Happy Birthday to a sweet, wonderful, kind, amazing mother! For those of you who haven't had a chance to read it, here's what Aunt Joanne said about Mom some time ago...
“My Memories and Relationship with My Sister, Louise – By JoAnne, 1978.” Typed manuscript photocopied from Bob Crowley family history books at Twin Falls, ID.
...Like I said before, Louise was very sociable. As she grew older, about four or so, she’d go to visit all the neighbors. She had a special home, the Browning sisters on Marilyn Drive, that she’d
visit the most. They even bought her a little rocking chair for her to sit in when she came to visit. As her chief baby sitter, I was forever looking for her all over the neighborhood. She had two special friends her won age that she played with the most, Maysie Eccles and Ardith Mortersen. She also played with Ensign Campbell. They were all close neighbors and they enjoyed each other.
One day, when I was in charge of her, she disappeared. I was frantic. After searching out all her regular haunts, I made a house to house search around two blocks. Nothing. Two hours later I went to my bedroom in teas and offered a little prayer to help me find her. Then I walked into the bathroom and there she was asleep on the floor. I didn’t know whether to kiss her, or kick her! I do believe I hugged her a great deal.
She went to nursery school at the Sacred heart Academy. Her favorite teacher was a nun called Sister Ermalita. I think she took dancing lessons there, too. Maybe I have that story mixed up. One day, Mom was taking Louise to school when the car door flew open and Louise flew out. The only thing that saved her from being seriously injured was her little dancing panties which caught on the door handle and broke her fall. The wheels ran over her little hand, however. It was badly bruised and swollen two inches thick for a long time. I can’t remember if it was broken, but I don’t think so. We all felt such love and compassion for her.
As she grew older, and as I grew older, Louise became increasingly unbearable. At age six she was all arms and legs – and they moved incessantly as if in some kind of fit. She constantly did these little dances that reminded one of a snake dancing. I could hardly stand her at these times. And she always sang, “I’m looking over a four leaf clover” but she always said “pretty little four leaf clover.” It absolutely drove me nuts. I can’t stand that song to this day.
During the next several years, our ways parted quite drastically. I was a teenager by this time and Lorraine [was] my charge. I only tended Louise when I had to. One day while I was tending her, I did a terrible thing. She was in the bathtub, had been in the bathtub for hours. The water was all gone. She was all soaped up and slipping up and down the tub. She refused to get out to go to bed. When I tried to lift her out, she’d go all limp and I couldn’t do a thing with her. In desperation, I turned on the cold water, thinking that would make her jump out. She only laughed at me. I was really mad by this time, and more desperate, so I turned on the hot water, which was really hot and almost scalded the poor child. Of course she leaped out of the tub. Crying bloody murder. I chucked her into bed and went downstairs to play the piano. Carolyn…[apparently witnessed this]…in her bedroom all this time. She [Carolyn] came downstairs, whacked me full force with her two arms, knocking me off of the piano bench. With blazing eyes, she said, “Don’t you EVER hurt my little sister like that again!” She didn’t just say it; she screamed it and left me to my shame. I don’t think I’ve every said “I’m sorry,” Louise, but please know that I am. Even after all these years.
Somewhere after that, she grew up and I grew up...Later, when I came home to live at home while Ray was overseas, I watched Louise begin her teen years. I watched her romances and
she shared her secrets with me, like the hand holding and sneaked kisses with Peck Stevensen at the back of the ward picture shows. She confided lots of things to me and it was fun.
Then there came this letter writing bit to a missionary six years older than her. I used to laugh to myself and think, “Poor little Louise. Her heart will be broken when her missionary comes and discovers that she is still a little girl.” She was such a bad speller that she would make a rough draft of her letters and then correct them with a dictionary. It took her hours to write him a letter. Never did I dream that Bob Crowley had already found himself a sweetheart in my sweet, determined little sister.
“My Memories and Relationship with My Sister, Louise – By JoAnne, 1978.” Typed manuscript photocopied from Bob Crowley family history books at Twin Falls, ID.
