Walking to Mourning Doves: a Memoir Caryl Crozier South Dakota State University
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South Dakota State University Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange South Dakota Sate University Alumni Publications SDSU Alumni 2011 Walking to Mourning Doves: A Memoir Caryl Crozier South Dakota State University Follow this and additional works at: https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/alumni_pubs Recommended Citation Crozier, Caryl, "Walking to Mourning Doves: A Memoir" (2011). South Dakota Sate University Alumni Publications. 3. https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/alumni_pubs/3 This Book is brought to you for free and open access by the SDSU Alumni at Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. It has been accepted for inclusion in South Dakota Sate University Alumni Publications by an authorized administrator of Open PRAIRIE: Open Public Research Access Institutional Repository and Information Exchange. 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Z---.__, .............. c.,l •tit-.•~.,_. ---.. ........ - ,i.c-,.,..... _,,-e_...._.---~.... c.,t_......._u~_.,.i;....._,__s.& 0o1,--=a4m..,;,-4!,o ,..._ C...,~ ,..___ n.,11inw-...,._ .... _..~ s....;o,,~ ..... s--sui......,......w~,...,Uuo.1fc--..-..-ar ....... c-aa~•r.,,,...s..11t .......... .._ u.-.to.:.... ,........,. ..-ur.-s-,....., llool->..,.b,:•ntm. :I1IiiiiJJ11li1il Waking to Mourning Doves A Memoir Caryl Crozier WingSpan Press Copyright © 2011 by Caryl Crozier All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission of the author, except for brief quotations used in reviews and critiques. Printed in the United States of America Published by WingSpan Press, Livermore, CA www.wingspanpress.com The WingSpan name, logo and colophon are the trademarks of WingSpan Publishing. First Edition 2011 ISBN 978-1-59594-455-9 softcover ISBN 978-1-59594-407-8 hardcover Library of Congress Control Number: Personal memories, childhood diary entries, quotes from family journals and books form the basis of this book. The author’s recollection of events may not be consistent with what others remember. Dedication Mom gave me a crewel embroidery with the words, TO LOVE SOMETHING IS TO GIVE IT ROOM ENOUGH TO GROW. It reflects her philosophy of life and raising a child — me. This memoir could be entitled A Love Story, because two people in my life gave me that room to grow: Mom, as she made sure I had all the opportunities denied to her, and my husband, Sherm, who patiently stood by my side and encouraged me to explore, experiment and become the person I am today. Most mothers try to protect their children, and I think Mom was comfortable “giving” me to Sherm. At the end of her life, she seemed worried to leave me. When Sherm repeatedly assured her he would take care of me, I know she died at peace. It is to these two most important people in my life that I dedicate this book. Acknowledgments Thanks to our daughters’ (Michelle Kegler and Cherise Barnes) curiosity in knowing what my parents and extended family were really like, I felt compelled to tell their story and mine. Since my husband Ed (Sherm) Crozier had published his memoir, I knew it was achievable. My diaries and journals and family encouragement helped the laborious process along. Fortunately, I had finished the early childhood and rural school sections before Mom’s (Elvera Kinkner) death in 2009, so she had input too. By writing my mother’s Friendly Hour Club story in 2006, I began writing in earnest. Michelle’s request to have my book completed by her 50th birthday in 2011 was a stimulus. Suggestions and input from our daughters, and from Harriet Duerre, Harriet Dukelow, Juanita Carpenter, Carol Sheggeby and my AAUW writing groups were helpful. Childhood friends Lois Norling, Janet Helgaas, Karen Olson and Alice Harrington also offered memories and suggestions. Granddaughters Rachel and Claire Barnes contributed some of their writing and Rachel helped with cover design and graphics. Sherm helped with typing, editing, layout and photographs. Michelle and Cherise provided photographs and journal entries. Maxine Jacobson, Doug Henderson and Ruth Jones contributed ideas and editing. John Hickman did the final edit and preparation for publication. The family portrait is by Bonnie’s Impressions of Beresford. Scott Sharkey provided the Mourning Dove cover photograph. Preface: Waking to Mourning Doves Waking to the soulful call of a mourning dove shortly after my mother’s death gave me the inspiration for my book title. Their plaintive cooing evokes nostalgic reminders of my life growing up on rural South Dakota prairies in the 1940s and 1950s, a memory of the simpler times of my youth. Soft spring mornings, gentle breezes stirring the curtains and a cacophony of birdsong and farm animal sounds define contentment to me. Their cooing still evokes the same feeling that all is right with the world. Mourning doves are unassuming, not flashy and don’t push and shove or bully other birds out of their space. They have adapted to blend into their surroundings, just as the women who settled the Great Plains did. Their nests and homes aren’t fancy, but they have survived and thrived, just like my immigrant ancestral families. Furthermore, they symbolize much of the happenings of my life and the experiences that have molded it, for they are like the soft-spoken ladies that surrounded me in my childhood: women who helped form my character and outlook on the world. These ladies were strong women and full partners in life, but with the polite, gentle demeanor of mourning doves. My book is built around excerpts from my personal diary entries from ages ten to twenty-one, adult journaling and my memories. Dated diary entries and family journals are printed verbatim and expanded upon. It is obvious from this book that I have an interest in preserving family history. My husband and I have published seven family-history books that describe our ancestors as far back as we can find records. Many go back hundreds of years and dozens of generations to our northern European roots. In addition to the history of our ancestors, I wish to pass on to my descendants my own personal history. It is my hope that this memoir will inspire readers to record their own life experiences. WAKING TO MOURNING DOVES PROLOGUE ..............................................................................1 Country Roads .......................................................................... 3 PART I - EARLY MEMORIES .................................................9 1. Tinker Toys and Tea Parties .................................................11 2. Barns and Biffies ................................................................ 20 PART II - FAMILY...................................................................27 3. Room Enough to Grow ....................................................... 29 4. Reflections in a Cracked Mirror ......................................... 38 5. Grandma’s Time Capsule.................................................... 46 6. My Chautauqua Grandma ................................................... 56 7. The Daughter They Never Had ........................................... 66 8. My Swedish Bachelor Farmer Uncle.................................. 74 9. Aunt Hazel’s Miracle .......................................................... 78 PART III - PALS ......................................................................85 10. Playhouses and Paper Dolls .............................................. 87 11. Cuddles, Buster and Ginger .............................................. 95 PART IV - FARM CHORES ..................................................101 12. Chicken Chores............................................................... 103 13. Alfalfa and Cockleburs ................................................... 108 14. Threshing Runs ................................................................112 15. Wringer Washers and Flatirons .......................................119 16. Heirloom Gardens........................................................... 121 17. Funnel Clouds, Blizzards and Jackrabbits ...................... 123 PART V - BRANCHING OUT ..............................................127 18. Frozen Creeks and Drifting Snow − And Christmas! ..... 129 19. 4H-Head, Heart, Hands, Health .....................................