A Creepy Guy with a Cape was following us!

written by Bob   Danielle was nine, I think, n she asks if we could plan a Halloween party for her friends. I lived n Swissvale n my tiny apartment was way too small for a party, although you'd be surprised how many crammed in there. So I asked Mom if we could invade her house, the one I grew up in, for a night. She said sure, she would go to her sister's house. We made the invitations n planned a total Halloween themed party for kids. We made the basement into a haunted house, had spooky games, odd activities n played Bloody Ghost in the back yard, which was the darkest, thickest woods in Monroeville. (Bloody Ghost, one person hides in the dark while the others bravely split up n find the bloody ghost, yell BLOODY GHOST n said bloody ghost chases everyone back to base n first one tagged is then "it." real spooky fun game for kids n Dads) So the night went great n was a great time. Three adults n 15 9 year old girls. Part of the itinerary was at the stroke of midnight we would walk through the "haunted" neighborhood then go back n   watch Goosebumps movies n fall asleep. Half the kids are still in costume, the other half are in pajamas. They are wild at this point, running through yards n not listening. I thought how to logically get 15 laughing, out of control kids to listen n behave n NOT play Ding Dong Ditch, which I learned that evening was ringing doorbells n running away. The best option I could think of was to call them all together n explain that a creepy looking guy carrying a sickle and wearing a cape was following us so everyone just stick together 

n let's hurry home where it's safe. Worked like a charm!! Funny, the kids never saw this guy, who also had fangs, but the adults always saw him jumping behind bushes.

 Then the cops showed up. Some moron looked out their window, saw three adults n 15 kids, half in costume n half in pajamas, n called the Police. They shine the spotlight n the kids all ran to the car,

"Are you guys here to catch the 

man in the cape who is after us?"

 These kids were scared for all the wrong reasons!! The cops asks 

"A cape? What is he Superman?"

  
 I said Oh no, this guy got fangs n carries a sickle. I then explained to the kids that there is no creepy guy with a sickle, that I lied to control you screaming kids and the Police are here because you guys are acting up.

Me n said cop laughed pretty hard
 at the scene!

Kinda proud that my daughter had a party that Police were called to breakup at nine years old!! Cool huh? I also sometimes see some of the kids that attended now in their twenties, and they 

remember the party as 

a great childhood memory.

Some dirty bastard stole my underwear.

written by MOM   I worked at a tobacco farm where we sewed tobacco leaves together and then hung them up to dry. We took a train up to Connecticut and stayed for the summer. Buff and I traveled with my friend Donna Frankel and many other high school students from the Pittsburgh area. We were all looking forward to a fun-filled summer and a new experience.  The work was boring; the pay was minimal; but still it was a great summer. We made many new friends. Along with the good friends were a few rather uncouth types like Virgie. Virgie pronounced her name VIR' GEE. She made these ridiculous accusations.

 "Some dirty bastard stole my underwear."  

 Of course Buffy and I kept this quote for many many years. "SOME DIRTY BASTARD STOLE MY UNDERWEAR!!!!"  This came in handy when we'd lose our glasses/our keys/ our purses/ anything and everything. SOME DIRTY BASTARD STOLE MY KEYS!!!

Camping Memories

Camping Memories

written by Amy     I am so grateful Mom and Dad taught me the passion of camping and the beauty of nature. They didn't stay home watching TV much. They met on a canoe trip and stayed active while my brother Bobby and I were growing up. Among other things, we belonged to a canoeing organization called Sylvan Canoe Club on the Allegheny River. Dad taught whitewater canoeing and kayaking and he served as president of the club. We canoed and ate dinner at the club most Wednesdays during the summer. Just a side note, back in the 70s, Dad and one of his friends even traveled to Georgia where they taught whitewater canoeing to the cast of the movie "Deliverance." Dad was part of making that movie possible.

