Grandma 101

So...Lydia, you inspired me to do this--write 100 things about me. I could have written 1000. I purposely left out some things. They are for another day and another post.

100 things about me:

1. I was born Feb. 19, 1953 in Logan, Hospital.
2. The fifth child and long awaited 2nd daughter of Stan and Erma.
3. My dad owned a grocery store.
4. My dad, Pops, had his picture put in a magazine and the distinct honor of being the first store in Idaho to have frozen foods. I remember the case. It was 3 feet by 4 feet and held ice cream and ice. Nothing else frozen had been invented yet.
5. My mom learned to drive because my dad didn't have time to drive her to Logan for her monthy dr. visits when she became pregnant with me.
6. Pops bought a yellow and green 53 Chevy to drive to Logan. She learned to drive at the Malad Airport road. There was no traffic there. The local barber's (Varcel Christofferson) wife Alice taught mom to drive. Varcel blessed me in Church when I was born. My dad was not active. Later Varcel became inactive and an alcoholic. Didn't stop him from cutting my hair until I was 16.
7. At 4 yrs old, my dad bought another store on Bannock Street. There was an apartment on top.
8. We moved. The apartment was crowded.
9. I rode my trike everywhere.
   
10. Pops sold the Bannock Street Grocery to Charley Kearns. My dad had bought the store from Jake Kearns, Charley's dad. He later sold the store back to my dad where it became a warehouse and cold storage lockers. Dennis later had his own deer and elk cutting business there. Dennis and Brenda bought Charley Kearns' home on North Main. They still live there.
    
11. We moved to our new home at 150 South Main where our family lived until 1978. It was located behind the original cinderbrick store my dad had built.
    
12. Tim was born. He did not have the reflex to swallow so he stayed in the hospital for a month. It was touch and go for him.
    
13. Marv and I stayed for a couple of weeks with Grandma Peterson and her new husband on their farm at Fort Hall. We didn't know the man's name so we just called him, "Hey you." He was mean.
    
14. The house on South Main had a wonderful sandpile that Marvin, his friends and I played in for hours. Tim joined us when he turned 18 months
    
15. We also had a huge garden spot. Even though my dad had his own store, we still had food storage in our basement, a large garden, and a pasture to raise cattle.
    
16. My dad was a vegetarian (and a butcher),
    
17. At the end of the pasture was a crik, full of skeeters, snakes and sometimes frogs.
    
18. My dad planted two weeping willow trees in our back yard by sticking some branches in the ground. One was Marvin's tree, the other was mine. They were great climbing trees.
    
19. My dad bought our next door neighbor Berthel Crowther's home so he could build a new store.
20. That was an experience of a lifetime watching that store being built. I remember having races with Marvin all the way around the foundation. It was a very large supermarket (relative to the times).
    
21. The old store was torn down and the outhouse between our house and the store was covered with the parking lot.
    
22. Started school in 1st grade—Mrs. Lusk. My very best friends, Marilyn and Marlene Smith were in my room. Mrs. Lusk was strict. She scare me to death.
    
23. Almost didn't pass 1st grade because I was sick for a week and went to California for a week. If you missed 21 days, you did not pass. I missed 20 days.
    
24. First looooooong trip with my parents. My dad had to go to a grocery store meeting in San Francisco and Marv and I accompanied my parents. We visited my Uncle Floyd and Aunt Artella, my Uncle Stanley and Aunt Jean, and my parents' best friends Hugh and Maxie Clark. We also visited the San Francisco zoo. What a blast!
    
25. Loved Elementary, suffered through junior high and had a roller coaster of an experience in High School.
    
26. I was Student Body Vice President, Yearbook editor, Valedictorian and voted "most witty."
27. I played the clarinet.
28. Earned a scholarship to BYU and Utah State.
    
29. Mom's conspiracy to get me to BYU worked. Sure glad.
    
30. LOVED college. Had wonderful roommates in Helaman Halls. Lived a year with my Indiana and California friends for a year at Riviera (Osmonds owned it).
    
31. Moved to an apartment with my Malad friends at Riviera. Oh man, no one should be allowed to have that much fun
    
32. Wrote to Jon for 2 years while he was in Germany on his mission.
    
33. Became engaged to Jon a couple of weeks after he got home.
    
34. Married Jon 5 month later in the SLC Temple
    
35. Moved to Snowville in an apartment in the basement of the Ranch House.
    
36. Went back one semester to finish my degree in Elementary Ed.
    
37. In April 1975, graduated from BYU in Elementary Ed. –four months pregnant
    
38. Cles was born in 1975.
    
39. Took a job teaching 1st/Kindergarden at Malad. Same time bought our first home north of the school. Life was great.
    
40. My dad died August 1, 1977 of cancer. I was due on August 3 with my second child. This was the most traumatic time in my life. It was the first death I really had to deal with.
    
