'59-Early 1960

Shortly afterward MaryAnn's visit Monsignor Cloos asked if I would teach 3rd Grade at St. John’s. Wow! Close by. Would this be a possibility? Tempting enough to try. I lasted 2 months. A neighbor close by, a grandmother,  and her twin teenage daughters, Rita and Anita, helped with child care- lovely folks. At the end of the month Cloos expected me to return most of my paycheck to the church. You have to be kidding! The community was beginning to think that the work the teachers did and their recompense was the business of the school nuns and not the monsignors business. This man truly believed he was totally in charge, at the head of things. He was a nice man. It is just one of the cultural ways men believed they were superior to females.  Msgr. Cloos hasn't a clue what family life is. I quit. Besides I was learning preparation for Grade teaching differed so from Secondary. I had been spending all together too much time learning and the class  was my guinea pig. I’ll save my education for the future. Or wasn’t I using my education each and every day? Perhaps with some guilt involved when Christmas came Cloos gave each of our children a present to open. This is where Robbie received his Geraffy which he loved until its long neck sagged and all the nap was rubbed from that neck. Robbie was a beautiful child. The twins fell in love with him and continued to come over afternoons to take the children to the nearby park behind the public school. Gave me some free time and a little spending money for them.

Something else opened my eyes that year. The nuns who taught in the school wore the old black habits peculiar to their order. The garb seemed to be the something that stood them apart from the rest of us women. Kept them in that place we saw them when small girls. Bruce, however, treated any of them like one of his big sisters. He would greet one with a big hug. Unheard of.  I’d never seen anyone in my family do so. He felt no mystique. Here is something I am gradually learning for myself. I had this idea in college. If every Catholic married a non-catholic the majority of people in the world would be Catholic. Quite a way to proselytize. And it's a fact that marrying a person outside one's faith was at very best discouraged. Like one couldn't be married inside the church; OK in the rectory or sacristy or like places. But in America in the 40s it was becoming next to impossible to have the couple stay in a Catholic ghetto neighborhood; even with church and schools and newspapers and books, all being Catholic. So marrying weakened hierarchy controls. The spouse came from another source. So the way I see it today Bruce was really a Methodist, Presbyterian Catholic. Truth is  he couldn't chuck his prior formation . I had been attracted to who he was. Well, why would teaming up outside be discouraged? I see it now. I would find permissions to look into what I previously thought I could not. Actually, I would be far richer . Well, my spouse likewise. Those in the Catholic Church's  holding the authority today want to pull all of us back inside a ghetto. Can't. I see now that no matter how loyal and consistent Bruce was/is to honoring his acquired persona the other parts were/are always present. There was much we would never learn as long as we were kept in our Catholic ghetto. We would continue to be treated like the little children we once were. So marrying outside one's faith was such a big deal. Or an Irisher marrying a Scot. Or a Presbyterian marrying a Catholic woman. We'd be getting, I can hear my folks say, 'smarter than what's good for you'. Wow! The year 2012 we realize we become adult Christians  when we continue to learn what life has to teach us throughout all of our lives. This is the structure we need to live as Christ lived.

I had begun a little newsletter, issued periodically, which means when I could pull one together, for our CFM family groups. This was a tedious job as pages needed a cut stencil to be mimeographed . Besides that, looking at the copies I have, our typewriter keys were not hitting so well and/or it needed new ribbon. I saved a Sept. ‘59  and 3 ‘60 issues. I don’t recall whether we were officially the lead couple. We knew more about CFM than the other couples. Weekly meetings were held alternately in our homes. We’d need to get the kids bathed and off to bed early when hosting. There was a particular  couple in our group, the Church’s, friendly and outgoing. We soon could see they were militantly anti-Communist and personally deeply invested. Their existence would re-enter our lives a few years into the future. I still have Fran’s recipe for Butterscotch Brownies. Bob and Florence Carlson, cousins,  joined our groups driving over from Warrenville except evenings they were hosting.

