Category Archives: What I Think About…

The Tree House

By Donnalyn Rubarth, 1990

Someday I’ll be old and wrinkled on the outside but inside a child will be at play.  I’ll put on my jeans and Nike’s, take my step ladder out to my big, old tree, climb up into her open arms and build a tree house. I’ll pile giant pillows against the railings and snuggle into them.

I’ll look up into my tree’s branches to  watch the rustling shadow patterns just as I did as a baby. Thoreau, Longfellow and Elizabeth Barrett Browning will be my companions and I’ll read poetry aloud and write my own too.

Children will come by and say, “Old lady, why are you in that tree?” And I’ll invite them up for cinnamon iced tea and ginger cookies and we’ll have long, long talks.

Sometimes we’ll lay on our backs and draw pictures of the leaves and branches above. Some days we’ll lay on our stomach’s and study the bark patterns and the busy lives of the ants. Birds will sing cheerful songs and listen to our made up stories.

When summer is over and the leaves start to slip off their spindly branches, I’ll pile on the sweaters and wave to the children as they go off to school. Pen and paints in hand, I’ll write and draw stories for my friends.

When winter sets in and the wind blows cold, I’l bring all my big, old faded pillows inside and pile them into the window seat near my tree. I’ll be cozy and warm and I’ll watch my tree get all washed clean from the rain.

I’ll see water being held in the cups of her few remaining leaves. Her bark will turn dark, dark brown from her wetness and the birds will hide away in the bushes.

When this old, old lady becomes very, very old and her soul yearns to be set free to soar to new dimensions, her children will plant her ashes all around the base of the tree and the tree will be nourished.

When her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren become restless or lonely, they’ll visit the old tree and climb up into the tree house and talk to their mother tree. You see, her spirit will always be there and she’ll whisper wise words into their ears.

When Doors Open…

I’ve always been a goal setter and worked hard to accomplish my plan. The year was 1989 and I was 56, divorced, kids moved on, and still searching for what it was I was supposed to do in life. I had tried many things, greeting card business, appliqued sweatshirt business, real estate agent, financial planner, but nothing worked or satisfied or felt like it was what I was supposed to do with my life. I had finished 3 years of college years before and always wished I’d graduated. I talked to a friend who suggested taking just one class and see how I felt. The evening class was Writing and Art at Cal State Fullerton. I loved it and was hooked on returning to college! Since it was necessary to work full time I couldn’t see how it would be possible to ever finish all the classes I needed to graduate. And 56 is kind of late in years to be making such a huge change. But I knew I had to do it!

This story is a tale of coincidences or should I say “a little help from Above.” I was working in accounting and I talked to my boss about the possibility of taking more classes and having a flexible 40 hour working schedule. He agreed and gave me a key so I could do my work whenever it fit in with my schedule.

I chose Art Education as my major because I had always wanted to be a teacher since 2nd grade and of course I loved anything creative. I signed up for a full load of classes and plunged ahead. It was very, very hard to budget my time between work, classes and homework. Needless to say that was all I did for a year. I had little signs posted here and there in my condo saying, “Just Do It!”

While attending CSUF I took a walking class (as if I didn’t have enough on my plate) but in hindsight I realize it was part of the plan too. I met a woman my age who was finishing her degree in education too and was already accepted at Claremont Graduate School to get a Masters and Teaching Credential during the summer. If I applied and was accepted we could go together! What a coincidence! I applied and was accepted too!

Eileen and I both lived in Orange County and knew Claremont’s summer  teaching program was rigorous and we couldn’t be driving back and forth every day. Together we went to Claremont’s Housing office and they gave us the name of a woman who was a school nurse who traveled every summer and was looking for someone to house sit. We met her a few hours later and of course she picked these 2 middle aged women to stay in her beautiful 4 bedroom home! No rent, just pay the utilities. Oh my goodness, what a generous coincidence!

