A Gift of Memories from Grandpa Stan

A Gift of Memories
Childhood

Full Name: Stan Kenton Alderson

Father: Donald Maynard Alderson                   

Birthplace Oak Hill KS              Birthdate July 2^nd 1916
Mother: Madeline Z Sorrel           Birthplace Aurora        KS           Birthdate July 9 1922

Were you named after someone and why did they give you that name? Named after a 50’s Big Band Leader Stan Kenton

How old was your mom when you were born?

26

Who did they say you looked like?

My Mom

Did you ever have a nickname?

No

What important event happened the day you were born?

I don’t know

Where were you born?

Date: October 5^th 1945

Birthplace: Clay Center KS

Did you have any brothers or sisters and what are their names?

5 Brothers , 2 Sisters: Marjean; Blair; Sally; Brad; Jerry; Robert; Joel.

Did you ever fight with your brothers and sisters? Who treated you the nicest, and who the worst?

Yes to the fights.  Marjean was the nicest because she had a natural talent for it.

Did you have to share your room and your things?

Yes, every thing got shared and hand me down.

Growing up

  

What was the best birthday you ever had and why?

Probably my 21^st, in Salt Lake City, there was no one to celebrate with but still a great day.

Can you remember your favorite birthday present?

Cap pistols and toy trucks when I was a young boy.

How much did the tooth fairy leave you for a tooth?  I don’t recall ever getting much more than a quarter but in those days that was a weeks worth of candy.

How old were you when you got an allowance and how much was it?  We never got an allowance that I can recall and if we did it wasn’t much. There wasn’t a lot of extra cash left after feeding and clothing 8 kids..

How did your parents punish you? Did they spank you? Who was stricter? Yes, Yes and my Dad was definitely the enforcer

 What was the naughtiest things you ever did?

Playing with fireworks when I was 7 or so yrs. old, and started a grass fire the fire dept., had to put out.

What were your favorite games and toys?

Always enjoyed getting western style pistols and holsters, and baseball equipment.

Did you ever go sledding, skiing, or skating? What sports did you like? Were you on sports teams?

Sledding for sure. Baseball was my fave, played on teams from 10 years old until I was a senior in high school.

Did you get to stay up as late as you wanted to and watch TV or listen to radio or records?

Not really, tv stations stopped broadcasting at 10 pm and we didn’t have our own devices like today.

Did you ever argue about your bedtime?

Not much point to argue, there were rules and you didn’t test your dad’s tolerance level.

Did you ever go to the hospital? Have stitches? Break bones?  Never had to experience any of that.

Were you scared of doctors or shots?

Never been a fan of either, ever.

What kind of transportation did you have? Did you ever ride in a plane bus train or boat? What else?

A car. And A tractor. A plane as an adult to visit you.

Did you ever run away from home or hide from your mom and dad? Why?

Don’t recall

Where was your favorite place to go when you were angry?

Pear Tree

What chores did you have to do?

Dishes, Trash, Mow

When you given money what did you spend it on?  What could you buy for a quarter?

Candy, Soft Drinks Movies for a Quarter

Did you have a pet? What was its name?

Dog Doesn’t recall name

What did you most like about your best friend? Did you have fights and secrets?

He lived across the street and had 5 Brothers and 2 sisters and were Catholic

Did kids ever tease you? Was there a bully who picked on you?

I’m sure.

Your House Growing Up

What did your house look like?

1200 Sq ft Ranch style in a housing development.

How big was your yard?

Small

  

How many rooms did it have? Did it have an attic or a creepy room that scared you?

3BR, 2B 6 total rooms

No 

How big was your room? What did it look like?

Shared with brothers, 2 sent of bunk beds 1 dresser and a collective closet for all our stuff.

  

Could you keep it messy if you wanted?

Yes 4 boys, need I say more?

How many people lived at your house?

10

What was your favorite thing in the whole house and do you still have it? Watch TV and Eat

Celebrations

What did you usually do on Thanksgiving?

Family meal, gathering

Was your mom a good cook? What did she make best? Yes, She was good with fried chicken

 

Did you chop wood or help with Christmas preparations?

Yes Helped Decorate

Do you remember a special gift you made for someone?

Did Santa come to your house?

No and Yes, Barely

Did you ever see him or talk to him? Only at the Department store.

  

Did you hang your stockings, what did Santa leave in them? I’m sure we did

Did you have a Xmas tree? How did you decorate it?

Yes Decorated with colored lights, tinsel, ornaments.

What did you usually do on Christmas?

Maternal Grandparents farm or at home.

Did you make cards on Valentines day?

