Sweet 16
By Ruthe

"Sweet 16 " is an old saying back in the 1920's--- how true it was then, today it appears to have almost vanished--- In a way it's sad that our young people of today couldn't have had some of our experiences, we young folks did go through some rough times It was a devastating period in our lives and going through the deep depression was so unbelievable to everyone not only to the teenagers but to their parents and grandparents. Our young bunch of today and now living in the Twenty First Century will never know the sacrifice that this bad time had brought about to the people and the stress and worry they had to endure just to put a meal on their tables, and then would wonder what will we have for the tomorrow's? The hard times here brought to my age group a certain amount of integrity, gratitude and a desire to earn through helping others, I can remember so well the satisfaction I would have in helping my elderly Aunt, she had recently lost her husband of many years and had no income to support her 3 children, she took in laundry for those that could afford getting it done--- she washed the clothes in the outdoors on a wringer type washer and then hanging them on clothes lines in freezing weather during our cold winters, I can still see the frozen clothes all hanging and as stiff as boards, she then would bring them in to be ironed-- after school I always helped her, ironing the flat work as she called them--- bed sheets, pillow cases, napkins, handkerchiefs etc. I wanted nothing for doing this for her but she said absolutely I had to accept something because I had earned it, and usually she could afford a dime and sometimes two to pay me, how ecstatic this would make me feel and to know I really did earn this money, then to be able to save the two dimes for my bank account. This great attribution was instilled into me, along with honesty, gratefulness and a desire to learn --- to this day and almost 65 years later I have not lost any of my instincts that was instilled in me at my very young age,but have gained many more lessons that make me so proud to share with my many people and especially my grandchildren of my great achievements throughout my long life.

School seemed very hard for me, I always felt intimidated from being so backward this causing a very insecure feeling perhaps it was because ( in a teenagers mind ) I knew I was coming from a very poor family with such a little, but we all were good, honest and clean people my folk's tried hard always to keep us kids clean, fed correctly and we all seemed healthy. I will never forget though when I was in the 7th grade, the Principal called me to his office. I was very scared and wondered what I had done, once I entered his office I felt pretty good, Mr. Morris shook my hand and he spoke so kindly to me and asked how I felt.? I stopped shaking and answered him with my tiny little squeaking voice telling him I felt fine--- he handed me an envelope and asked if I could take it to my parents, I thanked him and reassured him I would give it to them, he nicely followed me out the door with his kind looking smile as I was leaving his office.

When I arrived home I handed the sealed envelope to my folks-- and I wondered what the message would say.. Mama read the message out loud Mr. Morris was asking for a meeting with both my parents and also me .We all three met at the school's principal office that next day, I learned then why we all had been asked to meet---while my parents was getting re- acquainted with Mr. Morris, the school Nurse entered the room, the meeting was to discuss me and my health -- I'm too thin and she ( the nurse ) is worried about me being malnutrition, I was shocked to hear this and had no idea I was in poor health, she and Mr. Morris explained about their school program offering a snack twice a day for the sickly children--- it consisted of a glass of milk and 2 gram- crackers every morning and every afternoon with a short rest period. My Mother agreed with the nurse, she was also concerned with my well being and was worried with me being so thin and wanted me included in this program. There again I'm going to be talked about and teased by the bigger kids in the school-- more insecurity for me again. I decided I really didn't care what they would say, I wanted to go into this because I loved milk and we didn't have enough milk in our home for our whole family. This suggestion from the nurse proved I did need more nutrition and I soon started gaining a few pounds. Our schools were so good back in those old days and the teachers knew each and every one of us as an individual and they showered personal attention constantly to all of the children.

Next year I will be graduating from 8th grade and in our home economics sewing class our project will be to make our graduation dress, I thought this was impossible but much to my surprise this was the most wonderful thing I have ever done in school, and for the first time to enjoy school, I couldn't wait to get to my sewing class once a week, and to work and finish my dress. It turned out to be beautiful, made of snow white embroidered eyelet fabric with touches of soft silk lace .