We completed our summer classes and were informed we had to get a teaching position by September. We still had another summer of classes to complete. Now, the reality started to set in.  What principal was going to hire a teacher intern my age? I applied to a lot of districts and guess what? I was hired at Grovecenter Elementary School in West Covina, the same school 2 of my sons had attended many years before. I was given a job as third grade teacher in the same room where they had been schooled. Another amazing coincidence!!

Claremont provided a supervisor who visited my classroom every week to observe and give me teaching advice. And once a week I attended an evening class at Claremont. The second summer was a busy time finishing my masters and believe it or not, we got to house sit for the nurse again! Talk about things falling in place.

In 1993 I graduated and was on my way. From the first day of teaching, I knew this was what I was destined to do. Everything came easy for me. I taught many subjects using art to help the students learn. After 3 years in West Covina and driving to Irvine, I was able to get a job in Fountain Valley teaching third grade. How I loved it.

During these teaching years I saw the need for a mnemonic method to teach multiplication and division so I created one and Memory Joggers was born. During the summers I wrote a Memory Tips for Math book, developed an Add/Subtract Learning System including a CD, wrote 2 activity books, 2 writing books, originated a States & Capitals memory system and was a popular speaker at teacher conventions all over the U.S.

After 8 years of happy teaching, I retired to devote more time to Memory Joggers. And now here I am, almost 87, still running the business and helping children learn. Yes, I believe the Universe conspires with us to be our best selves.

Love of Books, in the Family Genes

My first memory of books was in Anaheim, CA. I was around 3 and Mom gave me this large Teddy Bear book that was old, very old. It had belonged to my Aunt Virginia,  Dot and Bud. The red hard cover was faded and frayed. I liked looking at the pictures as my mom read the rhymes to me. But there was one page all about a bad bear who had a knife and was threatening another little bear. It frightened me and I hated it.  One day  when I was alone, I took my pencil and scribbled all over the bad bear so he couldn’t hurt anyone. I knew I shouldn’t make marks on book pages, but this was different. I had to stop the evil. I believe this was the first time I’d ever seen anything bad and it made an impression on me. Continue reading

World War II

 Japanese Bomb Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941
It was a Sunday morning and we had our radio on in the background like we always did, (no TV in those days!) and suddenly there was an interruption in the program and the announcement came that the Japanese had sunk many of our ships and destroyed much of Pearl Harbor. We were absolutely shocked to hear that thousands of our service men were killed. I remember feeling very frightened because I saw the fear on my parent’s faces. They had talked about Hitler in Europe and hoped we wouldn’t have to go to war. But now it was different.

Uncle Sam Wants You!

My brother and his wife came over and also my sister and her husband. Our family sat huddled around the radio for the entire day talking about what might happen next. Could the Japanese get as far as Calif.? I remember my brother who was 22, saying he was joining the Army and I was afraid for him. It’s a day I will never forget.

Bud fought in France and Germany and then was on his way to Japan when the Atomic Bomb was dropped and Japan surrendered. He was lucky to have lived through it all without being wounded. I wrote to him and remember feeling very worried about his safety.  It was very cold in France so I started knitting a khaki colored scarf for him. I just kept knitting until it was very, very long! When he received it he said he loved it because he could wrap it around his neck a lot of times to keep warm. He sent me a little charm from a city called Toule in France for my charm bracelet. All the girls wore charm bracelets and kept adding more charms to them.

Save Rubber

Patriotism
We knew there was a war going on in Europe with Hitler trying to take over all the countries, but it was such a shock to learn that Japan wanted to do the same thing. A few days after Pearl Harbor, President Franklin D. Roosevelt, declared war on Japan and also Germany. Everyone’s life in the U.S. changed after that. All the young men were anxious to defend their country and everyone pulled together to help in any way they could. It was a very patriotic time when people were proud of their country and knew we could defeat the enemy. No one opposed the war because we knew if we didn’t fight, our country could be next.

