| 05/02/09 11:19 PM |
#530
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Mary Ann Johnson (Null)
My wedding reception was at the Crystal Ballroom and I remember other events there. We used to eat lunch in the hotel restaurant after church, when I was young. I lived in Vinita a for a short while, as an adult. I was so shocked when I took my daughters to the Ballroom for dance lessons because it was in bad condition. But I have peeked at it since it has been restored and it looks lovely. I heard the owner was trying to restore it back, as much as possible, to the original style.
I've been gone to a conference and boy did I miss a lot!
Carla - Did you say "Canton"? Oh my gosh, my daughter took me there once when she lived in Texas. I really didn't want to make the trip, but it was so worth it and so much fun (even if it was about 129 degress that day). She doesn't live in Texas anymore, but I would love to go there again. That and to market in Dallas - I passed that oppotunity up a few years ago and I don't know if the retail friend will offer again!
Rhea and Bruce - I'll have to go to your profiles and check out the pics!
Bruce - I knew you had a resteraunt but not that it burned. That is sad, but it opened the way for you to meet your true love and that is wonderful! I don't think I realized that you were so young when your mom passed. That is so difficult even at this stage of the game, but must have been really hard. I always really respected her. I'm so glad to know that you get to enjoy your children at this stage of the game.
I remember eating at Clanton's and seeing a glimpse of the "Negros in the back room" I didn't understand,it scared and saddened me, as a child. Even little children knew that was wrong. The bus stop cafeteria had seperate water fountains. Did you ever see photos of the black community with business' and hotel on the east side. They had to have their own business and schools and some were fairly properous for the times. I always thought my grandmother lived through some incredible historical changes, but we have too. Many changes were way to long in coming, thank God they have.
I never understood why we didn't have atletics for girls either, but I don't know if anyone ever even questioned it. Apparetly someone did, at some point. I would have really enjoyed that - well except for contact sports. I went to Rhea's house once in the fifth grade. We were having a great time - you know -snowmen and snow angels- all of the sudden,Rhea went berserk! She knocked me down, rubbed snow in my face and laughed! I didn't know what to do, I just layed there and took it - I'd never had brothers or boys in the neighborhood to "fight" with. I never fully trusted her after that. I don't want to ever have a reunion in the winter!
Rhea was ok in the summer though. I used to walk to her house and we went to the pool almost every summer day. That was when an extra 15 cents could buy a candy bar and a cup of Coke!
Judy - How horrid everyone looked in those swimming caps, but again, we never questioned it. I thought the "flowered" caps, that came out when I was the 5th or 6th grade, were really something. We also wore "thongs" to the pool. Old habits die hard, I have seriouly embarrassed my daughters in public a couple of times, talking about "thongs". I've finally learned to ask for "flip flops" when shopping for the beach.
Jan - You know your car had real character, just not reliable heat. Just after I got my license, I tried to parallel park in front of the pool hall (I wasn't headed there). I got both wheels up on the curb and then couldn't get the car out, much to amusement of the clientele. They finally came out to help me. They probably got a lot of entertainment from some of us.
I'm going to look at the pics and profiles now, but I've still got some stories to tell....
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