The graduation day finally arrived and I was anxious to wear my dress, I had been told awards would be given to the one with the best made dress, I didn't ever in my wildest of dreams think I would get the prize nor did I even want it, I just wanted a very good grade, I didn't get the first prize--- but I did get the highest grade in all my 8 years of grade school--- It was a great big * A+ and I was the happiest girl in my class. This achievement restored my faith and lifted my self-esteem, I was a very grateful young lady and looked forward to entering high school this coming fall with a brand new outlook. I was ecstatic to know I would be having my sewing class every day instead of only once a week.

The summer is coming to an end the big Illinois State Fair will be coming next month, the schools will be open the day before Labor Day for all students to go get free tickets to this glorious big event for the one day only-- ( kids day it was called ) what fun we would have every year on this one special day, we all received a dollar to spend on rides, food and shows, how we had looked forward all year for this day to come. The exhibits were all so great and to see the livestock was so interesting and at the end of the day and our dollar completely gone, how tired we all are, and still yet to walk several blocks to catch the open air street car back home--- but finally getting to sit down for the first time that day---.the street car was fun and very enjoyable.

High School was getting ready to start--- I was a little reluctant but found it to be much better than grade school, I had quite a time finding my locker then locating my new study rooms and getting acquainted with students and all new teachers, everything seemed all right and I adjusted quickly--- I still wasn't to keen on school but found my attitude was much better than in grade school. Things at home was not real good but the depression was about to end and our parents had to really watch with their finances, so many back bills had to be paid and we were given barely enough money to buy our school books, pencils, tablets, and all incidentals. I was still very timid and felt insecure with the hand me down clothes to have to wear, but I knew It couldn't be helped and I would pretend to our mama that everything was fine. It sure didn't help my morale when one of my teachers mentioned that she remembered the dress I was wearing that day and how was my older sister doing? I was so embarrassed over this and I'll never forget it---- and it coming from a professional person. I despised that teacher the rest of the year and my grades from her sure did show it.

The second half of the year was coming and our high school students always voted for the " Senior Prom Queen " I was quite flattered when the names were published on the main bulletin board, I was listed among the top ten and was pretty proud knowing I could never win but I was getting some attention from this and that really helped my ego--- each week my name would be going up getting very close to the top, I started to worry because I knew my folks could not afford a prom dress and I really was getting scared--- me * a Cootie as we were called in the first year of high school, and how can I get out of this? Each week was such a worry for me, and especially the last week. Finally the end had come and a very pretty senior young lady went ahead of me at the very last day of the voting. I was so relieved, I went right to her offered my congratulations she seemed so grateful that I was such a good loser, we became good friends for several years even while she was in college, we soon lost track of each other, though, I still to this day often think about her.

" Sweet 16 " was about to happen, I was busy practicing my driving to get a drivers license how proud I was when I received it and I was allowed to drive to school, my mother never wanted to learn to drive so I was her chauffeur now-- and how she enjoyed me taking her to many nice events, and yes I was teased about being 16 years old and was asked many times had I been kissed yet ? I would laugh and sluff it off -- I really hadn't been kissed but that was my business not theirs. I was at the age now where I could get a working permit, I was hired by a nice sandwich shop as their curb service girl, and I had a struggle learning how to attach those trays on to the cars ( spilled many milk shakes ) and also received many nice tips mostly from boys my age and they wanting to become acquainted with me.

I worked at this little job until I finished school and started to further my education, instead of a 4 year college I chose to go to a Beauty College since I always loved working with hair and cosmetics, I dearly loved learning the correct way to style hair and to become a Cosmetician I graduated and received my degree with high honors, I became experienced as a hair stylist and worked up a nice clientele in a busy salon in our area. Coming from a poor family taught me how to achieve the better things in life by being humble and the excellent home training from my wonderful parents guided me to be my own person.

Love, gratitude,and honesty was instilled in me at a very early age and at " Sweet 16 " I am a fine young lady with many fine attributes and I certainly feel blessed----

Thank you Mom----Thank you Dad---" I dearly love you "

Your daughter,
Ruthe
August 2002