I found this entry in ST JOHN THE BAPTIST  CFM'ER   January 1960

Our Choice of CFM

Maybe it was Pre-Cana. Or perhaps we admired model CFMers in our family truly living in a worthwhile way. Whichever or whatever, shortly after our lovely honeymoon we took the plunge into the Christian Family Movement. On our own, we were impressed with the challenge of trying together to develop spiritually through the apostolate. The marriage vows taken we would either draw closer to each other or farther apart. Any new activity shared meant a new opportunity for our love to grow. But like the festive menu-- what to choose? We know of no established group like CFM-- so easy to join, so promising to follow. There is a straightforward friendly Christian spirit alive in all the Catholic couples we have met. We feel this alone is unusual-- unlike any other social situation. Perhaps as in the days of Peter and Paul, their apostolic zeal still flows through the veins of willing Christians.

Bob and Florence Carlson

JoanMary and Kevin with Robbie

Bonnie 1 and JoanMary

Robbie

Michael, Patrick, Kevin, JoanMary, Baby Robbie

When putting Kevin to bed many evenings upstairs I would read from a book. He seemed to relish these quiet moments alone with me so that I was encouraged. Like I have my mother to myself for a little while. 

On one of these evenings, following after this read, I walked to the next bedroom and lay down on the double bed with baby Robbie. If only he would close his eyes. He just refused at bedtime to do so. If I lay beside him I could encourage his settling in. “Close your eyes”.  On this one particular night I felt an unusual experience. A thin veil of cloth or light or I know not what moved across the room. I felt a strangeness and at that very moment had this thought of my brother Bill, just momentarily and then it was gone. 12-08-59, the following morning when we awoke for breakfast the phone, which hung on the kitchen wall, rang. I answered. My father was saying that my brother Bill had died the night before, December 7, 1959. No. This can’t be. Bill has had enough to contend with. Not death. Wouldn’t be fair. These thoughts quickly passed through my mind. Dad shared the story of Bill returning home from a hard teacher’s day, including a school board meeting, and telling Mary he had a bad headache. [Complaints of headaches in my family were never a rare thing]. Mary wanted to go out this evening to do some Christmas shopping. Decisions were made for her to go ahead and Bill would take an aspirin and lie down on their bed for a while. Which he did. When Mary returned later in the evening Bill was dead.

Mary and Bill  July 25, 1959

JoanMary was just a toddler. Even so she was still very tuned in to her mommy. She tells me I reacted at the phone. She felt my shock. She claims I cried. I remember none of this. I include her comment editing my story in this year 2012: The morning you found out about your brother Bill's death on the phone, you continuously wept out loud. I remember you picked up Robb, went into another room and closed the door behind you. The message was clear that you needed to be alone. Immediately, I recalled the strange experience in the bedroom just about the hour Bill died. Couldn’t help but wonder. Funeral arrangements were made. At his Wake many folks came; a large crowd. Many were parents of his students or people from the district. They shared how well liked he was and often alluded to, ‘this wasn’t fair’. ‘He was in Heaven because he lived out his whole life in so  short a time.’ Elayne and I stood beside his casket. I recall Elayne stretching out her arm with her hand on his. She referred to his being the one in the family to die first and now she wouldn’t be so fearful of death. Like he opened a path for us. He was 30 years old. Mary was pregnant and expecting their baby in March. Their lives were shattered. He was buried following his funeral Mass at the St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Richmond, IL, mother and dad’s home parish.

I do not know the sequel of events which followed. Mary was a teacher so she would have income. Sheila was born to Bill and  Mary on March 14, 1960. Because of the excellent insurance policy they had taken when buying their home, the property was now free and clear. Yes, I did say free and clear. She wouldn’t have monthly house payments. What a blessing! 

Sheila was born March 14, 1960. My mother and father kept in very close contact with Mary and the children. Dad felt  it was very important for the children to have some close male influence. I think he was right on. Mary did a terrific job balancing work and family needs, maintaining their home. Mary and the children frequently visited mother and dad at Tullybracky  on her way to Harvard to visit her parents. My parents made space in their lives for frequent trips to Arlington Heights. Doing this fed into Elayne and my feelings of jealousy which we acknowledged only to one another. Bill got a grand share of attention all his growing up years and now even after death. On the other hand we did realize there is only so much time and energy parents have.

Timothy is my nephew born to Jim and Angie on February 3, 1960, in Evanston, IL.  I am supposedly his godmother though I have seldom, if ever responded as one would. I believe I was ‘by proxy’. Is this like not being in the the delivery room when the baby is birthed, no bonding? Tim was a lovely auburn haired child. Jim confirmed that I am his Godparent.

