Category Archives: Memories

A Dad story

November 11, 2020Family, Memoriessusanmanzke

My dad loved telling stories and he always had an audience.

When Dad told his memories of his childhood, he added actions and vocal embellishments which made them special.

Even though Dad’s written stories don’t have as much flair, they are very special and fun, too.

Here’s one I recorded for today.

His Ma tried to show concern for her little boy, but a smile was on her face.

I adapted this story for my novel Chicken Charlie’s Year, which can be found at Sissy’s in Seymour, or on Amazon.com. It’s an easy read as each chapter is a story in itself. (Think Christmas gift.)

Where a farmer finds beauty

November 3, 2020Columns, Farming, Memoriessusanmanzke

I wrote this column for Thanksgiving forty years ago. The size of the tractors have gotten larger, but most of the rest has stayed the same.

Farmers find beauty in the barn, in the field, and standing next to a cow. It’s all there for them to appreciate. I hope you enjoy my musings from November 1980.

Hoping you too find beauty in different places.

Maybe it’s a sparkly rock, or a child’s toothless grin, or a kitten getting into trouble again, there’s beauty and fun found in the oddest places.

Saving Family Stories

November 2, 2020Columns, Family, Memoriessusanmanzke

I’ve been encouraging people to save family stories for years. This 1988 column proves that my campaign started many years ago.

I hope you enjoy my Dad’s stories that I shared all those years ago.

I adapted the broken cookie story and used it in my novel, Chicken Charlie’s Year. It was one of my favorites as a child.

I hope you save and share some of your stories. They are pieces of this countries history.

Halloween from the olden days

October 31, 2020creativity, fun, Memoriessusanmanzke

This newspaper clipping was taken at Ann Rutledge elementary school in Lincoln Estates in the 1960s.

I’m in the big hat in front and to the left of the nun. To the left of me is my friend, Marilyn. John was Little Bo Peep next to the gorilla, far left. Cousin Chris is a scarecrow on the floor to the right.

I believe we dunked for apples, which meant if you weren’t first, a lot of makeup was floating on the water by the time it was your turn.

My sister remembers winning a whistling contest. You had to eat a cracker and then see who could whistle first. Karen Won!

As entertainment, they had a talent show that night. My sister and her friend Janie made up a skit involving what they thought was a pineapple and ended up being a wasp nest.

Since I had on a long dress, for the talent show, I sang Daisy (A Bicycle Built for Two). I did it but was so scared and quiet, no one heard me. I remember hearing people say, “Louder.”

Now, to scare you for Halloween what follows is my current rendition of Daisy which I remember word for word–odd how something sticks in your mind.

Don’t blame me if you can’t sleep tonight after hearing this.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

A ringing doorbell makes mother dingy

October 14, 2020Memories, Odds and ends, Sunnybook Farmsusanmanzke

This account was from fall 1982. Bob installed a doorbell because if someone knocked on the porch door we’d never hear them. A few visitors then walked away.

Of course, family didn’t need the bell. They just walked in.

Russell was almost three when he figured out how to reach the button for the bell. He loved that when he pushed it Mommy would show up and give him what he wanted.

This recording is what I wrote in my column all those years ago.

Today, there’s a doorbell on my backdoor, but no one uses it. People knock and expect me to hear their rapping. I don’t.

My real doorbell is my dog Sunny. If he notices knocking he goes toward the door.

If Sunny is sleeping deeply, he doesn’t hear anything, which is too bad for a passing salesman, but good for me.

So if you come knocking, remember there’s a bell. It really gets my attention. I usually jump a foot when it is buzzed.

Susan Manzke

Writer, Speaker, All-Around Good Person