No

  

Did you ever give or get flowers or candy from a boy/girl?

No

Did the Easter bunny come to visit? Did you have egg hunts?

Egg hunts with cousins.

Did you celebrate 4^th of July? How? Did you have fireworks?  Yes, with a town firework show.

Did you dress up for Halloween or make your own costume?  What was your favorite?

I’m sure we did. Don’t recall what the costumes might have been.

Did you trick or treat?

Yes

What traditions did your family have?

Candy swapping

Did you ever have a big family reunion?

Yes

What schools did you go to?

Oak Hill one room schoolhouse, Raymond Temple grade school, Walker Junior High, J.F.K High School

Did you get good grades?

Not Really

  

What subjects did you like? Hate?

Hated History and liked Gym

Did you walk to school or ride a bus?

Walked

Did you ever tease your teachers or play jokes on them?

Not in my day.

  

Did you play hooky?

Never that brave. 

Did you have lots of homework?

Not really

Did you travel growing up?

Yes Trips To Kansas to see my maternal grandparents.

What was your favorite trip?

To my GP’s Farm

Did you go on family vacations? 

A few, mainly back to KS

Did you go fishing or swimming?

Yes

What was the longest distance you ever went on a trip?

Trips to CA to KS over 1500 miles

Did you ever take a trip by yourself?

No

Did you go the State Fair or amusement park?

Amusement park

How old were you when you learned to drive?

16

Did you have your own car? What was it?

Yes, a 1974 Pontiac LeMans

 Did your parents ever ground you? What for?

Yes

What did you and your friends do on weekends?

Did Boy things like Baseball, BB Guns, Fishing

Did you ever get into trouble with your friends? What happened? Race down the hill the Train in Oak Hill Kansas

What did you think about most as a teenager?

Playing with friends.

What time did you have to be at home at night?

6:00P.M. as a kid 9:00P.M. as a teen

How old were you when you started dating?  Did you ever have a boy/girl turn you down when you asked for a date?  How did you react?

17 years old, of course, Nothing new there I was shy.

How did you feel when you met your date’s parents? No never met parents

Who is the boy/girl you remember the most?

She was a foot taller than me

When you met grandpa/grandma where did you meet and how old were you?  27 years old, paying my soft water bill.

Were you serious from the start, or did you still date other people?

No and No

Where did you go on your first date? What was it like? Out to dinner, promising.

What was your favorite thing to do together?

Outdoorsy things; fishing; gardening; camping.

Did your parents like him/her right away?

I think so.

 Did you ever have a big fight while you were dating?  All the time.

When did you ask him/her to marry you? Where were you?  What did you do to propose?  How did he/she respond?

Concordia KS I don’t really remember

What was your wedding like? When and where was it? Simple family only wedding In our rental house.

Did anything funny happen that day?

I’m sure but not sure what It was.

Did you have a honeymoon? Where did you go?

Not at the time, a year or so later.

Where did you first live together?

18^th St. Concordia,KS

What was your first job?

Grocery store night stocker

What was the worst job you ever held?

Plastic manufacturing extrusion operator.

What is your favorite funny story about the first years you were married?

She thought she was boss.

When and where were your children born?

Sarah: Concordia KS

Josh: Marysville KS

About my parents

What was my mom/dad like as a baby?

No clue

Did they get into mischief and get spanked?

No

What chores did you make them do? Did you give allowance?

No chores no allowance too poor.

Did they behave in school and get good grades?

Yes or I had to do dishes for a month

What thing did they like to do best?

Create and pretend.

Did they keep a clean room?

 Yes

Did they ever do something special or surprise you to make you happy or proud?

Yes

What will you always remember about them?

Sarah wanted to be grown up, have her own money.

If you could…

If you could spend a week doing anything you wanted, what would it be like? In the woods walking, in the moment.

If you could, which age of your life would you most like to revisit and why?

18 to 22 years old The Age of Aquarius—Peace Love and Happiness

If you were elected president what would you do for our country?

Fire every elected official over the age of 50

What do you feel is the most significant change to happen in your lifetime?

Taking personal responsibility for your life choices.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world even someone who is dead, who would it be?  Why?

Albert Einstein because he was much more than a scientist

Can you tell me a funny story about my family?

I don’t have one

Is there a place you always wanted to travel but never made it?

I don’t know of a place. Always seem to be where I need to be.

What is the most favorite place you have ever traveled? The coast of Oregon, Lincoln city

What is your best memory?

Living in Salt Lake city Utah and going to the university.

What advice do you have for me as I grow older and make my way in the world?

Be honest, reliable, and accountable.