, they wouldn't believe what parents have to say anyway. They are at that age where "they know it all". We could talk myself blue in the face trying to prepare them for it to no avail.

So what happens when they realize old mom and dad knew what they were tallking about. They come home and tell us that! Then we know we did something right. That's the best feeling any parent can experience!!!!!

40. What advice or words of wisdom would you leave your family, friends and others?

Go to Church, Give your children the start they need in religious training. Believe and do Gods work. Spread God's word.

Take time to.............

Learn to Love, Learn to Live, and Love to Learn, Love yourself !!!!!!!!!

Remember your family and then friends, they always comes first in your life.

Especially your Children, before you know it they are grown and gone.

You can never again do what you planed to do with them and didn't. You'll regret it if you don't.

Make sure you make time to spend with them, time goes by way to fast.

Help others who have less than you.

Remember you will always be loved, even if you do make mistakes, and family or friends will be there to help you through it.

Turn to a family member or someone who your trust if you have a problem. If they can't help you they will find someone who can. Don't go it alone!!!!

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