41. Lydia was born August 28. When the doctor said, "Congratulations. You are the proud parents of a beautiful daughter." Jon and I had the same reaction. The doctor looked at us and said, "Most people are thrilled with that news." We knew we had just outgrown our 2 bedroom home.
    
42. I took a year off from school teaching and then went back to a third grade position the next year.
    
43. Kristin was born in 1981. The house became very crowded.
    
44. We bought a home on 2nd West. I was immediately put into the 4th Ward Young Women Presidency over the MiaMaids. Jon was in the Stake Young Men Presidency. Life was busy and interesting.
    
45. Jon and I went back to school to get our Master's degrees.
    
46. Graduated in 1988 with a MEd in Instructional Technology. Was named outstanding graduate student in the Master Teacher Program. Jon graduated in English. This was a tremendous help to our meager Idaho teacher salaries.
    
47. One day I mentioned to Jon that there was a German teaching position in Idaho Falls. Ten minutes later he was on the phone making an interview appointment. I was shocked.
    
48. The next day, he and I traveled to Bonneville High School. They offered him the job on the spot.
49. We drove all the way home and did not speak ONE WORD to each other. On the way up the divide I finally said, "You are going to take it aren't you?" The reply, "yes." We didn't speak another word. I was not shocked, I was IN SHOCK.
    
50. That was on a Wednesday. On Friday, Jon left for his last Malad trip to Germany. He mentioned that while he was gone, I should probably get a job in Idaho Falls and sell the house.
    
51. I took a job at Cloverdale Elementary after being offered one at Falls Valley and another at Lindon Park in the other district. It was the best decision of my career.
    
52. I didn't sell the house. In fact, it was four years before we could dump the thing for a huge loss.
    
53. The kids never knew how poor we were. A couple of times we took them to the gas station and bought them hot dogs for supper on our gas card. We depleted our food storage in a hurry.
    
54. My brother Marvin died of a seizure in Las Vegas on Dec. 29, 1988. He was 18 months older than me. He and I moved from Malad in the same month. Neither one of us wanted to sell our homes or leave. The night before he left, I went up to his house and helped him finish packing. He took me to the storage unit he had rented. As he haphazardly threw the last items in he made me promise that if anything happened to him, that I would come clean the unit out before his wife, Sue could see what a mess it was. Little did I know this would be one of the last times I would see him.
    
55. Our house sold and life became better. We bought a red Taurus. I was driving the Mustang at the time. The driver's side door would not open, so I had to crawl in through the window to drive. I got out through the passenger side. One time the seat almost came through the floor. We had it welded. The car served us well.
    
56. For two years I taught 6th grade at Cloverdale. It was the best two years of my career. I loved every minute of it.
    
57. I accepted a job as facilitator of gifted and talented. Another good career decision.
    
58. Two years later I was asked to be coordinator. I was terrified.
59. Somewhere in here I have to talk about my teeth. I was 37 when I had my wisdom teeth out. This must be a record for the oldest living person having them out. AND I had my teeth straightened at 50. Wow, am I a cutie now.
    
60. Made 6 or so trips to Germany with Jon and his high school kids (He made 18). I hated this. I hated leaving my house. I hated leaving my kids. I hated the way people treated Jon, like it was a paid trip. It cost us monetarily—unbelievably. The three accountants we had always wondered why in the world we even attempted it—they knew what an economic strain it was on us. But…I knew how much it meant to Jon and what a life-changing experience it was for the students.
    
61. One trip I came home early with 2 boys who insisted on drinking over there. They came home early. I chaperoned. My basement was full of water when I walked in. The hot water heater had blown. I was thrilled to see and be with my kids.
    
62. The fall-out from bringing the kids home early was devastating. Malad is a small town.
    
63. My mother died on a trip from hell to Hamm Germany.
    
64. During one summer, mom complained of not feeling well. She was going out to the end of the driveway and collapsed. She couldn't walk. I insisted on her going to a doctor in Logan and I went with her.
    
65. Connie luckily found us a specialist in Logan. He knew it was something wrong with her spine.
    Off to Salt Lake to the spine institute we went.
    
66. The doctor spoke with us for about 3 minutes and sent us upstairs to another specialist who did some weird tests. We drove home not knowing much.
    
