She married a younger man, Paul Amerine who was a career Air Force chief master sergeant, the highest rank without becoming an officer, Strategic Air Command and that accounted for their living in different parts of the country and world. He was very handsome and very likeable. I may have mentioned that Francie could be haughty and a bit snobbish. That did not go over at all with her father, Teofil, who once told Paul, her husband to come visit as much as he wanted but to leave his wife at home! Now that is a walk on the wild side for a Polish father to say about his daughter, but it gives you a taste of how beloved Uncle Paul was and how Aunt Fran could be different. Uncle Paul was really a prince of a man and I never heard anyone in the family ever say a negative word about him, except for his wife, my Aunt Fran. Seems she could pick at anything. He died young in about 1968, tragically suddenly of a massive heart attack.
Easter Paulie Fran and Paula Jean |
Paul and my Aunt Fran married, I am guessing appx. 1949-50 and they had two children, a daughter and a son. The photo to the right shows Fran with her son, Paulie and daughter, Paula Jean in 1956 for an Easter pose. I am not sure if this was in Atwater, CA or Nebraska. She always called her son, Paulie Wallie Doodle. I don't think he enjoyed that as he got older!
Oh I remember this visit because Aunt Fran wanted to buy me a new pair of shoes to start the school year. Maybe it was because growing up she never was sure to have new anythings for school, but everyone, my Grandma, my aunt Jinx, my Mom told her that I would certainly have a new pair of shoes to start school, but for some reason she was set to do that. This was in August I believe and so one afternoon she and I went downtown to the shoe stores. My Grandma Rose had warned her, "Francie, Patty has her own ideas and when she makes up her mind that's it. You told her when she was as a baby to have Big Ideas and she does." (Remember last weeks' picture of her holding me as a baby.) Francie was soon to learn that I already was extremely opinionated about what I would and would not wear! We had 3 shoe stores in our town then and I had determined that the shoe I would have was a fancy flat while Aunt Fran had some oxford in mind. Grandma Rose tried to warn her," Francie, maybe you better not take her because Patty is used to getting what she wants now, so don't argue with her." Francie thought to herself, "sure, how much trouble can a 12 year old be? " Well she soon learned. When she tried to explain to me that the oxford would be good for school, I was not having it! I turned up my nose and promptly put my own shoes back on explaining that I already knew the shoe I wanted and it was in the store across the street! I don't know what else I might have said nor what faces I might have made, but we went across the street where I pointed out my desired shoe, which engaged her to explain to me that it was not the right school shoe. I said something like, I didn't care, it was my feet and it would be that shoe or none, that she did not have to buy these because I could wait, since school was not starting and my Grandma would see that I had what I wanted! I think Aunt Fran was really astonished. She did buy me the flat I wanted, but I remember Fran telling my Mom later, "She embarrasses you, the poor saleslady didn't know what to think. Here's this girl with her big opinions." My Mom only shrugged her shoulders and said, "Francie, we tried to tell you. She is used to having things her way, Mom and Jinx always see to that." After they returned to CA or Nebraska or wherever they were living, that fall, Aunt Francie sent a package of slippers for me on my birthday. I thought they were the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, flats with a gold crocheted thread of sorts that stretched. I suppose she meant it to tease me, but I loved them and wore them for as long as I could. I learned to sing a Gospel Spiritual song "OH Dem Golden Slippers" from Daisy, a black lady who was a friend of my Grandma, and when I put on my slippers I danced around and sang that! She always remembered sending me those slippers and we laughed for a long time about those!
Here she is with her family when they lived in Spain about 1965; Uncle Paul, Paulie, Paula Jean and Fran.
Uncle Paul was long gone, but Aunt Fran carried on quite well as a widow. She always said that there was no substitute for having good friends. She knew that because she never had family living close to her and neither did I. Her independent streak rubbed off on me and has helped me through many life events. However in her later years she suffered many health problems, surprisingly. She always took the best care of herself, as I shared last week, but ended up with heart conditions and diabetes!
1980 Paula Jean with her mother Fran |
1996 last visit of the three sisters |
This may be one of the last photos taken of Fran with her grand daughter, Caitlin, Paula's daughter. Fran died at age 83 in 1999. As I visited with my cousins, Paula & her brother Paul who is the spitting image of his father, Paul, I laughed that they were unsure of their mother's age; the adventuresome Kochanowski girl who changed her name to suit her circumstances, getting older to join the WACs in 1942, getting younger to marry a man younger than herself and all around keeping her age a mystery was one of a kind.
This has been a Sepia Saturday post, click on the title to link to others in our international community to see their photos and read their stories.
interesting memories. that is nice that you shared some of your photos with her daughter and grandchildren.
ReplyDeleteAnother fascinating chapter. Proof that there is no such thing as an 'ordinary' person. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteAnother good read, Pat. I hope you are printing these and keeping hard copies in a binder or book. Would be a treasure for someone from that family. Could possibly become a column in a polish oriented newspaper or a magazine like 'Reminisce.'
ReplyDeleteTom
Well, now I really feel like I know your Aunt Fran. She was quite a character! I've enjoyed knowing her.
ReplyDeleteThere's a family in our town named Mroz (James and Barbara). I wonder if they could be related to the Mroz in your story. Or maybe it's a common name.
Wonderful story. These are just the thing I enjoy most of all. Reading about someones memories of a person close to their heart.
ReplyDeleteI had to laugh at the fact the son in law was welcome any time, but he could leave his wife (the daughter) at home. I think I like your aunt Francie even more.
Dear Pat, a great story and some wonderful pictures. All these posts can bring back such wonderful memories for all of us. thanks for coming by and sign up again. I had not been able to get on a follower's list til I redid my blog. I am more of a messer upper than a good blogger.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
QMM
Great story. You are most adorable in that one photo. AS for your Aunt Fran, she may have been negative, but it sure doesn't show in the the pictures. She always looks so joyful.
ReplyDeleteChristine, you know I was thinking that about her, for someone who could pick at a gnat, she always took a happy face photo!
ReplyDeletefascinating character!! surely, you will entertain us with other anecdotes?...
ReplyDelete:)~
HUGZ
How interesting to read the rest of the story about your aunt. She was an interesting lady. I like the photo of you. Who would have guessed from the photo that you were so strong-willed!
ReplyDeleteA veritable saga you have written here! Loved the goldan slippers. LOL :)
ReplyDeleteHi Pat, you are a very prolific writer. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about your family and your aunt Fran. The photos too are great and very interesting. One can feel your enthusiasm to tell about your family. I also enjoyed to read about your visit to the market. Have a nice week.T.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat, for sharing more of your family history through words and especially photos. It's really the great thing about blogs as we get to know more about other people.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures and a good story. Thanks for sharing!!
ReplyDeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI am Paul's daughter Frances Madison Amerine, I have always been called Maddie. Thank you for writing this about my grandma! You've given me more insight into her life and our family story. I truly loved reading this!