cousins

I have some memories of my nieces and nephews and I want to share. I wonder if any of them remember these memories. I may not have them quite right, but at any rate, it’s the way I remember them or have heard them.

Johnny Williams – Taught me to sing this song:  The B-I-B-L-E, oh that’s the book for me. I stand alone on the word of God, the B-I-B-L-E. At the end he always sang, Toot, Toot!! (When no adults were around).

Kenny Williams – I have no defined memories. He always played more with Lloyd when they came home to the 7th place.

Teddy, Mary & Mickey Kuegele – I was mean to them sometimes when they came to the farm and I locked them in the outhouse or under the steps. Another memory that I heard, was something about Mickey falling out of their vehicle and they drove off without her and Mary said to Sis (Lillian), “Mama, Mickey’s gone.”  I probably don’t have that right. I don’t know where it happened. Does anyone know the true story?

Leon and Carolyn Sommerer – What a little doll. I loved to play with her. I don’t remember a lot about Leon.

Mark and Scott Sommerer – I remember Mark as a baby and Scott, for some reason I hardly remember Scott at all. I may have been gone from home already.

Kathy Beck – I remember what a prim, proper and well-mannered little girl she was. I didn’t get to know her very well until she was an adult.

Mary Jane Sommerer – I remember her as a self-reliant young lady. Also, when she was old enough to check out colleges, we spent the day together at MU casing the joint. This is a precious memory. I was thrilled when she chose it as her university. She became what I wanted to be so bad, an airline hostess. When I was in high school, I tried to get into airline hostess school, but I was too tall (I guess planes were not so big back then).

Linda and Billy Putnam – I loved playing with Linda. We had such fun together. When Billy was about 6 – 8 months old, (keep in mind I really had no experience with babies, having none around) I carried him upstairs and set him in the “wheelchair” that we kept up there in one of the rooms. I was pushing him down the upstairs hall and he tumbled right out onto the floor just as pretty as you please. I was horrified. He cried so hard and Mom and Bea came running up the steps. He wasn’t hurt, but boy that sure scared me, as it well should have. So Sorry Billy!!!!

Peter, Debbie, Becky and Jimmy Sommerer – What a fun bunch of little monkeys they were. I think they were the reason I wanted a lot of kids! I had such fun playing with them. I wonder if Debbie/Becky remembers the time you all dropped me off at Columbia (I was in college then) and one of you girls stepped in the chili that Mom had sent with me (so I wouldn’t starve in college). You all had on black suede Mary Jane shoes and that chili must have ruined them.

Julie Howard – Our real live baby that we had to play with and we got to watch her grow up probably more than any of the nieces/nephews.  I can’t remember anything definite about her but I was absolutely thrilled that she was my “flower girl” in my wedding. I’ll always treasure that.

Danny, David, Doug, Sam & Steve Sommerer – When these amazing young boys were growing up, I was also raising my clan, so I don’t remember any specific events. They were at our house now and then to play with our boys when we lived on Miller Street and are in a few of our old movies. I have one memory that I just can’t let go of and I need to know if David knows what I am talking about when I say, “Mom, come wipe my US Keds!”

Greg, Phil, Vince, Derrick, Tracy, Darren & Tiffany – Who are these kids, anyway?

Lloyd, Christina, Aaron & Andrew Sommerer – I just remember these kids as being the cutest little cuddly, dark haired things you ever saw. Lloyd and Jane….you did good! I was really happy when Christina went to Rockhurst because Tracy was there and it’s good to have cousins in the same higher education institution.

In summary, I just look at ALL these kids (they will always be a child in my eyes) and what they have accomplished in their lives. No aunt would ever want anything else than what they all are today. Bless all of you dear children!