67. Later the next day, the spine doctor called me on my office phone at school. Mom was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's Disease. That moment I knew I had grown up because it was put on my shoulders to call all my siblings and let them know. I also had to call all mom's brothers and sisters. There reactions were interesting.
    
68. This was in September. The doctor said mom didn't have long and probably wouldn't be around at Christmas time.
    
69. I began leaving school on Thursday afternoons, spending the weekends with mom and coming home at 5 am on Mondays to go back to school. The home health nurse did not come on weekends.
    
70. I had seen a lot of my loved ones die of cancer. I didn't think there was anything worse. Lou Gehrig's disease is. It is a cruel joke on a person. All their senses—pain, touch, taste, etc. are there. The nerve endings that make muscles move die one at a time. One doesn't appreciate the nerves that help us swallow, help us hold our head up, help us move until we see someone with no control. Twitching sets in and the loneliness of not being able to communicate.
    
71. I miss my mom.
    
72. Gifted and Talented opened a lot of doors for me.
    
73. My partner quit and took a job as the Director of Gifted Services for the entire State of Idaho. I was put onto a lot of committees on the state level. This was amazingly fun.
    
74. I later was asked to be one of the original teachers at the national conference, called Edufest, in Boise each summer. I did this until Jon became ill.
    
75. I had the opportunity to travel throughout Idaho and teach teachers about gifted kids in the regular classroom—I taught from Richfield to Driggs, from Weston to Salmon and everywhere in-between.
    
76. On July 4, 2003 we were to have a family picture taken in Malad. It was important that EVERYONE be there. Cles from Georgia and Lydia from Missouri.
    
77. In June Jon and I made an important doctor visit to find out that Jon needed a hip replacement. The only time this doctor could perform the surgery was July 3. Oh dear, Jon tried to put it off, not wanting to upset the applecart and the family photo appointment. I made the appointment and told the doctor he would be there.
78. After calling Jon's mom, the date for the photo was changed to July 2, Jon's dad's birthday. It was perfect—all the family that couldn't be there on the 4th could be there on the 2nd. It was indeed a miracle.
79. The surgery went well but the recovery didn't. Jon kept complaining of a blot clot. They completed two separate ultra-sounds and told him it was just a panic attack. His doctor was out of town.
80. I went to Edufest in Boise on Sunday; Cles came home from Georgia to be with his dad. On Monday morning, the doc was back in town, Jon went to him. He had a different radiologist look at him. Immediately he was put in the hospital with blood clots in his leg.
81. He called me in Boise. There was nothing I could do but look at Jon in the hospital so I decided to stay and finish my obligation at Edufest.
82. Monday night I could not sleep. I stayed up the entire night and made copies of everything I was going to teach during the week. Ran to the all night Kinko's; made copies and had them at the Edufest office at 6 am. I started for Idaho Falls.
83. About 8 am, Jon called from the hospital. He really wanted me to come home. He was thrilled when I told him I was already in Burley.
84. At 10 am a creepy (creepiest, most arrogant, most vile) doctor was sent to our room to give us the news that the clot was not caused by the hip replacement, but rather, Jon had Acute Myeloma Leukemia--AML--M2
85. Jon was given a 20-40% chance to live.
86. Our lives came crashing down around us. This experience is for another time, another blog.
87. The doctor said two things that I remembered. (1) This could be treated by chemo—the most powerful and deadly and/or a bone marrow transplant. Jon and I prayed and felt strongly that the transplant was not an option (2) AML could be licked if one lived through the chemo and it didn't come back for six months after the last round.
    
88. After 5 deadly rounds of chemo and 8 months of hell, Jon was found to be in remission.
    
89. It returned in 4 months.
    
90. At one point, the doctor gave him 2 weeks to 2 months to live. The Doctor asked me if I wanted to leave Jon in the hospital during this time or take him home. I was terrified.
    
91. Jon went home. To everyone's surprise, Jon got better every day. Even the doctor said it was a miracle. Jon's desire to live and help me and his little grandson, Jack was more powerful than any medical cure.
    
92. In this list, I have left out 3 of the most important things in my life—Tommy, Anna and Jack. They will probably get a list of their own.
    
93. I was in the room when Jack was born on Feb. 24, 2003. It was an instant bond. The nurse had me carry him to the nursery. She handed me a diaper to put on him. I panicked. I don't think I had ever used a paper diaper. She had to teach me.
    
94. I went to Missouri and helped Lydia when Tommy was born. I was so proud of my two daughters who were proving to be the best moms ever. I loved Tommy instantly. What a blessing!
    
95. I went early to Ohio because we all knew that Anna would arrive on the scene a week early. She didn't. It was devastating to get on that plane and leave Lydia still pregnant. Tommy cried at the airport when I left. I cried too.
    
