(p. 141) DID YOU EVER LEARN TO SEW OR MAKE OTHER CRAFTS? HOW AND WHEN? WHAT WAS THE FIRST THING YOU MADE?

Mom was a good seamstress and made clothes and costumes for me.

In Junior high there was a summer recreation program. That’s where I took my first sewing class, the summer either before of after seventh grade. The teacher was ms. Raulerson. We made circle skirts first. Also “rib tickler” tops with ball fringe on the bottom. This was made of two squares sown together. Because of my big chest, I needed to put darts in mine.

As an adult, I took stretch and sew class when Andy was a baby, where I learned to make T shirts and pants.

In 1989 I bought a book “Teach Yourself to Quilt” and made the quilt in the American Room. Originally it was in Beth’s room in Oxon Hill. I hope to get some more quilts make for both of you and your children.

(p. 142) TELL ABOUT A SPECIAL OUTING YOU TOOK WITH YOUR MOTHER OR YOUR FATHER.

The trip to Scandinavia with mom in 1978.

(p. 143) WHAT WAS THE MOST TENDER DAY IN YOUR CHILDHOOD?

What kind of question is that? Do you know who Andy Williams is? An early 1960’s crooner. I loved his song “Tender is the Night”, as I longed for a boyfriend. What about Elvis’s “Love Me Tender” ?

Or legal tender. My first paycheck was the summer I was 15 and worked at mom’s hospital as a nurses’ aid. I was a tenderfoot - too tender to stomach that oral surgery clinic, so I got to take care of the babies.

(p. 144) WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE SUBJECT IN GRADE SCHOOL, JUNIOR HIGH, AND HIGH SCHOOL? WHAT WAS YOUR MAJOR IN COLLEGE? WHY?

My spring third grade teacher gave a spelling test every week, as most third grade teachers did back when spelling was essential to a good education. Her spelling tests included an extra "mystery word. " I loved getting these right! In sixth grade I won the school spelling bee and went to the county competition. It was in a fancy hotel with an elegant lunch. I went again in 7th grade and maybe 8th.

In junior high I liked most everything - math, science, English, Spanish, and chorus. Our chorus teacher, Mrs. Rowland, was wonderful. We sang this at the beginning of each class:
"Dear God, Creator of all music,
Be with us as we sing today.
May our hearts and minds in tune with Thee
Give magic to our minstrelsy and bring some troubled soul