The war years were very patriotic years. Everyone wanted to do their part to help the war effort. I remember saving tin foil from gum wrappers and forming it into a ball and then turning it in at a collection box at school. They took the aluminum foil and melted it down to make aluminum for airplanes. We also saved anything rubber to help make rubber tires for the vehicles.   To help our country financially, everyone bought savings bonds. The money was used to help our country fight the war.

Rationing
I also remember food and gas rationing. Everyone used less so our soldiers would have plenty of food and gas for their trucks. Each family received a coupon book for the month. We couldn’t buy butter so we bought oleomargarine. It was sealed in a plastic pouch and was white. There was a little capsule of food coloring inside and you popped it and then massaged the oleo until it turned yellow. I loved doing it.

Sugar was rationed too so we didn’t have many desserts or cookies. Gasoline was rationed and people had a hard time getting back and forth from work. Everyone had Victory Gardens in their back yards. We grew vegetables and had chickens for the eggs. Everyone used less so our soldiers could have plenty of food and gas for their trucks. I never remember anyone complaining about doing without. We were so proud we could do our part for the war effort.

Our Family
Since we lived near the Pacific Coast, we heard that our government had placed large anti-aircraft guns up and down the beaches along our coastline. My older sister who was 24, volunteered to help out by driving trucks to the different gun locations where the soldiers were, and giving them supplies and coffee and cookies.

I remember my mom and sister putting tan colored liquid on their legs instead of nylon stockings. (Nylon was used in the war effort. ) Their legs looked all streaky from the liquid and my sis said she was going to sit in the sun and get a tan on her legs. Tanning your skin became very popular.

I remember Mom hanging a little flag with one blue star in our window. It meant we had one person in our family fighting in the war. Nearly everyone had a flag with 1, 2 or sometimes 3 stars. If you saw a flag with a gold star, you knew their loved one had died.

Air Raids
My dad was an air-raid warden. At night when we heard the air-raid sirens I was always very scared. We never knew if it was for real or just a test. We would pull down all our shades so no light showed and huddle around the radio.  Dad put on his uniform and went around from house to house on our block, making sure everyone had their lights off or at least their shades pulled so no light could be seen. That way if Japanese planes came over they wouldn’t be able to see where our cities were. Thank goodness the Japanese never got over to the U.S.

In Southern Calif. there were a lot of defense plants, (factories that made airplanes). The buildings were covered with camouflage netting on the sides and roofs. The roofs looked like tiny farms and farmland from the air, this was done to fool the Japanese so they wouldn’t bomb the factories if they flew over. My dad worked at one of the defense plants making airplanes.

Buy War Bonds

Savings Bonds
To help our country financially, everyone bought savings bonds. The money was used to help our country fight the war. I was in grade school during the war and remember bringing 4 quarters every week to the teacher, and she would give me 4 “savings stamps” that I pasted into a little book. When the book was filled up with $18.75 worth of stamps, we got a “$25.00 Savings Bond”. After the war we cashed in the bonds and received $25.00. So, how much interest did we make on our investment? And how many weeks did it take to fill the book? (This is the “teacher” in me talking now!!)

Plant a Victory Garden

Victory Gardens
Another way we helped fight the war, was by having a “Victory Garden”. We grew a lot of our own vegetables so there would be more food for the soldiers. We lived in Temple City and had a large back yard. I remember watching our carrots, onions and lettuce pop up. It seemed to taste better from our garden. Nearly everyone grew food in their gardens.  It was the patriotic thing to do.

We also had chickens.  It was my job to feed the chickens and gather the eggs. I loved animals and one of the chickens was my pet. She was white and I named her June. She would sit on my lap next to my kitty, Spicy and my toy fox terrier, Spotty. They all got along fine. 

