16 September, 2020 - Thinking About Milton-Freewater & Old Friends
Dear, Mom -
Today I was thinking about when I broke my arm. We were at Bob Burlingame’s house for some kind of party. I don’t know if it was just a ‘good friends and neighbors’ get together, a cocktail party, both, or something else. I know there were lots of families there. Lots of kids. I also know I didn’t know those kids and pretty much felt like I didn’t have anyone to pal around with. I’m not making this a poor me scenario, that’s just how I remember it. I think most of the kids of the families that lived that far down Eastside Rd went to Tum-a-lum or Ferndale schools and not the town schools. I know that Julie Burlingame was 4 or 5 years older than I was, so we didn’t really know one another well. Dad, Bob Burlingame, Herb Saager, and Bob Brinker I think were all really good friends. Since Dad was a member of the Elks Lodge, Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, he knew a good many people in the community and was well liked and respected. I remember the Bob Burlingame because he always reminded me of Frank Sinatra with his blue eyes and pipe. Bob Brinker was one of the tallest, brawniest men I can remember and always funny. Of course, I remember Herb Saager because if he wasn’t at Saager’s Shoe Shop, he was smoking a pipe in his lazy boy at home or roasting corn with Dad. I never remember Dad being a very social man, yet he seemed to have a lot of friends in M-F. I also was pretty young in the 70s and only have memories of a few of those days. I guess one of the things Herb was really proud of was his garden. I think he and Wanda had roses on top of a beautiful landscaped yard. I know I loved to listen to Wanda talk because she had the deep, southern Texas drawl that made her do adorable.
Anyway, back to the plot. I was talking about my broken arm in a very roundabout way. The night we went to the Burlingame’s house, there were kids there I didn’t know, but we played together I think. I know Connie was there, too. Julie Burlingame led us out to see her horse. The horse didn’t have any tack on and Julie put Connie and I up on its back. She led the horse a bit, but then it saw the green grass of the lawn and took off like a shot. It came to an abrupt stop so it could eat the grass and Connie and I fell off its back. I should say, I fell off and Connie landed on me, breaking my arm. She always said that wasn’t how it happened, but if there is one think I can remember from my year in first grade, it was breaking my arm and how it happened.
I still love horses, even though I broke my arm falling off one. I would always want to go to Karen Bier’s house so she would let me ride her horse. I only really got to once and I think it scared me when it started to trot and I ended up cutting my ride short. She probably knew that’s why I wanted to hang out, but kids are weird that way.
Whenever I see horses that I can pet, I always want to nuzzle their soft noses. They have such sweet eyes, too. And there is something to be said about the smell of a horse and a dog’s feet. They are pleasant smells. That may seem odd, but a dog’s feet smell like Fritos and horses smell like, well, horses. I can’t forget donkeys. Not their smells, but they are so precious. I watch videos from a donkey rescue and donkeys love a good cuddle. I think they are very cute and I would love to rescue some donkeys that need a pasture to live their senior years in.
I’m off to bed, Mom. Geez, it is almost midnight! I best get to sleeping. I need a serious recharge of my battery! I love you very much. I miss you very much, too. I can’t wait to give you a big hug. It’s been such a long time since I’ve been able to give you a proper cuddle. I miss that a lot. I will keep writing you every night, though. I want us to stay as connected, as possible. I hope you don’t have the sniffles in the morning. I’ll put in a good word for you upstairs :)
❤️Here are some picture I took for you today. I’ll talk to you soon! Your Daughter, —-Sally Ann❤️
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