Having to move

The Eichorns wanted the farm back and we had to find new homes. Uncle D. and Aunt M. found one farm and we found another. We had to move before my first year of school was over. So I was left at my Paternal Grandparents to finish the year and my family moved without me. I was probably just a short time, I don't remember. I do remember loving the idea of leaving the mean buck behind and not having to race him. That was a big deal! There was a big circular driveway on the farm and the bus came to get me. I liked school and the Teacher. She liked popcorn, and my biggest memory of Mrs. Innis (Innes?) was of her making popcorn for us during class. Back then there was still a county orphanage and it was in that school district. It was the first time I realized kids could be left alone in the world. We had several orphans in our class. They kinda kept to themselves and were hard to get to know. I don't suppose I tried any harder than the others. Those lessons have to be learned over time. The only other memory of that school was of broken concrete steps. When it got warm, some garter snakes crawled out of the steps. The boys chased the girls around the play yard. Kids will be kids. I wasn't really afraid of the snakes, but I ran with the girls. You do what you have to do to belong. It was more for fun then fear and I think that is how many steriotypes are learned.

My Grandmother D. was proud of her maiden name and her married name. When a little first grade boy phoned me while I lived with them, I got a lecture.....because she didn't like his last name. She had nothing against his family, just didn't like the sound of his last name. She actually asked me if I wanted to trade ____ for _______________! That took a lot of thinking about. I wasn't sure why I had to worry about that when I was just in first grade. I thought it was funny. Maybe I should have taken more notice though. My first real boyfriend had another name she wasn't happy with. By then, I felt very superior, and though I never told her.....I wasn't concerned with names. Poor Grandmom... I first married a Bone. She told me how sorry I would be. She was right, but not because of the name. Hhmmm. Next I married a Pigman. She threw up her hands in the air. She didn't live long enough to hear my last last name. But, I think she would have felt much better about it. And it has lasted well over 20 years. Did she know something I never figured out?

Just before leaviing the Eichorn Farm, we got a little Scotch Scotty dog. All black, we called her Cocoa. She was a tiny puppy, but it soon became obvious our Cocoa was born blind. She learned her way around and somehow managed to do just fine. But, she had a hard time when they took her to the new farm. When I finally joined my family at the Lepp farm, my first project was to help Cocoa learn her way around. It didn't take long and if you didn't know she was blind, it would have been hard to notice. Except when Dad would leave a tractor or wagon or other farm equipment in a new location. She always had trouble with the big things she could run into. But, Cocoa was a great ratter. She loved to go around with the boys who would lift sheets of corrigated to find mice. Or, stir up rats in the corn cribs. My contribution to these hunts ended the day Cocoa chased a rat right at me. Just like the cartoons, that rat ran right up my pant leg. Inside! They were loose to the knees and then got tighter. So with my leg bent, he didn't get any further. Dancing on one leg, I had my own panic to deal with along with Cocoa's frenzy and two brothers bent on beating me to death. I should be grateful to them. The rat didn't even have time to bite me. He was long dead before I could get myself calm and Cocoa settled and brothers to quit hitting my poor bruised scratched leg. I never did go hunting anything with them again.

Cocoa was nervous when there were strangers around. Then Mom would usually take her into the house till they left. We had her a long time. Till a neighbor, who was there often enough that Cocoa wasn't afraid, accidently ran over her when she fell asleep under their car. She was gone several days before we missed and asked about her. Mom was upset with us about that. I guess kids get so used to taking some things for granted, they just don't notice right away.

After Cocoa, Mom went out and got Stormy. Stormy was named because Mom knew what was going to happen when Dad discovered another "worthless" animal on the farm. Stormy was mostly German Shepherd, but all mutt. Later, a stray dog showed up and S. named her Freckles. Dad was not happy with two mutts on his farm. A "working dog" might have been ok, but........ He did a lot of grumbling (storming), but both dogs stayed awhile.