Me, center, camping with Jan & Judy Smith and FRANNIE

Back to the story, every Fourth of July, a group of friends from Sylvan Canoe Club camped at Pymatuning Lake in beautiful Penn’s Woods (Pennsylvania). I learned how to pitch the tent and build a little pyramid out of twigs to start a fire, adding sticks and logs. I loved singing around the campfire and roasting marshmallows. We hiked, swam in the lake, canoed and sailed. We dumped the canoe and had a blast “canoe swamping.” We cooked pancakes and bacon on the fire for breakfast. We had cheeseburgers and we wrapped potatoes and corn on the cob in foil and threw them in the fire for dinner. Great smokey smells. Exhausted after a long day and tucked in our sleeping bags, we heard crickets chirping outside our tent. We heard the pitter pat, pitter pat of a light rain striking the tent while we remained cozy and dry. 

What wonderful memories!

Now it was my turn to take my family camping.

My husband Mark and I set out enthusiastically with our seven-year-old daughter Keriann and her little BFF Alyssa, who was five. It was the Fourth of July weekend and we planned to camp in the magnificent, peaceful National Forest near Mammoth Cave in KY. Problem number one, peaceful camping and the Fourth of July apparently cannot coexist anymore. Problem number two, the National Forest was full. Not to worry, there was another campground nearby called Jellystone. This campground seemed just a little different from the camping I remembered. The owners of this camp didn’t seem to believe in nature. They stripped everything green away. Who needs trees? Who needs grass? This campground offered a bulldozed wide open area with no shade and tiny campsites, designed so no one could wander more than 20 feet from any neighbors. And where were the trees?

Instead of a lake, the girls were thrilled to learn the campground had a pool, so we got dressed in our bathing suits right away. We knew the way. 

All we had to do was 
head toward the screaming!! 

  Yes, the children were having a grand old time and the two I brought joined right in. It’s just that the pool, like our campsite, was tiny. Needless to say, it was a tad bit on the crowded side.

It was impossible to swim horizontally without bumping into a kid or two. I’d have to try vertical swimming. Yep, the best exercise I could get was bobbing up and down. Every couple of minutes I got kicked or bumped by a child. Only occasionally would the offender apologize. I bobbed up and down for about 15 minutes until I felt black and blue enough for the day. At least the girls were having fun.

After the swimming venture, we walked back to the campsite to try to relax after the chaos at the pool. But there were constant interruptions.

NO CAMPGROUND WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT A

 LOUD SPEAKER SYSTEM!

And this campground had an earsplitting one. We couldn’t understand a single word because, like Charlie Brown’s teacher, it was muffled and had extremely loud background noise. The employees were incessantly blasting instructions to each other or paging people. Of course we couldn’t make out what they said, but this shrieking, God-awful noise pierced through our ears.

Although clearly there were employees manning the loud speakers, no one bothered to clean the kind of well-used bathrooms, shall I say. Garbage cans overflowed and there were plenty of other signs of neglect. The girls didn’t care. They were in their glory playing. They pretended they were neighbors, but their choice of venue? They didn’t want to play by a campfire or in the tent. No, they chose to play in the car. Keriann pretended she lived in the front seat and Alyssa pretended she lived in the back seat. They were happy as could be.

    

Soon we gathered sticks to get a fire going. We were all hungry and I had aspirations of cooking a delicious dinner. It was getting dark quickly so I sat there with newspaper, matches, and the firewood we bought for $5.00 at the camp store. I’d built many campfires before, so I couldn’t understand why the firewood just wouldn’t stay lit. For at least 45 minutes, I tried to build a fire to no avail. I never heard of non-flammable wood. Frustrated, I drove to the camp store to buy some lighter fluid. That should do the trick, right?

WRONG. Over and over again I tried to slowly build this fire right. And over and over again, the wood wouldn’t stay lit. Fires blazed all around us, but not ours. Frustrated beyond words, I tried once again, lighting yet another match.

HOLY HELL!!! 
MY THUMB CAUGHT ON FIRE! 
I had unknowingly spilled lighter fluid on my hands and I screamed a swear word at the top of my lungs that echoed through the family camp. It was even louder and definitely much clearer than the stupid sound speaker system. It was not muffled. It was very clear what I yelled in front of Keriann and her adorable little friend. I felt guilty shouting this bad word. But let’s review this. I was sitting there with  
non-flammable wood
and a 
flammable thumb
  

That was the end of the stinkin’ fire and little Alyssa had learned a brand new word. 

