Life History of Linda Smith

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Dedicated To Main Page Life History Project

1. Tell about your favorite uncle.

I was asked to write about my favorite uncle. As I thought about it, I decided I had 2, my Uncle John on my mother's side, and my Uncle Lloyd on my Father's side. Neither of these was a blood uncle.

Let me tell you why I thought each of these was my favorite.

First, my Uncle John was a Baptist minister, in a town about 3 hours away from where I grew up. So, whenever our family would go to visit, it was a "big deal". He was always friendly and sociable, which I was not used to. Because he was a "man of the cloth", and because church was such a big part of my upbringing, I looked up to him. He was also quite good looking, and had a nice smile. More about Uncle John, later.

My other favorite uncle was my Uncle Lloyd, who was my Aunt Emma's husband. He, too, was very outgoing, but kind of loud and sometimes gruff. He smoked a lot, but I liked him because he was "cool". He had a Cadillac, and a new one at that, every other year. He and my aunt traveled a lot, going on cruises and car trips. He had a lot of money, and no kids to spend it on, so I always got nice presents for Christmas and birthdays.

AS a child I looked at these two men with childlike eyes. Now, as a 60-something adult, I would like to rescind my title of "Favorites" for these two men for the following reasons: Uncle John, along with my mother's sister, Lucy, encouraged my mother to leave and then divorce my father. I recently discovered how manipulative my Uncle Lloyd was with his wife, my aunt, and his wealth, to the point of leaving my aunt without any say in her or his estate.

Revelation: It seems to me now, that as a child I was taken in with superficial status, not honesty, kindness and depth of character.

So, now I have to comment on my other uncles: Bill, Eric, and Franz. Uncle Bill was always quiet, so I didn't have much interaction with him as a child. I now enjoy talking with him, especially about the way things were. He seems more outgoing now.

Uncle Eric was also very quiet and, to me, seemed kind of grouchy, so I never interacted with him much. I wonder now if he was having post-traumatic syndrome, because he had been in the attack on Pearl Harbor, and was wounded and spent months in a Naval Hospital. He moved to Florida midway through my childhood, so I didn't even get to know him when I became a "rational" adult!

My Uncle Franz was my father's sister's husband, and he, too, was kind of gruff and/or grouchy, and so I didn't talk to him too much. He tried to joke around some, but, if you didn't get the meaning, he kind of "put you down". I later saw how he ridiculed my father some, and that made me think even less of him.

2. What changes have you seen in technology? (Indoor plumbing, water, telephones, computers, cars, etc.)

I have many times commented to my children about some of the things that I have seen change over my lifetime. One of the first things I remember and comment on is the ballpoint pen. When I was in the fourth grade, and we were allowed to start writing with a pen, I was excited to go downtown to the only stationery store in town and purchase a fountain pen and a bottle of ink. By the time I entered the 7^th grade, ballpoint pens were just being introduced and were "the" thing to have. I got a Parker click-top ballpoint pen. When you ran out of ink, you went to the store and purchased "refill cartridges".

3. Tell something you remember about one of your grandparents. (Were they funny, crazy, loving, mean, or special in a certain way.)

About: Her Grandmother Holmquist

I truly meant to start earlier this week, because I have wonderful memories of MY grandmother Holmquist...
When I was around 8-10 or so, my father would always bring me on Saturday mornings to my grandmother's house on the Meadowbrook Rd. [It was really my Uncle Eric's house, but I didn't know that until much later--it was just always my grandma's house to me!] She was almost ALWAYS making homemade doughnuts...cooking them over an old iron, wood-fire-fed stove in a black cast-iron pot filled with grease. I can see it boiling and bubbling now, in my mind's eye. And the aroma when we (my sister, my dad, and I) walked into the kitchen--mouthwatering! She would drain them on flattened paper bags to absorb extra grease, and then we would eat one, still warm--Yummmm. Oh, what I wouldn't give for another one of those, and to see my grandmother toiling over them, with her full-length apron on, like they used to wear. We weren't encouraged to hug in that household, but I'd love to give her a big one, now! ;)

4. Did you ever have an accident, illness, or an operation? Pick one and tell about it.

“Several incidents come to mind. One was when I was first learning to ride my bike, a big, 26 inch standard bike, before the "English" bikes came to be popular. I was riding it home from school (Jackson Heights Elementary) one day and fell into some gravel. Of course, I had the bloody knee, the consequent black and blue, and the short, line scar from the "boo-boo". But the best thing about this little, non-significant accident was the little purple remnant under the skin that stayed with me as a "souvenir", well into my adulthood. Of course I can't find it now. The scar is gone, and the little piece of gravel has probably disintegrated, but I wouldn't know. I can't see it under the many layers of fat!!! (ha, ha, ha!)"

5. Tell what your hobbies or interests are. (Do you sing, sew, write, hunt, build things, let us know more about you.)

According to Webster's II New Riverside University Dictionary, "A person with a hobby was thought to pursue a favorite pastime or obsession with the single-minded zeal of a child riding a hobbyhorse". That is where the word "hobby" originated. So, in light of that, I guess I'd have to say that my hobbies are Georgia's Junior Miss Scholarship Program, genealogy, and Boggle.

In addition, I like to put together jigsaw puzzles, go to the gym (some times more than others!), and read mysteries–medical, legal, and light-hearted. My favorite authors are Patricia Cornwell, John Grisham, Karin Slaughter, Kathy Reichs, Robin Cook, Diana Mott Davidson, and Tamar Myers. Does anybody 'out there' like any of these authors? If so, maybe we are "kindred spirits"!

6. Tell about the changes in television. (Anything you want, earlier shows vs. today's shows, invention of VCR's & DVD's, the sky's the limit.)

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7. Lets be romantic! Tell us about your valentine, first love, first crush, or how you were proposed to, or how you proposed to your sweetheart.

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8. What types of jobs have you had and which did you prefer?

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9. Who was your best friend while growing up, or who is your best friend now? Let us know a little about the friends you have had in your life.

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10. Tell us about your favorite Aunt

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