 

Hebron Visit- Kevin, Priscilla, Aunt Charlotte, Polly, Wayne, Sue, Patrick, MK, Robb, JoanMary, Michael

Auntie Gladys, Mother, Aunties Florence and Alice

Elayne, Karen, Alice, Mary, Angie, Florence, Rosemary

Alice Hubbie, Douglas, Bob, Tom, Jim

These photos above are ones Auntie Alice took at another Family Reunion at Tullybracky about this time. My brother Bill is not with us. Neither are Bruce and I. It seems the best fit in my story and I do want these pictures included. Rosemary is cousin Jack Collins spouse.

Jim had been in the army for a period of time. He and Angie were an Army couple and for a time lived in Sante Fe New Mexico. Angie did not appreciate such a distance from the Gould family. Soon they   returned to the Chicago area. I lack memory and information here. Their little family lived at Tullybracky for a time. I thought they  might remain. They set up housekeeping in the apartment my folks made in their home. My father liked this deal especially as it was a nostalgic memory of his childhood when his grandparents divided their farmhouse and shared living quarters. Jim taught school for a while. Another job he had was selling Encyclopedia Britannica. Eventually, they made the decision to move to Merna near Angie’s downstate family. Angie’s father had died years ago. Her mother lived alone in the big brick home. 

Mrs. Gould taught in  the schools. They decided to share that home.  There was property the other side of the rectory. Jim and Angie made plans to build a home on it. My Dad purchased a tiny travel trailer to provide for his and mother’s needs and spent many days visiting them in Merna, helping with the building project. There is  story here for Jim and Angie to share. Years later a tornado swept through and St. Patrick’s Church went down. What a great loss this was!

JoanMary, Michael, Kevin, Robbie, Patrick, Johnny Sullivan and Bonnie Fall 1960

Johnny Sullivan Looking Happier in this Lower  Photo  and JoanMary

We knew the window of time when we could live in this old home in Winfield was limited. The owner would sell whenever the right buyer came his way. Before this  could  happen I found an ad in a paper for a home in Orland Park. Never heard of this place. It was South of Nalco and a bit West, about a 20 minute drive. Wouldn’t it be nice to own a home of our own. Other MMC Alumnae were no longer renting their homes. We’ll just take a look. We  all rode down to do joust that. This was a small home set back on a rise with 3 Acres of property, one mile from the parochial school with St. Michael’s Church standing atop its little hill. Mr. and Mrs. Nail, the couple selling it were elderly.  We could live at this property forever. Together, and also with Stewarts' help by cosigning, we worked out a deal. The home sight was great. We had nice road frontage with a rear yard which extended far back to a subdivision of homes behind. There were a number of these large properties on acreage similar to ours lined up in a row on West Street. Beyond our neighbor to the South was a cemetery as the road turned west. We could have our ‘3 Acres and Independence’. We made plans to move in. There were only two bedrooms in this home, a master bedroom and another. The crib could be in the 2nd bedroom and our little girl. The boys would set up living quarters in the basement. Actually, it would be private for them. Problem with the home was Mr. Nail, when building his home, had somehow delayed in spreading the fresh concrete basement floor when the cement was delivered. The floor was very wavy-- extremely odd. There was a sump pump, not unusual in Chicago area, in the SW corner which we could use to pump out the water  from  the basement when it rained very hard. We left our Winfield home.


I have received Jim's story in his own words: “Angie and I had been engaged since Thanksgiving of Nov. 1958, and therefore had arranged to have our wedding prior to my reporting to Fort Bliss. Weddings weren’t allowed during Lent in those days, so our wedding was set as Easter Monday, March 30, 1959, several days before our departure to Fort Bliss. Upon receiving my degree from DePaul University, Chicago, IL I had been commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the U.S. branch of Air Defense Artillery [Missiles], formerly known as AAA [Anti-aircraft Artillery during World War II]. We set out a week later knowing that we had to get there allowing for time to find a home , get settled with some household goods and groceries from the Post PX [Post Exchange and Commissary], to accommodate us at least thru the next 4 months, the duration of the Air Defense Officers Basic Course.