A teacher at heart, I just love educating children!

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches would suffice and I stuck my thumb in the ice cooler all night long.

Hurting badly and frustrated, I felt defeated. But I stopped and forced myself to focus on something positive. Soon the fireworks would start. We didn’t know where, but suddenly we heard the bangs and pops. We looked all around and something caught my eye. Way off in the distance. Way far away. Something was blocking our view.

Trees! Yes, there were a few clumps of trees after all. 

It was like the only trees in the whole campground 

blocked our view of the fireworks.  

We tried to scurry over to a place where we could see them, you know, as fast as a person lugging a cooler with an injured thumb could scurry. But by the time we moved closer, the show was over. Oh well. At least I was reassured there were several trees left in the world.

We managed to stay for three nights. Looking back, I probably should have gone to the nearest emergency room. It hurt like crazy for days. It throbbed when I tried to distance myself from the cooler. The girls happily played in the car for four days straight, emerging only for a food or pool break. They kept saying 

it was the best camping trip ever!

I guess my great camping memories are slightly different 
from their great camping memories.  
Childhood camping memories are the best. Right?

Alyssa Kisor Moses    I loved your writing! HA! I remember that trip really well! It never dawned on me as a kid that the campsite was so commercial, but I can definitely see it now. The way you described it is hilarious. I remember playing in the car with Kerry and that being the best part of the trip! Ha! I also remember reciting to my mom what you said when you burned your thumb, and not knowing it was swearing until I saw the look on her face and heard you laughing! Thanks for taking me camping and so many hikes over the years

P.S. If any reader of this article happens to catch their thumb on fire, even though I am a nonmedical, nonprofessional person who probably doesn't have any business recommending anything, I still suggest you schlep the cooler and your thumb to a burn unit of a medical treatment facility. Cooler therapy is just my idea.

I live in the Pittsburgh area and am now the mother of two amazing daughters, the mimi of three awesome grandbabies. I work for Wesley Family Services and I just got a job at Advanced Living Options.. I love adventures, hiking every day, traveling, camping at Deer Valley YMCA Camp, writing The Nuthouse News and writing, especially humor stories. I enjoy blogging, riding trains and helmet babies. (My 7-month old grandson Mason just got a helmet.) I was engaged to David Cassidy.  I mean, he didn't really know that we were engaged, but I would have married him in a minute, but I never got to talk to him in person. I am heartbroken that he passed away. Seriously HEARTBROKEN.
My grandbabies are absolutely AMAZING. Schoepkes, Mariah Bella (August 12, 2013), Mason Anthony (March 5, 2017) and Maverick Austin (May 31, 2019). 

--

Amy L. Kriss
Phone: 412-721-1078

FAREWELL, KERIANN (the saddest story ever!)

Written by MOM right after DAD died suddenly on Valentine's Day in 1992. When she first wrote it, I read it once, sobbing with tears streaming down my face. And then I put it away for many, many years. It might have been 20 years!!! I just couldn't bear to read it again. Yes I know, no one said life was fair, but this WASN'T FAIR.  

DAD WANTED TO LIVE AND HE TRIED SO HARD!!! 

He followed his heart-healthy diet and tough exercise program perfectly. I've never met anyone else who was so determined and disciplined. So he beat the heart disease and was struck down by acute leukemia. He didn't even know he had leukemia. Heart breaking! And selling the boat, named after my daughter, The Keriann, was just agonizing! SO MUCH PAIN. Once again, MOM came through on her poignant writing showing what an amazingly talented woman she is.  

This is the saddest story I ever read!

FAREWELL, KERIANN 

     There she sat quietly on her trailer at Sylvan, well protected from the elements by her two 12' x 12' blue plastic tarps fastened securely at their grommets by ropes and bungy cords. A few small gashes had been ripped through the tarps by howling winds, but she was still well protected and unharmed. A heap of autumn leaves had gathered on her deck, blown in through the opening at her stern.