96. Jon took us both back a few weeks later so we could see our first granddaughter. Anna is beautiful. We stayed for a few days then rented a car and traveled from Ohio to Buffalo New York, stopping along the way at Kirtland, Ohio; Palmyra, New York, and Niagra Falls.
    
97. In Buffalo we grabbed a plane and flew to North Carolina to visit Leslie and Cles. We went to an NFL game—Panthers vs. Redskins—a lifelong dream of mine.
    
98. Bought our first yearly pass to Disneyland along with Lydia and her kids. While she lived in California, Jon and I went to Disneyland at least 40 or more days. Wow, it was surreal. I loved every minute.
99. On May 29, 2008, I will retire after 30 plus years of teaching. I am ecstatic.
100. I began blogging.
     

LYDIA

I thought I was pregnant. Couldn't go to the store for a test stick in those days. One had to wait for four months and then a doctor would see you and give you the news you already knew.

I was teaching 1st/Kindergarten at Malad Elementary. After school one afternoon Jon came home with a pretty good gash from snowmobiling with his dad. It was after hours so we had to go to the emergency room for stitches. While there I simply said, "Dr. I think I am expecting. Could you write me out an prescription for Bendectin (morning sickness stuff)."

"Sure." he replied. Wow, those were the good 'ol days. This was perfect because I didn't want ANYONE to know I was expecting.

In the morning the doctor turned to his nurse (or pretending to be one) and told her to call in my prescription. The nurse was none other than my principal's wife. At 11 o'clock that day while in the lunch line, the principal said, "So if you are expecting, does that mean you will be resigning real soon." I was furious. Oh the newsberries from a small town.

Two days later I found myself at the doctor's office getting the "official" news. The doctor simply said, "You know your dad is in the other room." Oh, I didn't know.

An hour later my mom was sitting in my living room giving me he news that my dad had cancer.

Instead of the excitement and thrill of having another child, I dealt with the sad, lonely time of knowing my dad was very ill. Let's see, I was 4 months pregnant and my dad lived 5 months. Yep, I was due the day after my dad died. Lydia was born weeks after. She was well overdue with eyelashes and fingernails and my largest baby by nearly 2 pounds.

She was born in the same hospital that my dad died in. In fact, the nurse threw open the curtains in the morning to let the sunshine in and my view was of the side room where I had last seen my dad. That moment was a tough one.

I actually went to Logan to have my kids. First, we were living in Snowville when I had Cles and it was closer. The incident with the principal's nurse and the grapevine from hell caused me to go back to the doctor and hospital in Logan.

At the end of the school year, the Superintendent shook my hand and said, "We don't believe that a lady in your condition should stand in front of our children." I had been relieved of my teaching duties because I was pregnant.

It was a great blessing because I was in no mental state to work with kids. I had the most precious gift in the world, my first daughter. With Cles who was a great kid and Lydia I was the happiest mom on earth.

On Saturday Jon and I just walked in the door from the Ranch at about 11 pm. We sat down to watch Saturday Night Live and wow, the water thing happened. Jon grabbed his parents car and we were off to Logan. Jon compared me to his cow all the way over. He was panicked because she was not coming with contractions. That's just not a safe thing with a heifer, ya know.

They put me into a room and informed me that the doctor was in Kentucky at his daughter's wedding, that he would be back in the morning. They gave me a shot to stop the action until the doc was there to deliver her. The nurse an her needle left the room. As the door shut, the pain started. Jon slept through the whole thing. No pain killer, no epideral, just pain.

Lydia was born an hour later.

Lydia was quiet. In fact I would place her in the bassinette and move her into the room I was in because she cried so quietly that I couldn't hear when she was awake. I knew when Cles was awake. He was not quiet.

Here are a few pictures:


She was beautiful from day one!










And she was painfully shy and quiet.















Lydia and her little sister, Kristin.

And the hairdos just keep coming. Sorry Lyd!

I think we have always loved Disneyland!

A good way to end!

MAY 31, 1974

My all-time favorite picture:

Grandma Peterson, Grandma Thomas, us,

Grandma Eliza, and Grandma Williams

Oh dear, this is my engagement picture that appeared

in Malad's Idaho Enterprise and Pocatello's Idaho State Journal.

The parents.

Just before our reception line began. This is taken at the Malad Stake Building. I thought my dress was amazing and Jon was so handsome in his crushed blue velvet tux. Heeheehee.

A FEW THINGS I REMEMBER ABOUT THE DAY:

Where: Salt Lake Temple

Call me sentimental, but it was always my dream to be married in this Temple, in my mind The Church's Symbol. Jon was in love and anything I wanted I could have.