It happens that Ft. Biggs and Biggs Air Force Base are both directly adjacent to the east side of El Paso Texas. Housing [Billeting] for students at Ft. Bliss was not available on the Post, so we immediately scoured the El Paso newspapers for rentals, which the locals were only too glad to provide as an additional source of income. Since rentals were in continual demand by military personnel flowing into the area, we felt fortunate to find a duplex high on the side of a mountain, NW side of the city, overlooking sprawling residential and commercial areas across the valley below, toward the Mexican border city of Juarez, just across the Rio Grande River. 

Angie found it somewhat strange to be such a distance from her closely knit Gould family, but adapted quite advantageously, by obtaining a ‘substitute’ teaching position, though in a noticeably different Mex-Tex environment. She drove me to the Post and then on to her assigned school, where I was able to hitch rides around the Post with a classmate from De Paul who was assigned with me. 

My days were usually spent in air-conditioned classrooms. The Nike Missile System was quite technically involved, and hence required 4 months of mostly in classroom study, culminating in an actual missile attack on a radio controlled aerial target, RCAT, some 50 miles N of El Paso, at McGregor Missile Range, adjacent to White Sands Proving Grounds, where the atom bomb became operational thus ending WWII with the Japanese. Our class was divided into 2 teams. Each was to prep, fuel, arm and fir a Nike Ajas Missile at an RCAT launched on the Range. We as team members were assigned to Acquire [Acquisition Radar], Track [Target Tracking Radar], Launch  [Missile Tracking radar] the Ajax Missile to shoot down the RCAT over the New Mexico desert. Luck and skill was to be ours that day, as my team succeeded, while the other team did not get a “Kill”. However there was no victory party back on the Post - a “Kill” was simply doing ones job. 

On 4Aug59 [to use military date format] after completion and graduation, Angie and I were resolved to shut down housekeeping, pack up, close out bank account, and so on, and drive through the Texas/New Mexico desert that night, to escape the hot sun. We arrived in OK as the sun rose next day, and with it the most sweltering heat/humidity we have ever experienced - no A/C in ’53 Ford. Without sleep we succumbed to the droggy, groggy conditions like 2 wilting morning glories. We managed to move onward to the OK MO border town of Joplin, MO and the Mickey Mantle Motel, where we more or less collapsed.  Next day we completed the trip to Merna, arriving at 6 or 7 PM for supper and night’s rest, before continuing on to the farm in Hebron, IL. I had chosen to take 10 days earned leave time, while we re-acclimated to the thought of the 2 year assignment at 45th Air Defense Artillery Brigade in Arlington Heights with the Chicago Gary Nike Air Defense. It was indeed great to be back in familiar places.

Late 1958-59 Winfield

Patrick James Stewart

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Patrick is attending Kindergarten this Fall. This is his school picture. Patrick is 5.

We watched the construction of a building as it was being erected on the vacant lot adjacent to our rental property. This would be Bowie’s Hardware. Once the store opened from time to time we’d find 4 year old Kevin missing. He would make frequent trips to the hardware. The owner and operator, Mr. Bowie, seemed to encourage this little fellow’s visits.  Kevin would just freely drop over unannounced. Kevin seemed to like people and would want conversation and a closer relationship with them. Bruce built this very large sand box in the yard, near to the house for the kids. The sand was very deep and lush. They loved it. There were no fences anywhere on this property.

One afternoon, when the creek running through the adjacent property just to the south of us was swollen, Michael was found missing. Michael loved nature, the creek, the plants. I searched all about, could not find him. Water could truly frighten me. There was no fencing separating our property from the creek. Eventually, he did show up. I made him go to his room without any supper. Wasn’t this a discipline parents might use? The night seemed extra long for me. I felt he needed to learn and to set an example  [always Michael’s job] for the others. I felt sooooooo mean. I felt awful. Did the punishment fit the crime? Would not talking and sharing have sufficed? How about the first time just a teaching/learning experience. “I was so frightened-------” I don’t recall we had any solid rules about the creek. There were railroad tracks running through town less than 2 blocks away beyond the grocer. We had rules about that.

