> I've always thought it was interesting that the Strongs > and the Motts were together once before!! > > Judy Mott Strong > Orange, CA Dear Judy...Thank you VERY much for what you sent, that is the closest to Vermont I have been able to get...she must be connected to that bunch wouldn't you say? Now to do "digging" there.. My husband and I have the same thing as the MOTTS & STRONGS.. When I found out that we were 7c & when I told him his comment was, "For heaven sakes don't tell our kids, they have enough problems as it is" (((smile))). I find it interesting you live in Orange...when I was a small child I lived with a family in Talbert (now Fountain Valley)..they were lima bean farmers..we lived just on the other side of the Santa Ana River. There was a huge weeping willow tree that served as our playhouse. They also took care of another girl..we were as sisters for many years until she died at the age of 16!! My aunt lived in Santa Ana Gardens..all that area was bean fields, Santa Ana Gardens wasn't too far from Talbert..I had lived with my aunt and we had running water, inside bath, etc...when I went to live with the Landrums in Talbert they had no running water in the house, an outhouse and I took a bath in a big round tub..after first papa, then mama, then Gladys and finally I had the scummy water...I hated it. But mama would always pour a pitcher of warm water over me and clean me up. Oh yes, the towel was wet and cold... I am glad I had those experiences..other wise I would never of know "the other side of life" The down to earth, hard working, Hard Shell Southern Baptist's. The minister had me scared me to death most of the time...I was always afraid I had "backslid! and besides didn't know what that was...but it was scarey! My aunt lived almost next door to the church so mama would let me go visit my family when they were home. Any way every Saturday or Sunday we would go to Orange County Park.. there we would play with the swans in the lake, & if we were lucky, papa would take us rowing in the lake...there were lots of trees to run and play in, a round building with a big porch with lots of chairs..this was a dance hall...often I would see my cousin dancing with his girl friend...how he hated it when I would find him and go out on the dance floor and tug on his shirt...(I loved him and he promised to wait for me to grow up so I could marry him)...HA..he married someone else!! Life goes on!! Mama and papa didn't want Gladys and I near the dance hall, they didn't believe in dancing...but I just couldn't stop my self from seeing my beloved cousin. (once he tied me in the swings, pushed me really hard and left me there..so he could have piece and quiet he told me in our grown up years.. hehehehehehe The Orange County Park holds a lot of wonderful childhood memories for me..we went there when it was a safe place for children to run in, they had long long ropes tied to the trees, I have never swang (is that a word?) or is it swinged so high..that is if someone would push us. They had little bikes we could ride for an hour.. There was a large area with very large stoves with a heavy metal top and wood piled near each one..people would cook their whole meals on and lots of benches..what fun it was to hear the cow bell to come and eat. There was a baseball field that the grownups would either watch or play baseball...there was always the pledge and then everyone would sing "take me out to the ball game"...that was a fun time for me. This was in the 1930's... Then one day a man hung himself in the park and papa and mama wouldn't let us run wild as we did before...we always had to stay in their sight. The man had kidnapped a girl or perhaps two girls and of course my ears weren't for what he did to them..but I can immange. From then on things were a little bit different. Also in the middle of Orange was a huge beautiful tree..the road went around the tree in a circle...3 of my children were born in St Joseph's hospital. We lived in Laguna and there was no hospital..my 4th was born in Newport Beach..a new hospital and much closer! Well, you have had a share of my childhood and a wee bit more!! This period of my life was when I became interested in genealogy and family...one never knows what will trigger the interest in family.. Thank You from the bottom my heart, Wilma Fleming Haynes [email protected]