California, there I was

The beautiful buildings comprising the U.S. Naval Hospital are located in Balboa Park. They were constructed at a cost of over two million dollars to provide for the sick and injured officers and men of the U.S. Fleet.

Mom/Grandma Rita enjoys hearing the stories I put out on my blog. I will read a new blog to her and ask if she has any thing to add. On one occassion she asked if I would write a blog about San Diego. Kind of a hard challange. I was born in San Diego but my only memories are from what I've seen in pictures or what Mom has told me. So, I'll give a try at this.

The picture at the top of the blog is on a postcard that Mom sent to Grandma & Grandpa Bear, dated Aug. 22, 1953. It cost 2 cents to send. "Dear Folks, How are you all? Hope fine. Saw this card last night. Thought you might like to see the hospital I go to and some day will spend three or four days. Went to Sally's last night and bought bassinet. Are really proud of it. Really like our apartment too- Loads of love to you all. Jim & Rita."


I've shared with you before that Dad was in the Marine Corps in San Diego. The apartment Mom mentions was 3312 Convair Street and part of the base housing. Mom wrote in my baby book that Dr. Brink was in attendance on Nov. 30, 1953 when I was born at 8:33 pm. I weighed 6 lbs, 91/2 oz. It is interesting to note that Mom mentions spending 3 to 4 days in the hospital. Now days a 2 day hospital stay is considered long. At Mark's birth Mom mentioned that she asked to stay awake when Mark was born. I guess before that women were "asleep" during the delivery process.






Pictures displayed in this blog show our apartment number, 3312, Grandma Bear being there during Mom's recovery, Dad, Mom and I in a family picture, and my first swim. Other pictures I have show some of our neighbors and in the background of one you can see some vintage automobiles. There are also pictures of family trips to Tiajuana, Mexico, (I sat on a zebra) and Knott's Berry Farm. On our move back to Missouri a visit was made to the Grand Canyon.

Dad was in the Marines for at least 2 years. His platoon picture (Platoon 526) shows a date of 1952. A copy of the picture was mailed to his parents Dec. 27, 1952.
I'm not sure when we moved back to Missouri, but I do know my first birthday was celebrated in Springfield with my cousin Mike, born on December 1, 1953 and his mom, Aunt Anita, who's birthday is November 30. Enjoy the pictures and the few memories I was able to share with you. -30-

Happy Mother's Day Mom

In one of my previous blogs I mentioned that my Dad liked to fish. It was a hobby he enjoyed and apparently at one time Mom had enjoyed fishing too. At least that's what Dad indicated on one Mother's Day. I don't remember the year but I was probably in Junior High school. Dad thought my brothers and I were old enough to take care of ourselves on fishing trips so that Mom could fish if she wanted. So, for one Mother's Day, Dad bought Mom a fishing pole, fishing license and tackle box(?) After giving Mom the presents we loaded into our car and headed north to the Lake of the Ozarks. We went to a spot on the south end of the lake that would be near what is called the "Tunnel Dam" area, where the Niangua River begins to form a branch of the Lake.

We found a country store/gas station where we bought a few supplies and headed on down a gravel road to the spot Dad had selected. Parking on the side of the road we noticed one of the tires was beginning to go flat. Dad parked the car with the "leak" side down on the tire to slow it down while we fished. We would change the tire when we returned.

Down the hill, through the woods we went to the fishing spot. We fished, had very little luck and I'm sure Dad was busy with us boys. After a while we returned to the car and found not one flat tire, but two. It seems like the spare may have been flat too, but I'm not sure. Amazing as it may seem to you all, I'm not really sure how Dad took care of the tires or all the details of this day. But I do remember Mom saying she didn't want to go fishing anymore.

Happy Mother's Day Mom. -30-