BaldwinAcrosonic Piano Gift From my Parents

Mother and Dad gave us a piano as a gift. Seems that small spinet mother had in the Chicago winter apartment, they had now given to Elayne. Because all in our Irish family must be treated equal dad found a very nice spinet piano for me and had it delivered to our home, a fine Baldwin Acrosonic. We set it in the front room. I took time out every so often to play sheet music. Seemed to be restful and reinvigorating. My mother did the same with her Grand. The pattern was  easy for me to imitate. Patrick reminds me that with our very own piano I decided to teach him some piano lessons. We gave Amy my piano in 1999. Since then she has taken lessons. Her sons Brendan and Caidan have also taken lessons. 

Around this time my cousin, Florence Collins married Bob Carlson and wonder of wonders they moved to an almost adjacent town of Warrenville living in a rural country home,  a Craftsman style. Florence loved the living in the country idea. I have a hunch the reality was something different. I saw her as I had seen my mother, a very displaced city gal. 

Bruce and I were active in our new parish, St. John the Baptist. We were able to pick up our work with CFM once more which we had been absent from for a year. We had a chaplain available and very willing to be involved. Fr. Liko was a Hungarian refugee who had undergone extreme hunger and outright poverty. He told us he even was reduced to eating rats. He was so well liked within the parish. His sermons were great [in the 60's we'd call them homilies]. He shared with the families that at Baptism Hungarian children were given a group of Saints names as these saints were said to be guides for  a child to help keep him/her on the path to Heaven. This is the root of the multiple names we gave babies born after Robbie. We had about 4 CFM groups in the parish. Back in these days it was customary to have a chaplain at meetings. Happens there was a Franciscan Seminary nearby in West Chicago, a village close by Winfield. These young Friars dearly loved to join with the young couples at our evening meetings. They needed to be home before the doors locked them out. Frequently they would overstay evenings and need to climb into their building through the windows. We cherished these young men and their participation.

Michael, Collie Puppy, Kevin, Robbie, Patrick, Joan, Bruce, MK-------------------------------------------------------

One of our Hebron visits we discovered Bruce cousin’s children had a Collie dog recently giving birth to a litter of puppies. We drove in their yard and asked if we might take one home. We chose our Bonnie. She came to live with  us   in our home. This was a first for me on how to house train a puppy. With persistence, support and  advice from friends I succeeded within a month. This was one more job for mother to do which I had no need of.  I love dogs. She was a joy and beautiful.

St. Patrick's Church Merna Illinois

1959 March 30 Jim and Angie married in Merna, IL.  We drove down south to Merna, adjacent to Bloomington in Peoria Diocese, with all the family, for the marriage celebration. I recall so little for we were consumed with tending our family. Just to be present was an undertaking. The Gould family was a Merna establishment, actually. Angie’s parents’ home was beside St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, a lovely 2 story red brick home, with the rectory on the other side of the Church. Just down the road at a right angle was the Church Cemetery where many from Angie’s mother’s and father’s families had been laid to rest. Also, the community sported a Post Office, a tavern. This was a farming community. Farmers raised wheat and soybean crops which was a more leisurely occupation than the dairies up north. Farming was seasonal rather than day in and day out caring for cattle. There were at least as many relations here as Bruce had in the Hebron vicinity; extended family living all about the countryside.

Robbie at Play on a Favorite Perch

As I described our house sported of great screened in back porch. We frequently ate meals out there. Little Robbie seemed to particularly like to crawl up onto the table and play. Perhaps it was its proximity to the out of doors, the openness to the larger world, the fresh air. The older children were often out in the yard.

Patrick and Robbie

Robbie Steps Off

Johnny Sullivan I Year Old

Joan and Robbie Visiting

My extended family had a very sad experience when Tom and MaryAnn Kerwin’s 2nd son, Joseph Gregory, just over 1 month old, died a crib death on March 17, 1959. Some time after MaryAnn and Tom visited us in Winfield. I shared my condolences with her as she shared her story with us. Perhaps it was not so for her but for me it was an intimate morning, like we’d never had the opportunity previously and would never again. We had so much more in common now being young mothers and our backgrounds so similar. I had a thought I shared with her. I guessed that if blood in the breasts could become milk perhaps at the Consecration of the Bread it could become flesh and blood. Well, at least I was trying to figure out in my own mind the meaning of the teaching ‘transubstantiation’, trying to make sense out of our childhood teaching. Yet I was not considering the big difference one being  a natural process and the other unnatural.  We talked of family and went on to talk about  how we might use our education. 

