To: Mom
My Mom and Dad as children
I decided to ask Mom some questions today on Facebook this Mother's Day 2016, to learn a little bit more about her. Here is our ongoing conversation.
Me -Mom, I want to add some things to my blog, I'm going to ask a few questions so that I have the facts just right. Plus what a great way to share some information for the grand kids too. Please tell me about where and when you were born. Where your first home was and what was your first memory? Love you - Lin
Rosalie Brannen (my mom) I was born Nov,14, 1924 in KansasCity, Missouri. My first home was KC, Mo, with my grandparents, For 9 years. My Grandmothers chickens. My first memory was my Grandfather was always drunk and argued with my Grandmother. That is why I detest drinking and arguments.
Then I bring my sister in for a question or two......
Me - Patti , trying to get Mom to fill in her history for us. Ask a couple of questions.
Patti What state was the first move for you? Which place do you have the fondest memories of?
Rosalie Brannen New Mexico, California, Tucson, Arizona and my fondest memories when I married your Dad in Albuquerque.N.M.
Rosalie Brannen I have lived in many states, Some more than once. Mo, Kans, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Mass, Calif. Mew Mexico, Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana Also have been in all 48 states
Me - When did you learn to dance, have you always loved music?
I've seen you jitterbug, where did you learn to do that? Where did your love of music come from? Do you have a story from your teen years that you would like to share?
Rosalie Brannen I learned to dance at place they fixed for the kids to dance. I picked up jitterbug dancing from the dance hall for the teenagers also I have always loved music, My teenage years stunk because of my poor judgement.
Me - Please tell us how you met Dad, where you were and about the beginning of your relationship.........
Rosalie Brannen I was working at the NCO Club and I was counter waitress and cashier, And he kept asking me to bowling and I kept refusing as I was not interested dating anyone. He actually chased me and he looked so sad one night and I accepted to go bowling. And is that the story.
Me - How long did you live in Albuquerque? Where did you go right after Albuquerque?
Mom tell the story about you thinking Dad's name was Otto
My mother had a previous marriage before her marriage to my father Art, I have 3 siblings from that marriage. Jackie, Cheryl and Jim. With my father she had 3 children as well: myself, Mike and Patti.
Rosalie Brannen We were in Albuquerque 18 Months and went to March AFB California
With your dads Boston accent he told me his name Ott(Art), And I told everyone his name was Ott short for Otto We went bowling and on the sheet he put his name Art. What a shock.
Me - What are the dates of each of your children's birthdays and names and birth places?
Rosalie Brannen Birth dates, Jackie (Jacqueline Sue) March 10th, 1941 Born Little Rock, Ark. Old St Vincent Hosp.,,,,,Cheryl Lynn Aug, 2nd 1949 Born In Ypsilanti, Mich, Beyer Hospital......James Neil Nov, 27, Born 1962 at Pasadena Calif, Pasadena Community Hospital,,,,,, Linda Diane born Feb, 8th,1958. Riverside Calif. Riverside Community Hospital......Michael Patrick born Aug, 3rd.1960 Tucson, Ariz ,Davis Monthan AFB....Patrica Anne born March 17th, 1963 Tucson, Ariz, Community Hospital.
That is me on the right and my brother Mike rubbing his eyes.
Taken at Reid Park, Tucson, Az.
I always joke about when I was a little boy.
My Mother Rosalie and myself
Tucson, Az behind the Air Force Base where my Dad was stationed.
The three of us Mike, myself and Patti.
Happy Mother's Day Mom
Myself and my Mother in her living room in Jacksonville, Ar.
Growing up in a military family has some challenges and some pretty cool benefits. My mother is a strong women who traveled to Europe with 3 small children by herself to meet my father who was stationed in France for the Air Force. One of the places we were privileged to live was a beautiful French Village named,Moivrons-Lorraine-France. We all have so many wonderful memories from there, french bread cooking, a rooster in a tin can and cows glorious cows. As children the three of us helped herd cattle to pasture and we loved it. The wildflowers, the smell of cow manure, the beautiful french people who taught us to love them, their animals and country, I still can see and feel it. My mother managed to make ends meet with little to spare, take care of us and we still traveled the European countryside in a VW Bug. What memories......
Patti my sister in front (with personality), my brother and myself in France.
Our residence. Rustic and wonderful, some of my favorite childhood memories.
The lady with her hands on my shoulders took me hunting for snails in the cemetery and explained that they ate snails in France.
Under the Eiffel Tower
I think this one is in Paris.
Moving from bast to base or from Europe back to the states, we were on the move. So many places including Bitburg Germany - Woburn, Massachusetts - Tucson, Arizona, and more, we were always moving and settling in, but through it she was always cheerful and provided many laughs and fun times during our childhood. Your typical military family, it was always an adventure and a learning experience.
Mom made my clothes throughout the years, I loved my homemade clothes far better than the store bought ones. She made all my prom dresses, special occasion outfits and even my wedding dress. I love those memories of waiting for her to finish a dress. I still love to walk around in a fabric store and just look at all the colors.
I say typical........probably, probably...... I love this photo.
Linda, Patti, Mike
Homecoming dress that my mom made for me in 1971. Purple velveteen, I loved it.
My dad was my escort.
I think of my mom every time I find myself singing and dancing around the house. She loves to sing and dance, I can hear her singing "I love you a bushel and a peck and a hug around the neck" right now in my mind. I hear her all the time in my head, she's there. You know you are mom.
Dancing in red socks at home.
The woman also makes the best fried chicken in the world and has a special talent with chocolate pudding and fudge. Ohhhh how I miss those. I miss you too Mom and love you very much. I hope you have the best Mother's Day ever. Here's to memories and more of them.
LOVE YOU MOM!
On the left, my mother and my sister Patti.
On the right my mom and my daughter Nicole.
Back to front: my brother Mike, my daughter Nicole, sister Patti, my daughter Noelle and Patti's son Shea.
My sister Patti's son - Zach
My dad and my brother's daughter Caroline.
My parents and my brother's daughter Sara.
My family.
My mother's mother Ethel and my daughters, Nicole and Noelle.
First photo with me, my brother, mother and Auntie Terry (Family friend and like family to my father). The second is my mother, myself and daughter Nicole. All taken in Nogales, Mexico.
90th birthday, she has celebrated 2 more since then.
I'm adding a couple more photos that I have found recently.
11/12/2018
Auntie Terry, Mom and Dad
Noelle, Aunt Rosamond, Nicole and Grandmother (Ethel)
Mom and Dad
Mom, Dad and Nicole on their back patio. I love that room!
Mom and Shea
Mom on her 90th
Friend Ana and our neighbors for many years, Jim and Scarlett
Mom and Nicole
Mom and the tarantulas. My nephew Shea got her interested and taking care of them. It's never too late to learn new things.
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