Japanese Concentration Camps
During the first part of World War II when we went to war with Japan, the U.S. government was afraid the Japanese people who lived along the Pacific Coast might be a threat to our country, so they went around and sent all these families to concentration camps. There was a camp at the Santa Anita Race Track up near Pasadena. They closed the horse races and fenced the area and put up temporary houses in the parking lot. I remember looking out the window of our car and seeing children and adults peering out of the fence. I didn’t think too much about it since I was young, but later I felt it was a very unfair thing to do. Nearly all of these Japanese people were born here in the U.S. and were American citizens.  They didn’t want Japan to take over the U.S. They lost their homes and property and had a very difficult time after the war was over.  There were camps all over the west coast and Bob, my brother-in-law who was an electrician, helped wire many of the camps.

Propaganda Posters
The government published posters instilling hatred for the enemy. By stirring up these feelings, they knew people would respond and help on the national front. I remember in school buying savings stamps and saving aluminum foil so I could do my part to knock out Hitler in Germany, Mussolini in Italy and Hirohito in Japan. We hated them and loved the U.S. It gave us hope that we would defeat the enemy and remain free.

Navajo Code Talkers
After the war we heard the story about the Navajo Code Talkers. When the war was on, the Japanese were excellent decoders and no matter what type of code the U.S. used, the Japanese military could decode it and know what we were planning to do. There were some Navajo Indians in the military and they said the Navajo language was very difficult to decode and only a few people knew their language. There were 29 Navajo Indians at Camp Pendleton here in Calif. who became the ones who sent coded messages the Japanese couldn’t figure out. They helped win the war!

As far as animals helping in the war, many were used. Over 200,000 pigeons sent messages and dolphins were trained by the Navy to use their natural sonar to find underwater mines. I’m sure horses and dogs were used too.

Women in the Workplace
It was interesting after the war, because women had been the ones working in the defense plants and taking over the jobs of all the men who were away fighting. Many women continued to work. Before then, very few women worked but stayed home as wives and mothers. Women were beginning to become more independent and realize they were strong. No longer were women looked at as the “weaker sex.” In my family, my mom was a smart, strong woman who ran the finances in our family, had her own Beauty Shop with employees and still had time and energy for me.

The War Ends
I remember the day the war was over with Germany in May 1945. Everyone celebrated and ran out to the street happy and excited. A few months later we did it again when the war with Japan was over in Sept. 1945. I knew my brother would soon be home. Life would now return to normal.

 

 

Poco Loco in Big Bear

The year was 1943 and my family had recently rented a cabin in Big Bear for a week in the summer and fell in love with the mountains and trees. It seemed to be a place where we could forget about the horrors of the war and trust our Bud was safe in Europe. Mom and Dad loved the idea of a cabin of their own. Their best friends were Frank & Besse Stever and they too were excited about the prospect of buying a cabin together. They found a little place and the 4 of them bought it. Dad was working at Lockheed Defense plant so maybe that’s how we were able to pay our half.

The cabin needed some work so Frank and Dad pitched in and added a nice porch and finished off the loft upstairs with a place for lots of beds so our entire family could come and enjoy the mountains. Frank & Besse didn’t have children but were always a part of our family.  Dad named the cabin Poco Loco = A little crazy! And that’s probably what they thought they were, for buying it.

The railing and porch turned out nicely. I remember Jackie and I sleeping on cots outside on the porch in the summer, watching shooting stars.

I was around 9 or 10 when we started coming to Big Bear. I remember in the summer going horseback riding nearby and playing on the huge boulders up the hill from us. In the winter Bobby and I would take our sled and go sliding down the hill lickety split! I remember once when we got snowed in and I missed school because we couldn’t get back home to Temple City. The fireplace inside was a perfect spot to gather, drink cocoa and read, do puzzles and play games. What a cozy family memory. I was lucky to have such a fun loving family!

Drove by our cabin in 2013 and it was recognizable and suddenly all the sweet memories came rushing back.  Wish we still owned it.

1939 World’s Fair San Francisco

 

The Golden Gate International Exposition (1939-1940), held at San Francisco, California’s Treasure Island, was a World’s Fair that celebrated, among other things, the city’s two newly built bridges, The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge and Golden Gate Bridge. The theme of this fair was “Pageant of the Pacific” primarily showcasing the goods of nations bordering the Pacific Ocean. The theme was physically symbolized by “The Tower of the Sun” and a giant 80 foot statue of Pacifica, goddess of the Pacific Ocean.