1958 Robb Joins the Family

Dr. Gregory White, GP,  Comes to Our House

Dr. Gregory White was now our family doctor, GP. Greg was cousin Maryann Collins Kerwin's brother-in-law. He delivered their 1st born babe, Thomas More Kerwin at home. He has a reputation now. Women are requesting he deliver their babes in their homes. So Greg was known as the home birth doctor. He was on the staff at Loretta Hospital, too.  We decided to asked Greg to come to our home for delivery. His office was in Franklin Park which was nearly 20 miles away and took more than 30 minutes to drive. Even so he generously consented. The afternoon, June 18, I began to have labor pains which were moving steadily along by 4 PM, dilating hard by 5:30. We called Dr. Greg who came promptly from Franklin Park to our house on Springfield Avenue. It happened conveniently to be a Sunday. I have notes: “Daddy bathed and fed the children stew, had them brush teeth and assemble in the living room totally absorbed in a Disney story." Dad, Dr. and I were intensely involved in birthing, in our bedroom just north of the living room. All the doctor requested was a pan of boiling water- no needles, no medications. Greg and Bruce were having such a nice visit. At one point in time Greg said to Bruce, “Would you like to catch”? Today Bruce gets so elated as he describes this moment. He saw this hairy scalp and in just one more instant this babe was in his hands, in his arms.He had experienced the miracle. By the time Disney had ended we had our lovely baby boy laying beside me on our double bed. Robert after Robert Stewart his paternal grandfather and William after his maternal grandfather. He was lovely and beautiful. Nobody rushed in and removed him from my side. They lay Robbie on clean diapers across my chest. After a bit of cleaning up Daddy, cradled Robbie in his arms, and carried baby Robbie out of the room  to share so the children could have their first look at their new, baby brother, Robbie.  Today he shared, “This was an ecstatic experience such as I had never experienced previously”. Upstairs neighbor, Mary Eckstein, was taking care of JoanMary, 17 months old, in her apartment. These are the notes I saved: “Daddy changed her, gave her a bottle in her crib, heard the boys say their prayers all in 11 minutes and was back to assist Greg. Baby looks like everyone in the family-- Kevin’s lower lip, Michael’s mouth, Pat’s dark hair and nose. He’s very bright eyed and alert from first moment’s entrance. Nicely filled out, chubby hands particularly. Put to breast immediately which he took to quickly and vigorously sitting in our rocking chair in the living room. Slept well the first night in bed with mother and daddy. Bruce and I had announced babes arrival over the phone to grandparents. Noisy airliner passed overhead just as Gran and Granpa were called causing us to raise our voices and Robbie sounded off for his grandparents. Mary Eckstein visited before Robbie was 1 hour old.  Robbie slept well all day being wakeful and fretting from 2 to 3 in the afternoon. Grandmother Bergin and Uncle Jim visited for a couple of hours. Bruce did grocery shopping, washed clothing all day long, prepared meals, changed and cared for his 4th son, mailed insurance policy, cared for the other children. Mother brought chicken soup, asparagus, chiffon cake, and fresh strawberries. Children asked so many questions. Brought in visitors to see their new brother. Robb’s cord fell off in 3 days following an uncomfortable period as it became so dry and stiff as wire rubbing his tender skin when on his tummy.”

Robert William Stewart   A Few Hours Old

 How Big His Newborn Clothes Seem to Be on His Tiny Body

Our little Robbie suffered no trauma at all, neither did I nor his father. Would this ever be so again? 
Here is a clip of  Mary, Greg’s wife saying it like it was:

“We always said, back in those days, that the three main obstacles to successful breastfeeding were doctors, 

hospitals, and social pressures. I think the desire to breastfeed was always there along with the conviction 

that ‘breast is best.’ We were not promoting a product that people had to be convinced about. But very few 

young mothers knew anything about the ‘how to.’ Women had forgotten the wisdom of previous generations.”

By the time LLL came along, new mothers did not have the support of family or friends, let alone 

doctors, nurses, and hospitals. Mothers who tried to breastfeed on their own in the early 1950s were almost 

destined to fail.”

