The War & Mother

During the war, we had 'practice' black outs in our city a couple of times a week. The city sirens would wail when this was going on; usually for no more than about ten minutes. We'd all go out and sit on the front porch and wait for the lights to start flickering back on,.here was no light on anywhere. The whole city would be pitch black.  I was never frightened, but one night I remember granddaddy and me sitting on the swing and he struck a match to light his pipe; I said, ' Don't light that match Granddaddy or they'll see us!' He just sorta chuckled and said that it would be o.k. that as small as that match was nobody would pay any attention.
I only remember bits and pieces of my very young life, living with them, but everything that I do  remember is ingrained as wonderful.
Mother had a couple of 'boyfriends' during this period and they were both enlisted in some type of armed forces. On their leave (I'm assuming), one or the other would come over, always bringing Chap and me some little gift. One of them was named Patrick, the other Nick. I think it was Nick who taught me to tie my shoes. Patrick brought Chap and me a beautiful Easter basket filled with things one year. One, or the other of them took us with Mother to Pullen Park on a few visits...that's about all I remember about them, except that they were very nice to us. Chap and I were always included.

Mother was a gorgeous woman, never lacking attention from many men.  I was once told (after I was married and working) by a long time family friend, that my Mother was the most beautiful woman in Raleigh. I had to agree, to me, she was the most beautiful woman in the world.