MOM'S BOOK

1961 We moved to Mount Airy Road in Shavertown, PA when I

was in 2nd grade. It had a huge back yard that butted up to a forest. During this time Anita, Kathy, and Margie came to live with us. So, we had 6 of us, 3 in one bedroom and 3 in the 2nd bedroom. Each room had a set of bunkbeds and one single bed. It was a small house, but it worked. I remember mom painting the kitchen cabinets orange, she loved that color. This was also the home where I discovered that Santa Claus was mom and dad… finding all the Christmas presents under the stairs in the basement. It was a fun time having so many sisters! 1963 We moved to School Street, Hokendauqua, PA when I was in 3rd to half way through the 7th grade. We rented a beautiful split- level home on School Street from the Ungers who lived right next door and had a fantastic pool to which we kids were invited to swim many times. These years were idyllic and represented the perfect family situation, or so I thought. We had many fun events with local families, Nan and Henry Gerhardt and Lizzy and Ed Hartmen, who by the way both had 2 sons my and my sister’s age. We went sledding and had so many other fun times. Again,Tom left and moved to Florida for work. That is what we as kids knew at the time. He left mom with 3 kids, Peanut Butter the cat and Pepper the dog as well as penniless, a repossessed car, and had written bad checks all over town that my mom promised to make good with everyone if they just gave her time. The fact is that Tom was running from the law as he had gotten involved in a counterfeit ring with Dave Valenti (family friend) and his father-in-law.

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