We kept the bassinet tight to our bed where Robbie spent his nights sleeping and in our bed when breastfeeding. This was great! Gave me rest I could certainly use. Absolutely no problems at all. The secret of success all along had been in approaching all as natural physical phenomena. June 29  he was baptized at St. Brunos Catholic Church just 2 blocks from our house with Tom Sullivan and MaryAnn Kerwin, godparents.

       

Then a month later Johnny Sullivan was born July, 1958. I know Elayne would now breastfeed her baby though I do not know what guidance she used, perhaps it was with the League as well. 

They were living in a small southern Illinois town,  Worden. 

One of the joys of nursing a baby is the freedom and mobility it provides. This same summer, having the nice Volkswagen Microbus, we decided, as a family, to    accompany,  Bruce on his annual Air Force Reserve 2-week Tour of Duty. 

There had been talk of camping between the Kerwins and us. We had the excuse to just do it.
We purchased sleeping bags, found a nice gas camping stove,  cast iron grill, lantern, water jug, ice box, tent, large canvas, and all the gear for family camping. Resurrected Bruce' Air Force nest of pans. 

His tour would be at Dover Air Force Base, Dover, Delaware. Once there the Air Force would accommodate family in their barracks. This was a 2-day trip east. Quite an exciting, new experience  traveling on the super highway and the Pennsylvania turnpike. First night out was a great initiation. We camped en route, set up tent, ate, bedded down for the night and then it poured down rain. Perhaps, if more seasoned campers we would have done things  in anticipation of the forecasted probability of pounding rain and pools of water. As it was we suffered through this long night learning experience. Water was in the tent, around the tent, everywhere, soaked sleeping bags. We parents at any rate spent a miserable night. I was nursing my babe. I don’t suppose the water, the wet, mattered to him a bit. Joan Mary would be whining and the older kids trying their best to cope and handle this awful 1st night out experience. 

On arrival  at the Dover Air Base we jumped from the bus, free at last. The day was so hot and very humid. The air was filled with mosquitoes hungry for blood. We carried our stuff down a long barracks hallway to our given quarters, totally dejected. How would we survive as a family with the little children in such an atmosphere? Soon Bruce learned from a companion about a lake near the base, though not too close, which had Cypress trees, even growing in the water, which kept the lake and the beach free  of those mosquitoes. We took advantage of the opportunity to camp there while Bruce commuted the distance, 50 miles,  to and from the base. What seemed some kind of hell turned into a   great  follow up camp experience, much preferred to what the base could offer. The water was brown but Bruce learned quickly it provided a wonderfully refreshing swim following a hot, muggy drive. Not only were we free of mosquitoes there was a built in play ground for our kids and all this nice, warm water to play in. Another memory here at the lake  was the barrels of water filled with live crabs  cooking over campfires. The crabs were moving about in the boiling water, bouncing their shells against the metal barrels as they were being cooked live for  folks’ dinners. This was our camping initiation to be followed by many in coming years.

Back home again on one of our family Sunday excursions out of Chicago into the western suburbs in our quite new VW Microbus we came to a small town, Winfield. On the hilltop stood this picturesque, red brick, St. John’s Catholic Church with a steeple, with bells. A creek ran through at the foot of the hill. The town was off the main drag. The site was like a drawing on a greeting card. Further along Church Street at the corner of Beecher Street, we spotted a For Sale/ For Rent sign on a 2 story, aged Victorian, frame, asbestos shingled covered, home. Upon inquiry the owner was agreeable to renting this home to a family as large as ours. He was anticipating in the near future when the property sold the dwelling would be destroyed and replaced. All of us were delighted. Not only a church and school in walking distance but a 2 story home, nice screened in porch for cold and rainy days, huge yard, green trees in a lovely, quiet town with the whistle sounds of a commuter train passing through at intervals. Made for this family. We immediately initiated a move to Winfield, IL.  Our 1-year lease with Mr. Soprich on Springfiled Avenue was about to expire. We would not renew. Much of  our life in this town would revolve around this Church.  

This was Fall of ’58. Dad would take turns in carpool to Nalco with a couple of their very willing employees who lived westerly.