Sad to say, my mother and I did not get along and when I
graduated from highschool, at age l7, I proceeded to get
a job and move away from home. I went to work for South-
Western Bell and earned twenty six dollars for a 40 hour
week. It was a mind numbing job.

I rented a room from a sweet motherly woman and it was a
bed sit as the British would say. It was lovely and it
cost 2.50 a week. I had to eat out and it cost me about
twelve dollars a week or less. I was a little hungry a
great deal of the time because I splurged on clothes.
That is where the rest of my budget went. You could buy
a very nice skirt suit for 30. and a nice dress for 20.00.
I had a room mate and we got along very well. We worked
at the same place and lived only a block and a half from
work. We didn't even dream about having a car. We walked
every place we went.

I don't recall that I saved any money at all. I had no
checking or savings acct. I was engaged by the spring of
l948 and planned a simple wedding at the home of a local
Methodist Minister. My room mate's mother made me a
simple white crepe dress with a bustle back. Louise, my room mate was the maid of honor and later I was her matron of honor and my husband best man when she was married.

My grandaughters were amazed to know that you could get
a hot dog and a fruit drink for l5 cents and a hamburger, fritos and small coke for a quarter. I don't remember
the price of a movie but I think it was around a dime.

I stayed in contact with Mrs. Martin from whom I rented the room for years. I needed the love and mothering that
she gave me because I wasn't very grown up at l7. She
sent me all her best recipes and she was a fantastic cook. I still use them.

I was so lucky to have such a safe and sheltered environment to finish growing up in.