My Dad was very spontaneous. He was a fun loving guy and loved providing Mom and me with surprises. I remember when he came in and said “Pack your bags, we’re off to the World’s Fair.” I had no idea what a World’s Fair was but Dad made it sound exciting.  Our ’39 Ford was new and dad was anxious to get on the road. When we arrived in downtown SF, Dad had booked us a room in a hotel. I’d never stayed in a hotel before. The room overlooked the busy street and I was content just to sit and watch all the cars and people on the street below.

I remember the beautiful fountain and tall statues. The fair was all about new and modern industries, architecture and inventions. I vividly remember at the Sun Maid Raisin exhibit they gave out little boxes of raisins which I thought were just the best thing ever. It’s funny what children remember. I do remember seeing houses of the future that were all glass and modern.

The fair was huge and it seemed like we walked miles and saw it all. At night we’d crash in the hotel room and off again to see more. The fountains, lights, and statues were all amazing new experiences for me. Mom was always the practical one but I’m glad my Dad loved to do out of the ordinary things. Maybe we couldn’t afford it but it was an experience I’d never forget. Thanks Dad! And thanks Mom for teaching me to be wise about money.

Discovering a New Path

July 5, 2016….it was a long time coming but back in September of 2015, I decided I could no longer travel the dark and rocky path with deep crevices and danger at every turn. I knew there had to be another road but the direction wasn’t clear. I made the decision to step off this path that led no where and make my own way. It wasn’t easy, yet I knew there must be a road to take me to safety.  Sunlight appeared and at last I found my new home and felt the peace of security.

I’ve been smiling for the past six months, just a comfortable, happy smile that feels warm and safe. My little home is just the right size for Cindy and me. We have everything we need and feel love here.

The support and love from my family and friends made my transition smooth. I don’t know what I’d do without them. And now I’m meeting new friends and enjoying creative time in my large art studio. Teaching watercolor to Dana, Sarah and Chase is fun. I also teach my Book Club friends how to paint. Then there’s my art Journaling group where we have lunch and paint or write in our art journals. Several times a month I meet with a group of women here in Laguna Woods called The Memory Makers to sort photos or scrapbook and share ideas of creative ways to share the precious memories of our family.

My life is on the right track and I’m doing what is right for me. In fact, I’m “free to be me,” my new words I live by. I feel alive and no longer bound by the negativity of the past.

Footnote:
2/9/19…..It’s been 3 years and Cindy and I couldn’t be happier. I feel I’m called to encourage my family and friends and create and write. I hope these memoir entries will inspire and be meaningful to all who read them. My legacy to you.

The Story of my Blue Sapphire Ring

Perhaps you have noticed this lovely blue sapphire ring I wear now. This is the amazing story of my ring. My Aunt Grace Bancroft (who had no children) willed this ring to me because my birthstone is sapphire. She told me this story.

A cousin on her mother’s side, was a very independent little girl, and at about the age of 10, her parents kicked her out of the house. She lived on the streets in New Jersey. She slept in a doorway but a kind woman who lived there let her sleep in her apartment. But she had to work selling newspapers on the street. Her name was Babe. At least that was the name she was called on the street. She hung out with the boys who sold newspapers and learned how to gamble and win! She kept saving her winnings because she had a dream.

When she grew up, she wanted to go to Monte Carlo and gamble. Babe realized her dream in her teens and boarded a ship headed for France. On the ship she met a very rich man and later married him and lived a long happy life in New York. This ring was her engagement ring.

In the 1940’s she took my Aunt Grace to France and to Monte Carlo. I can remember as a child hearing Aunt Grace talk about Babe. She must have been a strong, wonderful woman.