Lloyd and Abbie Geertz

     Lloyd and I had brought the Keriann, our twenty-two foot Catalina sailboat, down from Lake Arthur in Moraine State Park last October and had carefully parked her trailer on the lawn at Sylvan Canoe Club in Verona. We had left a few things in the cabin to be used again next year. Then Lloyd had built a wooden structure from which to hang the two huge tarps and had tied them securely to the boat, forming a cozy tent where the Keriann would spend the winter, well protected from the frigid winds, snow, and rain.

     Lloyd felt good about completing the task. He always took good care of the boat. He loved that boat, and he knew how to care for it in all weather, in fresh water, on the road as he trailed it, and, of course, in the water as he sailed it.
     The Keriann was a special friend. It had earned Lloyd's love and respect. He handled it expertly in all kinds of water - high waves, heavy winds, foul weather. He was very much at home with his boat. He was an excellent sailor.

This is Dad on the boat before The Keriann. This boat is The Beagle II.

     He looked forward all winter to the arrival of spring, when he would return to Moraine to ready the boat for its fifth season. He read many books and magazines on sailing, always learning more about it and about the different places we could sail. He hoped some day to sail to the islands in the Caribbean. We loved the Chesapeake Bay and still had many places to explore in it. Each year for the last four years we had spent a week there with a fleet of three or four boats and several good friends, no two trips to the same places. Our trips varied with the winds and with our whims. We enjoyed seeing different parts of the Bay. Before the Keriann we had had the Beagle, a 19-foot boat of less comfort and convenience, which we sailed in the Bay for several years along with our same friends.

The Beagle II with little passengers Shamus and Liam

     Lloyd had talked enthusiastically with our friends about our annual trip this year. His enthusiasm was characteristic. His blue eyes glistened more brightly and his smile was a little broader when he talked about sailing. His tone of voice reflected his spirit.

     We could never have imagined that last year's trip would be our last one. When Lloyd became ill with a cough two days after his birthday dinner at our house on Feb. 9, 1992, with Buff, Aunt Lou, David, Deby, Shamus, Liam, Erin, Lindsay, John, Bob, Tracy, Justin, and me, nobody could have guessed that three days later he'd be rushed to the hospital emergency room, where doctors would be  

unable to save his life despite all their efforts. 

His untimely death occurred on Valentine's Day 1992, 
five days after his sixty-fourth birthday.

