1955

1955. 

I was nine.
We got our first black and white t.v.
with two channels that went off the air late evening.

Our phone was attached to the wall.
When we picked it up,
a voice (a real one) said "Number, please?"
and connected us. We had a party line,
two rings were ours, three rings someone else.

We had inkwells and nib pens
and had to pen a line of O’s,
learning cursive, that resulted in holes in my paper.
Remember blotters? To dry the ink on the page?
I marvel we didn't spill the inkwells.

The teacher dictated the word “paw” to write down,
and I fell in love with words.

I had a red felt circle skirt with a white felt horse
appliqued on it. Very en trende.

I slept in a built in bed in a cubby, filled with
all my library books – my bed of dreams.
Then I got moved upstairs,
and it became my baby sister's bed.

She was born that year, to great family excitement. 
She was all dressed up in a flouncy lace dress
I was plain and freckled with stringy hair,
and jealous. I had asked for a sister, but
was now reconsidering.

My face tells the tale. LOL.