The ring is set in a platinum setting with 2 small diamonds on each side. All I know about her is this story and her name, Babe Ritchey. I wear it now and feel my distant relative’s spirit. I believe it shows the tenacity of our family and how even unfortunate circumstances can be turned into beauty by the belief in your soul.

Serendipity

2014….A year to observe the beauty of the moment and capture it in pictures and words.
S E R E N D I P I T Y…….
In the past I’ve always picked a word or phrase for the year, that made me feel I have a lot of work to do to achieve it. No, I don’t want to do that. I am who I am and I want to live my life, discovering serendipity, observing the miracles.

Serendipity, noun, the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
“a fortunate stroke of serendipity”
synonyms:    (happy) chance, (happy) accident, fluke; luck, good luck, good fortune, fortuity, providence; happy coincidence
“the consequence of serendipity is sometimes a brilliant discovery”

Yes, SERENDIPITY will be my word for 2014. I’ve always loved that word. It sounds fun and spills off the tongue in a melodious way. I’ll be looking for those serendipity type of occurrences that bring a smile to my heart.

Spirituality….
Year of Living in Spirit. Open to serendipity, creating in Flow, listening for guidance, walking hand in hand with Divine Spirit.

Mission Statement….
I see myself growing even stronger with even more energy to accomplish what I was put on earth to do.

Creativity….
Ii see myself making great strides with my artwork, traveling, learning new processes, meeting new people. Looking for serendipity in my artwork like the painting above. I had nothing in mind but color and then I found a bird. More birds appeared and then the trees. How fun! Such an example of serendipity!

Quietly observing a moment of serendipity…
My kitty
Sun warming her body
Rolling from side to side
Absorbing
Savoring
Living in the moment

Me
Relaxing in my chair
Listening
Feeling free
Observing
Looking out at the trees and grass and feeling peace

What a delightful time
Together in the now
It may only last a minute or two
But I can take it with me
All day.

The Pink Crayon Saga

This story has been told so many times it hardly seems necessary to include it, yet it was a life altering event and made an impact on me.

I was probably in about the third grade at Roosevelt Grammar School in San Gabriel, Calif. when this obsession occurred.  I say “obsession” because I have always loved color and have been intrigued by the many different hues in a crayon box.  Coloring was my creative outlet.  There was only one problem.  My box of crayons only had the basic 8 colors and Carl’s box had at least 24 beautiful crayons.

Carl sat in the next row, a couple of seats behind me.  I can remember walking down the aisle on my way out to recess and seeing all of his crayons carelessly strewn across his desk.  I thought if I had all those colors, I would certainly keep them neatly inside the box.  Day after day, I looked at the crayons and wished they were mine.

And then it happened. One day I noticed the most beautiful shade of pink I had ever seen in a crayon. It was right on the edge of his desk. Suddenly a plan quickly developed in my mind. Carl had already left the room to go to recess, as well as the other children and the teacher.  Oh how I wanted that crayon.  It was so easy, I just let my fingers graze his desk and suddenly the pink crayon was inside the palm of my hand.  I walked quickly out the door checking again to see if anyone had seen me.  The crayon went safely into my pocket.

I knew I couldn’t use it at school, but I fantasized about all the beautiful drawings I could make at home using the pink crayon.  I rationalized that Carl would never miss it.  Boys don’t use pink anyway.

All the way home on the bus I kept fingering the crayon in my pocket.  But the guilt started to creep into my heart.  My mother trusted me and I knew how wrong it was to take something that belonged to someone else.  I began to feel very dirty and the pink crayon wasn’t as important as it once was.       At home when I was alone, I took out the crayon and wanted to try it out, but I felt so ashamed, I couldn’t even make a mark with it.  I carefully wrapped the pink crayon in my hankie and took it back the next day.

Carl had never missed it.  I could hardly wait until recess so I could undo my terrible deed.  I never got caught but I learned without a doubt, that thievery would never be a part of my life.  I knew it was more important to be able to live with yourself and hold your head up high.

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