     I knew life without Lloyd would be difficult; the boat without him would be impossible. When I reached the sad conclusion that the only logical thing to do with the Keriann was to sell her, our three good friends Don Hoecker, and Ralph and Joann Zacharias offered to drive her back to Maryland to the marina where Lloyd and I had bought her.
     One day in early May I went down to Sylvan with Bob to clean out the Keriann. We removed the tarps and the wooden structure. We unlocked the wooden hatch. There inside were the things we had left for next season. 
     There were, of course, the things that are part of the standard equipment; the rudder placed neatly on an old sheet on the starboard bunk; a paddle lying on the V-berth at the bow, always readily available for fending off a dock, paddling into a tight spot, or pushing off a sandbar; the two white square life cushions, ready for throwing to someone in the water; the seventy-five foot emergency throwline; Lloyd;s blue down sleeping bag and a few blankets; the detailed Chesapeake Bay charts; and a couple of sailing magazines. The dependable little weather radio sat on the starboard shelf.
     Next to the radio on the shelf was Lloyd's small alarm clock, set for 6:30 a.m. for arising for work when he spent nights on board. The clock was still ticking faithfully, as if to announce that it was still ready to be of service to him. There were five or six life jackets, including one for Keriann when she, Amy, and Mark sailed with us. There were the pots for morning coffee and his favorite meal on board - Zuni stew, concocted from corn, baked beans, and Mexican salsa sauce. He enjoyed serving this to guests on the boat.
     There was the ship's log, begun by Lloyd on the 1989 trip, finished by me after the trip was abruptly ended by his heart attack and trip to the hospital in Maryland.
     His whistle and foghorn were there. Three blasts on either one signalled for the ranger at Moraine to come out to Mooring 64 in his small rubber raft and shuttle us to shore at the end of a sail. They also served as warnings to other sailors who might not see us.
     The cloth drawstring bag of dishes was neatly stowed in its compartment, along with the plastic box of silverware.
     Above the V-berth on both side walls Lloyd had attached large nets. In the net on the port side was his bright yellow rain suit, and in the one on the starboard side was mine. These were ready for sudden weather changes. When Lloyd said to put on rain gear and life jackets, I never questioned him. We both knew the potential dangers on the water, and we wanted to be prepared. Just below the nets were two life-lines, one for each of us.  
We used these only one time, the day a storm came up unexpectedly. We felt quite safe, our lines attached to the Keriann during the storm. It felt good to be prepared.
     Still fastened in place above my bunk was our AM-FM radio-tapedeck that Lloyd had installed only a year or so ago. We relaxed to the tunes of Mozart or Beethoven as the Keriann gently rocked in her slip at a marina at the end of a day.
     I was overcome with sadness as I sat in the boat and sorted out the things I'd take home and those that I'd leave. I threw away a few rags and old papers and plastic water bottles. I rearranged some things and took home some others. I cleaned the table, stove, and sink. I vacuumed the carpet and upholstery. I tried to make everything tidy and clean. I reflected on those wonderful trips we had enjoyed so much. I recalled how Lloyd loved sailing and how happy he was when he sailed. I thought about our pleasant gatherings in the seafood restaurants near the marinas, where each day we'd reflect on the day's sail as we'd enjoy a scrumptious dinner. I thought about Lloyd and the wonderful person he was and about how we all miss him. I thought about how fortunate I was to have shared thirty-two years with him. I reflected on the happiness he had given me. I thought about the sadness of losing him so suddenly and so soon, with so many hopes and dreams unfulfilled.
     On May 9, Ralph, Joann, Don, and I met at Sylvan at 7:30 in the morning, attached the Keriann to Ralph's truck, and drove in Ralph's and Don's vehicles to Maryland Marina, where one day someone with a passion for sailing and adventure will buy the Keriann and enjoy her as much as we did. I'm sure that's what Lloyd would want.

Abbie Geertz
July 1992

My Mother Sadie (MUM) by Abbie

SADIE, her mom Elizabeth, Sadie's sister LOU (Aunt Lou)

Sadie was born on Dec. 15, 1894 in the house at 2768 Mt. Troy Rd., built by her father and his brothers. She was the second of four girls (Flora, Sadie, Louise, and Elma.) An additional member was added to the family when her cousin Elsie (Lemke---not Elsie Mudie Kennet). Elsie was very fond of Sadie and apparently unhappy with her own mother, and unhappy with her mother's move to Florida, so she decided she'd prefer living with Sadie to living with her own mother, Lena, in Florida. So Elsie, at age 8, took a train from Florida to Pittsburgh, walked from the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in town to Mt. Troy, and knocked on the door, calling, "Setkin, Setkin, mach mir ein auf!" Translation, "Little Sade, Little Sade, make the door open!" Sadie welcomed her back to their home, so that's where our Aunt Elsie lived until she married Uncle Bob, DADDY'S (David Mudie) brother, in the 1960s. They were in their 50s when they got married.

Granddad David, Uncle Bob, Gladys, Else, Buff in front, Abbie, Sadie, maybe Clifford, Elizabeth and Lou

Abbie, Elma, Gladys, Buffy, Gladys, Elsie, Cliffy, Kenny and goat

Berry picking- Grandma Sadie, Buffy, Abbie, Else, Bob

Mum was loved by just about everyone who knew her. When we were small children, she was always the mother who welcomed other children in to our home. She was the one who took us to the school picnic (an exciting day at Rock Springs Park, a park in West Virginia, reached by boat down the Ohio River).

