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| My Mum and Dad at the Bilgola Surf Club Ball 1950's |
My mum turned 80 yesterday on July 4. We like to call her Miss Independence. She has been on a wonderful journey these last 80 years and was very sophisticated and a true feminist for her day, so the name suits her well.
She was born in 1933, smack bang in the middle of the Great Depression. Here are 4 interesting facts about mum's birth.
My grandmother presented in labour at the hospital via a tram trip. It was the first time she had sought any medical assistance whatsoever over the course of the pregnancy.
My grandfather left the hospital to go to the movies to see the double feature of the day, whilst grandma laboured away. One movie stared Marlene Dietrich and the other Joan Crawford, so my mother was christened Marlene Joan.
During contractions, my grandmother was instructed to pull on sheets tied to the end of the metal bed to help her push. There were no pain killers at all.
On the journey bringing the baby home via tram, my grandmother must have caught the catch to the gold watch her father had given her for her 21st birthday a year earlier, on the baby's shawl and it was lost forever. Can you imagine how difficult that day must have been for her. My grandmother's mother had died when granny was 14 so she had no help what so ever with that baby either.
That Depression baby went on to become a sophisticated, well loved, globe trotting flight attendant and so very much more.
Not the least of which was a wonderful mother. From humble beginning people.......from humble beginnings.
Today I am linked up here
Feathered Nest Friday
With Some Grace
Show and Tell Friday
Weekend Wrap Up
Sunday Showcase
Metamorphosis Monday
Inspire Me Tuesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Feathered Nest Friday
With Some Grace
Show and Tell Friday
Weekend Wrap Up
Sunday Showcase
Metamorphosis Monday
Inspire Me Tuesday
Wow Us Wednesday
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What an amazing woman that both your Mum and grandmother are! And an amazing story!
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning photo of your mother. She certainly does look very glamorous. Love the way she styled her hair. Unimaginable that any soon-to-be-dad would drop his wife at the hospital then head to the movies - for a double feature! But back then they wouldn't let you into the room anyway. So sad about the watch! xx
ReplyDeleteLove that story Carolyn. Gosh you can see your resemblance in both of your parents. Hope you celebrated in true style.
ReplyDeleteAnne xx
What an interesting story! I can just imagine if dads today tried to duck out to the movies during labour... :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great story! I love her special name, Miss Independence! We have a grandson who was born on the 4th of July and we always called him our little firecracker.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your Mother and what a gorgeous photo of her with your Father. xx
ReplyDeletegreat photo.. you can really see the family resemblance in you and your kids.
ReplyDeletex
As others have said, you're a 'perfect mixture' kid. You look just like your mum and dad! A very interesting story.
ReplyDeleteThat's quite a story. We don't know how lucky we are these days do we?
ReplyDeleteMy granny walked to hospital to have her babies, what a thought. She did get a pain killer for a terrible birth she had, the baby died. She said she got 'twilight dawn' and it's what the Queen Mother used to use when she gave birth.
Anyway, happy birthday to your Mum and look forward to hearing more about the festivities. More photos please!
I had to read this to my husband as we were having our morning coffee. His father who is the same age as your mother, is named Tom Mix! His uncle was Hal Kenneth (another old movie star) and his aunt was Gloria Swanson! I guess people admired their movie stars back then. :>))
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your mother! She is a lovely lady.
My mother also turned 80 this year!!
ReplyDeletePamela
WV
Yes to have the father helping in the delivery room was un-heard of back in the day. My mother loves to tell the story of my dad pacing back and forth waiting for my birth, the nurses had my dad run errands to other floors and even to the maternity ward to deliver sanitary pads. LOL
ReplyDeleteI love this - and it reminds me of the awesome one you wrote a few months ago about your mum as an air hostess. Thanks for sharing. Happy belated birthday to her, she is quite stunning in that photo x
ReplyDeleteHappy birthday mrs D
ReplyDeleteLove and hugs always,
Nic
A very fitting tribute to your Mum. Hope her day was splendid and all she wanted it to be. With a daughter like you she must feel very blessed and loved. She does sound like quite a gal, good for her. How she was as a Mother might just have helped you become the person you are. Happy summer.
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday to your Mum, she is an amazing lady!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post on you mother. I miss mine so much .
ReplyDeleteWhat an incredible woman your grandmother was. I'm so glad things are different these days
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading that. Hope your Mum had a wonderful birthday!
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing story of two amazing ladies! I hope your sweet mother had a lovely birthday and may God bless her, now and forever! I'm gonna read about your mum as a flight attendance, too..wow! I'm at Marty's.
ReplyDeleteFABBY
Well, happiest of birthdays to this amazing lady!
ReplyDeleteI wish her happiness, joy, good health and love the entire year through!
And she was a real beauty, wow! Give her a hug from me from Ohio!!!
What a nice story. Some things have changed some things have stayed the same. When my youngest daughter was born, the nurse had me pull on a twisted sheet too. She pulled the other end since there was nothing at the foot of the bed to tie it to. My doctor was skeptical but it did the trick!
ReplyDeleteYour mum is adorable in the picture! The story really brings home how different things were back in those days. My dad was born that year, and he too is an amazing person. He is fit as a fiddle because he jogs two miles every day but Sunday. Please wish your mom a happy belated birthday from those of us in blogland!
ReplyDeleteLove how your mom was named! Sweet post! If he'd seen Lombard, she might be Carol?:) Stop by
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