...Like I said before, Louise was very sociable. As she grew older, about four or so, she’d go to visit all the neighbors. She had a special home, the Browning sisters on Marilyn Drive, that she’d
visit the most. They even bought her a little rocking chair for her to sit in when she came to visit. As her chief baby sitter, I was forever looking for her all over the neighborhood. She had two special friends her won age that she played with the most, Maysie Eccles and Ardith Mortersen. She also played with Ensign Campbell. They were all close neighbors and they enjoyed each other.
One day, when I was in charge of her, she disappeared. I was frantic. After searching out all her regular haunts, I made a house to house search around two blocks. Nothing. Two hours later I went to my bedroom in teas and offered a little prayer to help me find her. Then I walked into the bathroom and there she was asleep on the floor. I didn’t know whether to kiss her, or kick her! I do believe I hugged her a great deal.
She went to nursery school at the Sacred heart Academy. Her favorite teacher was a nun called Sister Ermalita. I think she took dancing lessons there, too. Maybe I have that story mixed up. One day, Mom was taking Louise to school when the car door flew open and Louise flew out. The only thing that saved her from being seriously injured was her little dancing panties which caught on the door handle and broke her fall. The wheels ran over her little hand, however. It was badly bruised and swollen two inches thick for a long time. I can’t remember if it was broken, but I don’t think so. We all felt such love and compassion for her.
As she grew older, and as I grew older, Louise became increasingly unbearable. At age six she was all arms and legs – and they moved incessantly as if in some kind of fit. She constantly did these little dances that reminded one of a snake dancing. I could hardly stand her at these times. And she always sang, “I’m looking over a four leaf clover” but she always said “pretty little four leaf clover.” It absolutely drove me nuts. I can’t stand that song to this day.
During the next several years, our ways parted quite drastically. I was a teenager by this time and Lorraine [was] my charge. I only tended Louise when I had to. One day while I was tending her, I did a terrible thing. She was in the bathtub, had been in the bathtub for hours. The water was all gone. She was all soaped up and slipping up and down the tub. She refused to get out to go to bed. When I tried to lift her out, she’d go all limp and I couldn’t do a thing with her. In desperation, I turned on the cold water, thinking that would make her jump out. She only laughed at me. I was really mad by this time, and more desperate, so I turned on the hot water, which was really hot and almost scalded the poor child. Of course she leaped out of the tub. Crying bloody murder. I chucked her into bed and went downstairs to play the piano. Carolyn…[apparently witnessed this]…in her bedroom all this time. She [Carolyn] came downstairs, whacked me full force with her two arms, knocking me off of the piano bench. With blazing eyes, she said, “Don’t you EVER hurt my little sister like that again!” She didn’t just say it; she screamed it and left me to my shame. I don’t think I’ve every said “I’m sorry,” Louise, but please know that I am. Even after all these years.
Somewhere after that, she grew up and I grew up...Later, when I came home to live at home while Ray was overseas, I watched Louise begin her teen years. I watched her romances and
she shared her secrets with me, like the hand holding and sneaked kisses with Peck Stevensen at the back of the ward picture shows. She confided lots of things to me and it was fun.
Then there came this letter writing bit to a missionary six years older than her. I used to laugh to myself and think, “Poor little Louise. Her heart will be broken when her missionary comes and discovers that she is still a little girl.” She was such a bad speller that she would make a rough draft of her letters and then correct them with a dictionary. It took her hours to write him a letter. Never did I dream that Bob Crowley had already found himself a sweetheart in my sweet, determined little sister.
You know the rest – you all know what a doll your mother is – how obstinate, opinionated, daring, vivacious, uninhibited, darling, talented, strong and true – how beautiful she is. I don’t know about you – but I love her!
More more more!! Wow.. this is great Sharon and Thad. I love the pictures..did you get them out of the book Thad put together for all of us. What a fun tribute for Mom on her birthday. We so love you Mom. Thanks again Sharon and Thad for posting such a wonderful post!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this! I love all the pictures too!
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