She and my dad saw to it that we all had piano lessons. Even after we moved from Rochester to Pittsburgh (Mt. Troy) we continued our lessons with Mr. Roberts in Rochester, traveling by train from Pgh. to Rochester every Saturday for our lessons. (Else traveled every Sat; Buff and I alternated Saturdays, with Else serving as leader.)
Mom and Daddy always took us to Sunday School. That was important. Later on I became a Sunday School teacher for 5-year-olds. I loved that!

Mom was a good seamstress. She made many of our clothes. I remember a pink Satin dress she made for me because I was jealous of Buff over a beautiful light blue dress that Aunt Lou had bought for Buff. To appease me, Mom copied the dress so I'd have a special one too.

Mom was a good cook. I don't think she followed many recipes; she had her own ideas for many foods. She made delicious donuts and good raisin cakes. Often we arrived home from school to the delicious aroma of her freshly baked bread. She made many different soups, some less appealing than others. 

A spotlessly clean house was never one of

Mom's highest priorities.

She preferred a comfortable home where people

felt welcome and where children played happily.

Mom and Daddy had a soft spot for less fortunate children. They fostered three baby boys from the Children's Aid Society.

Education was important to Mom and Daddy. They encouraged us to do our best in school, and they saw to it that

we all had a college education

(NOT THE NORM FOR OUR GENERATION.)

During the 50s, Daddy drove a bright green 1929 Buick. Our minister told us that he said a little prayer every time he saw Daddy drive to church in that car because he knew Daddy was sending three daughters to college.

MOM- The zillion houses we lived in

This blog is a work in progress. I want to eventually add some pictures of some of the houses.

DAVID and SADIE with their 3 girls (Elsie Lou, Elizabeth or Buffy, and Abbie) lived in many houses.....So many that this list may not even be totally accurate. Mom swears they lived in a country house outside Zelienople where they had a cow. But we can't figure out when that would have been. She doesn't remember living there, but says they lived there at one point. We don't know whether she was a baby or maybe it was before some of the girls were born. We can't really figure it out. Other than that question, here's the list of what we know along with a little history.

MUM (Sadie) was born in 1894 in the Mt. Troy house on 2768 Mt. Troy Rd. Her mother was ELIZABETH and she had FLORA and SADIE Hartfeld. Then LOUISE (Aunt Lou) and ELMA Walder. I think Aunt Lou talked about 2 babies who died like maybe they were brothers. In any case, they were born at the house, probably with her mom Elizabeth taking care of them. My mother doesn't think there was a doctor there, but we don't really know.
This house was built in the late 1800s, Mom thinks it might have been Elizabeth's father and his brothers. The original house had gas lighting instead of electricity.


DADDY (David William Mudie) was born in SCOTLAND in  1896 and he came over to America on a ship I think when he was 19. He rented a room on Mt. Troy Rd. from a lady named GETE -- short for Margareete and her mother. (Not sure about spelling but GETE is pronounced geet (rhymes with feet).


MUM and DADDY got married in Oct. of 1926. Reverend Ittel married them possibly at a Methodist church or MOM says it might have been a "weird church" like a "Congregational" Church or something. Eight months later ELSIE LOU was born on June 22, 1927. As for the time frame, I remember figuring out that Elsie Lou was born after 8 months instead of 9. Could Sadie have been pregnant when they got married? Many years ago I was SHAMED for even QUESTIONING that! TODAY, MOM says she remembers Buffy figured that out. I said I remember figuring that out too. MOM SAYS THERE'S JUST NO WAY. She says, "THAT'S SICK!" At age 87 she will never admit that there's even a remote chance.



HOUSES the 3 Mudie girls lived in

1. Daddy built the Beechview house, 1121 Tropical Ave. Beechview, PA, I think in 1925. Elsie and Buffy were born in that house in 1927 and 1929. Daddy ordered the house from a Sear's Catalogue. The materials were delivered and he built a gorgeous house! The house is still there and I recommend everyone to visit it! The present owners are very nice and they graciously welcomed us into their home and we spent a wonderful evening with them. If you are interested, call me.

