Thursday, February 12, 2015

Hotties

There is a Facebook page for the school that I went to.  This photo popped up on it this week.  Even though the picture was tiny on my Kindle, I knew it was my Mom.  So I got on my computer and enlarged it.  She is the one on the top left sitting down.  We aren't sure but her sister may be the second from the right behind the steering wheel.  My Mom could only see a tiny picture on her phone but was going to try to enlarge it.  She will know if it is my aunt and will know others.  I know a couple of them. 
These girls worked at Beatley's On The Lake.  That's a hotel in the back of the jeep.  They worked as waitresses in the restaurant during World War 2.  I think she was 19 or 20.   My Mom will be 88 in April. They could only serve sandwiches as there was a shortage of meat  You always hear the sad poor stories of wartime.  These ladies were making the best of the situation.  This hotel was at Indian Lake in Ohio.  It's a teeny town.  The hotel was demolished and the property sold for trailer lots.  It was almost surrounded by water.  There were even boat docks  That looked like little houses.  I can't begin to tell you what a great hotel this was.  Beautiful.  When I was about 14,  I would stay with a family that came down for vacations .  I can't even tell you how I met them.  If you can believe this, I don't ever remember my parents meeting them.   The father was a dentist.  He and his wife had one daughter about 10 years older than me and a son a few years older.  I literally spent the whole week with them when they came down.  Even overnight.  I kept in touch with the daughter for many years.  She lived in Hawaii the last I knew.  They were wonderful people.   I was just a part of their family when they came to the resort.   The owners of the hotel knew my parents well and they knew who I was.  I don't know why these kind people took me in like that.  It was an amazing experience. 
Across the street was a swimming area at the lake.  Huge, with a big sandy beach.  Lots of playing areas, and so much fun.  That's not there either.  There is another place down the road called Fox Island.  My husband and I lived across the street from that one for a few years.  It hasn't changed much over the years but the ducks have taken over in a really bad way.
Two of my cousins and a good friend now live on that island.  They didn't grow up there but their mother did.  There was also a small amusement park.  One of those that used to have all the Big Bands.  There were some amazing things going on in this tiny little town.  I think it's sad that it is mostly just gone.  The lake is still nice but nothing much to do unless you live there.

On a closing note......why did I wait til their was a whiteout going on and frigid temps outside to get a ton of groceries.  It is supposed to be freezing for the next couple of weeks.  We are talking a minus 30 wind chill on Sunday.  I know we are so much better off than Boston.  But the groceries are in but not put away.  We have to walk clear across our length of our house and up steps to the kitchen. 
I think I will stay under my COZY BLANKET for awhile.

13 comments:

Edna B said...

I just love the photo and the stories behind it. I was a little girl during the war, so this was extra special for me. The old jeep and car brought back memories. My mom used to dress like the girls in the photo.

As for poor Izzy, I feel so bad. When my Tootsie would have a seizure, she would sometimes have an accident on me or the bed. But I understood and just cleaned her and everything up. We all need help sometimes.

Well, we have another doozy on the way in here. We're doing what we can to gear up for it. I just hope that next week is the last of these storms. It's time for Spring to start coming around.

You take care and have a super day, hugs, Edna B.

Dreaming of Vintage said...

Great story and awesome photo Debby! Please don't say -30 wind chill on Sunday........

Vickie @ Ranger 911 said...

What a fabulous old photo you've found, Debby!! I think I'd frame it and hang it on a wall. There's no way you could walk by that photo and not smile. :o)

We're in a deep freeze once again, too, but at least we don't have 5 feet of snow to shovel!

Marissa said...

Wow- what a wonderful story!

Julia said...

How fun that you found this photo of your mom on Facebook. You are so lucky to still have your mom to tell you who are in the Jeep.

It's really going to be cold. I'm hoping that you'll keep warm and cosy.
Hugs,
JB

Blondie's Journal said...

This is so neat and what I think FB was meant for. Love that you can ask questions now...I wish I had done that.

We are super cold, too. 13 degrees right now. Brrrrr...

Jane x

Art and Sand said...

How fun to see that picture and realize it was your mom.

And even better, to have it evoke such memories.

Stay warm!

Poppy said...

Debby, I love stories like this. You know what? I think that just may be your aunt; she looks SO much like your mother!!

Stay warm and cozy, my friend!

Poppy

Mereknits said...

Such an amazing picture isn't it? An era that has gone but seemed so packed full of adventure. Stay warm,
Meredith

Susie said...

Debby, I love your old picture of those young ladies. I used to love to hear my mom's stories too. Oh Debby, you made me laugh thinking of you snuggled with your blanky and the groceries at the door. The weatherman just said below normal temps for this area for the next 7 days. Today is so pretty, but I have been out and it is very cold. Blessings to you and your, xoxo,Susie

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

Debby, what a neat photo of your mother and the memory. It's so neat for your mom too. Stay warm!

Miss Merry said...

What a great photo! I belong to a few of those sites on facebook, too. It is great to see vintage photos of the town I grew up in and the school I attended. We are in that wind chill advisory, too. Brrrrrr Thansk for your kind comments!

vivian said...

HOw fun to discover that picture Deb! I bet it brought back a lot of fun memories for your mom too. calling for the same cold weather here. Igot groceries on thursday before I came home from work and delivered all my kids valentines last night.. so Im home and staying in for the next 3 days! no need to go anywhere at all. well, I might go pick up violet on monday for a few hours. Happy valentines day my friend! stay under that blanket!
xoxo