Preserving the Past by Pat Mulso

Do you ever think back to your childhood and recall simple things your parents and grandparents taught you or tried to instill into you for your own good? They made statements like, if something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well; nothing is free in this world; hard work is good for your character; if you have a dream work toward it; if there is a will there is a way; be kind to people and they will be kind to you; don’t let anyone pressure you into doing something you know you shouldn’t do; stand up for what you believe in; always be there for your family and be a good friend. If you have a problem you can’t solve, pray and ask God to help you find a solution. Your family had dinner together every night, you actually talked to each other during the meal and there was no television blaring or radio playing. It was a treat to go to a show or have a soda and you didn’t get everything you asked for, but you had what you needed to get by or you made do with what you had. I remember saving for months to buy a real baton and then saved all my babysitting money, house cleaning money and money I made from selling greeting cards so that I could take baton lessons. It was a dream come true.

I remember how good it felt to get my chores and homework done so I could practice my twirling and how happy I was when my dad came to the football game halftime show to see me twirl. He only made it one time to see me, but I’ve never forgotten it. He would have been 100 this year, but has been gone for just over 47 years. He was the kindest, gentlest man I’ve ever known. My dad loved children, he could fix anything and he never had anything bad to say about anyone. He always said if you don’t have anything nice to say about someone, then don’t say anything, and that is how he lived his life. He loved to read, work puzzles, listen to or watch sports and be with his family.

He was an excellent cook, just like his mother, and though he had one heart attack after another, he never complained. I still remember my mom saying, “Dick, when you go to the doctor you can’t say you feel fine, you have to tell him how you have been feeling.”

My dad had lost his father when he was only 3. Grandpa died during the flu epidemic of 1918. I am told Dad was a lot like his dad, but of course he didn’t remember much about him. My grandmother was a very strong person who raised her six children mostly by herself and also cared for her oldest son’s three children for some time as well.

What do you think the current generation will remember about their childhood? What life lessons and words of wisdom will they pass on to the younger generation? If you have the opportunity to have a conversation with your grandchildren or someone from the younger generation, see what they remember about when they were little. Hopefully they have a fond memory to share. When our grandchildren visited last, even though they are teenagers, they wanted to do something we did when they were little. We put up a card table, put a blanket over it, then we laid under it and played cards and told stories with their young cousin who was visiting. It was time we spent together, listening to each other, no television or anything else, just us enjoying being together. Those are the kind of memories we all cherish! Make sure you’re still making those kind of memories with your family.

The museum will host a four-hour defensive driving refresher class from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Feb. 7. The cost is $20 for AARP members and $25 for nonmembers, which includes class materials and an administrative fee. You must register for the class by calling the museum at 507-373-8003 or by stopping by during our regular business hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday.

FCHM 2015 memberships are now due. If you have not renewed your membership yet, now’s the time. We are working to pay off our building debt as well and have lots of great ideas for new programs. Your continued support is sincerely appreciated. We are very proud to serve our community from our very young visitors to those we serve from our local nursing homes and all of you in-between. We look forward to serving you in 2015.

 

Pat Mulso is the executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum in Albert Lea.