2. Then they moved to a house that used to serve as a SCHOOLHOUSE on Mt. Troy Rd, just down the street from Aunt Lou's and then Buff's Mt Troy house (2768). That's where MY MOM (Abbie) was born.
3. Moved to Saybrook Apartments in Oakland. (set of 3 or 4 red brick buildings) close to Craft Ave. MOM was 1 and Buffy was 2. Buffy would always climb the fire escape and the neighbor would yell, "Mrs., your baby is climbing up the fire escape again!"(Jan and I have heard Buffy and MOM quoting that neighbor many times over the years!)

4. They moved to ROCHESTER where DADDY worked for DUQUESNE LIGHT as an electrician. Daddy walked a few miles to and from work at all hours of the night for 8-hour shifts.  Mum packed him a lunch and wrapped it in newspaper, tying it with a string. (I'm seeing some irony that Buffy collected lunch boxes later in life.) Anyway they lived in 3 different houses in Rochester. The first house was a Clay Street Apartment near someone named Donna Shaner whom they became friends with.
5.  204 Deer Lane in Rochester.
6.  514 Connecticut Ave. Rochester -- a cream-colored house that is still there. When Mom took Jan and I on an Abbie's houses tour  recently she pointed out that Margaret Giles lived over in that house. As soon as she said that a "Giles" truck went by. Margaret Giles was "our best friend." Then she corrected herself. "Well, she wasn't our best friend. She was a year younger than I. So we made fun of her." NEVER A DULL MOMENT WITH GRAMS!!! Ha Ha Ha! I googled Giles Co. and they are a plumbing supply store located at 512 Connecticut Ave. Wondering if Margaret is still around.
7.  Moved to another house on Mt. Troy and we have heard this story endless times. The house had a high porch off the back of it and for some reason the girls were highly amused because they used to "pee off the porch!" Mom was 9 (4th grade) and she still laughs EVERY time I mention peeing off the porch. In fact if she's upset about things in the present, I try to take her back to her past and if we talk about peeing off the porch, she always end up laughing. Why the urination fascination??????? Don't ask me!
8. Beechview for 5th, 6th and 7th grades. They lived in the house that Daddy built. MOM, JAN and I visited the house with the present-day owners Bill and Jody Weaver. She showed us the bedroom which Buffy and MOM shared. Jan looked in the room and said, "OH! Can you even imagine????" This new quote gets many laughs! I have to say that 98% of Mom's laughter has to do with the past. So it's quite refreshing to laugh at this newer quote. 
9. EVERYONE HATED New Brighton for Mom's 8th grade. Mom still talks about how snobby the people in the town were. They thought they were so much better than everyone else. She still talks about her schooling. Instead of just having a year of 6th grade, Beechview had two semesters. She was smart so she skipped the first half of 6th grade, known as 6B. So she went on to 6A. When they moved to New Brighton, the school didn't have semesters, so MOM's half year that she skipped meant nothing. She was forced to take the entire 8th grade over again. That experience left her VERY BITTER toward New Brighton and both Buffy and Mom talked all their lives of despising that town. That was traumatic for Mom. She was so young. She had earned that skipped semester and for them to just take it away from her, that was devastating. 
10. Beaver Falls for 9th - 12th grades. These were mostly good years. They liked living in "the house in the country" and there was an old blacksmith shop. There are pictures of the house with little Jackie, the foster child who tragically died at age 4. Obviously the death of that adorable little boy was awful awful awful. More about that in a later post. MOM talks about Jackie and almost always ends up in tears. Years and years have not eased that pain. I have tried to find his obituary with no luck.
When the family moved from New Brighton to Beaver Falls, Elsie Lou was given the choice of where she wanted to go to school. She chose to take her senior year at New Brighton rather than switching schools yet again. So she graduated from New Brighton High School in 1945. Buffy and MOM graduated from Beaver Falls High School in 1947 and 1948 respectively. 

I think it's safe to say that all this moving affected the girls in some negative ways. I think it affected Buffy especially because she was so shy. (Which came first the chicken or the egg?) MOM says they usually or always moved in the middle of the school year instead of in the summer. I am sure it wasn't easy on anybody!