The above photo was in Pop’s belongings. It’s Mom with Bud Collyer on his famous “Beat the Clock” radio show on 10/3/1952.
This is Mom’s debutante pix. Back when it actually meant something. You know, when folks actually married for love. (Over half of young people who get married these days say it’s for money and financial security; and that’s only those who freely admit it.)
Mom had a sister, Wynonna, who died not long after the next photo was taken. Observe the bows and arrows. Mom loved being active. Here are two more photos of Wynonna and Mom. I’m thinking all three pictures were taken at some sort of summer camp in Myrtle Beach.
Back then, young ladies actually developed social skills and a finesse of character. This was before all you needed to do was get silicone tits and Botox cheekbones. Daddee, as we called my Grandpa on Mom’s side, absolutely loved Scottish terriers. Somehow I never thought they were so BIG.
Every good young lady was – OMG – demure, quiet, respectful, and well-dressed. This was back when dates were just that – quality time together. None of the raucous absurdities of the modern day.
Mom grew up during the Great Depression. Her father was Dean of Forestry at LSU so I supposed they were better off than most.
Mom was a swimmer all her life.
Not that a lady didn’t have a right to make it known that she was available. Check out them – wheels. (Yeah, I know – it’s VERY weird writing about my own Mom like this; but, hey – I’m a screenwriter and I get to say things that would otherwise be taboo.)
I think it’s okay to say that Mom had lots of suitors. She would talk about going to a dance and spending the entire night on the dance floor. See what being fit does for you? Leave one Sad Sack wheezing on the sidelines and whisk another off his feet.
Well, one lucky dude by the name of William Clark finally captured Mom’s heart and they were married. I know it sounds VERY strange to people these days, for a man and woman to get hitched, for love, in a real ceremony, with flowers and all the hoopla. Much less to live happily ever after.
For all the references to a “traditional” marriage and a socialite debutante, Mom didn’t play that role, not at all. She was VERY intelligent, had a double degree in psychology and chemistry, and – OMG – she actually devoted herself to family and husband. I know this sounds very pedestrian and even has a tinge of misogynism, but who says you can’t have even MORE satisfaction out of life by foregoing a career – and traveling, exploring, reading, developing your spirituality, raising five great children, and a whole gaggle of grands?
All her life, Mom was classy. And even driving around in Pop’s clunky old Nova, she made it look like a late model Rolls Royce. Check out them – shades.
Talking about having a full and complete life, Mom took piano lessons every week without fail until the bitter end. She was practically at the concert pianist level, and always worked on her style – even when her hands were riddled with debilitating arthritis for her last ten years. True grit.
We always had a dog or cat(s) in the yard. I remember litters of German Shephard puppies in the back yard at Cottonwood. Here’s Mom when she adopted Plato from the animal shelter. He was a rowdy fellow, but was never more than an arm’s length away in Mom’s final year when she was fighting bone cancer.
Mom was my Queen Elizabeth, a sincere, honest, caring woman who supported me all my life through quite a few awful, terrible events. How can I possibly show my gratitude for all that she did for me? I was nothing more than an uncivilized lout while she was alive. What little civility I have I owe to her.