I took my endowments out in the Logan Temple on May 20th. It was a special day for Malad Valley. EVERYONE fasted, prayed and spent the day at the Temple asking for much needed moisture.

It was one of the most amazing days of my life.

The old man in the Temple kept asking us if we just wanted to get married right then and not wait the two weeks. I think Jon was willing but the dark, ominous glare from Erma (who had plans for the reception up the ying-yang) kept us from charging ahead.

Jon's dad commented that night in his home how proud he was of us. It was so sincere and heart-felt that I will never forget that moment. My Jon has mentioned to me then and many times since how happy I looked. I think the word was glowing or radiant. The Temple is a very special place for me.

Well. . .

The night before the wedding, my mom and I stayed in Hotel Utah (now Joseph Smith building). Jon and his family came down the morning OF the big day. I couldn't believe they would take that chance and not be down here the night before. Oh well...

Early in the morning: My brother David who was living in Utah at the time stopped by. His Afghan dog began licking my leg while I was putting my make-up on. I nearly had a heart attack.

My dress, my mom and I went to the Temple to begin the big day. Each Temple has a special "Bride's room." Oh my, there was never anything more beautiful than the one in SLC. It was oh so special to be in this room with my mom.

The ceremony began in a special room to hear some words of wisdom and be taught a little more about what we were going to witness that day. Carolyn and Grandma Williams were in the room. Wow, was I relieved to know they made it!

We had to wait for our ceremony. David was my witness and did not have a tie. Someone ran to ZCMI's and bought him a tie so we could do our thing. Good grief. He was such a hippy.

The wedding ceremony was conducted by President Edmunds, the Temple President. He was wonderful. He told many fun stories and admonished us to keep our marriage fun. The only story I remember is about the Prophet David O. McKay and his wife having wheelchair races in the Hotel Utah. I love that story. I know that Jon and I have kept our marriage full of fun. It is my goal to have an electric car race at Disneyland.

Those attending that I can remember: Mom, Nancy, Aunt Olive, Aunt Mable, Mrs. Robertson (I had just finished my bit teaching in her 1st grade class in Mapleton), Jon and Carolyn, Grandma Williams, Pres. and Bea Sorenson, Verna and Verlin Allen, Bishop and Betty Crowther, and probably others that I can't remember. Outside waiting for us were Grandma Eliza and her husband Kelly, Connie, and Ned.

We went to the Maddox after for our wedding breakfast. All my brothers were there. That was really neat for me. I don't know why I didn't think they cared or why it suprised me they showed up at the Maddox. It must be the little sister syndrome. The entire Thomas crew was there.

We ate Chicken Fried Steak and corn pones with Budge's Honey. The worst part of the meal was when Jon's dad stood up and thanked everyone for coming and then turned the time over to me and Jon. Good grief. I didn't have anything to say. I muttered and stumbled and probably made a fool of myself.

This was only half as bad as when they turned the microphone over to us at the reception. Was that a stupid tradition or what?

Tales of "the reception of the century" is for another day's blog. . .

CLES--son #1

Cles was born on Oct. 10. I entered Logan Hospital as Bob Barker and the Price of Right came on the television. He was born 4 hrs. later at noon. We were thrilled to have our first child and first son. It was a given that his name would be Jon Clesmer Ward IV. What a great kid!

Jon's dad gave me a blue piece of material to sleep on so that I would have a boy. Phew! Was I relieved.
The smile is very typical of Cles's personality.

Gotta Love those ugly hands the photographer snapped!







This is the one day he was shy.

I actually made this shirt. In those days, I sewed most of his clothes. It's all we could afford at the time. This is of cowboy flavor. (I'm glad Jon moved us from Snowville and this genre.)

Cles at Disneyland. I don't know why the silly face, but that is Cles. He was a great kid to raise, always fun, always keeping things lively, always making me smile.












A good message: Always put the "DATE" on your pictures. I have no idea when this picture was taken. I do know it was at Malad Elementary when the Bell Photographers came through!











On one of our many trips to California. Love the ocean!!!!










In front of Grandma Thomas's house. How we love running through those sprinklers!






What is more fun, the smile or the shirt or the haircut?

Jon Clesmer Ward II and Jon Clesmer Ward IV

At the Ranch!!

My all-time favorite image of Cles. He REALLY didn't want his picture taken. This was in the fall of 1972. I was teaching first grade a few doors down from the photo set-up. Cles wanted me and not the camera. Of course, the hot sweater did not help things.

Oh for the good ol' days!