SUNDAY MEMORIES
Judy Wills
During the one year we were in San Jose, my father had a terrible accident, just before Christmas, and we all – Bill and his family – and Fred and I flew to Albuquerque for Christmas. I was there three weeks, Fred for the middle week, and Bill’s family for about one week, as I remember. It was to be Daddy’s last Christmas, as he died four months later.
The whole gang – Mom, Dad, Granny, Aunt Jessie, Bill, DiVoran, Renie, Billy, Fred and myself
Since I was pregnant with our first child, I began looking for fabric to make maternity dresses. As it happened, in San Jose, the couple next door to us in the apartment building were also Air Force people. The wife was a home economics teacher, and was teaching in a relatively poor school in San Jose. She went to some upholstery stores, and begged them for any scraps of drapery fabric they could/would donate for her students to learn to sew on. She gave me the first choice of that fabric, and I took several pieces. Some of them were large enough to make several dresses. Here is one example of a dress I made.
While we were in Albuquerque, before we headed to Germany (our first assignment), I was given a baby shower. Here is a picture of one of the dresses I made. Mother had told me to make a “dress” rather than a “top and bottom” and that I wouldn’t look so big. Well, that didn’t work, did it? I look as big as a house! Perhaps the fabric was just that flimsy, suppose?
Another dress I made from the drapery fabric was a really pretty, off-white, silky, shiny fabric. It made up into a lovely dress. Unfortunately, it was quite heavy, and had a “backing” on it. Great for drapery, but not so much for hot-weather wearing! Again unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of that dress. Also again unfortunately, my passport had not come through, and we had to stop in D.C. at the Pentagon to pick it up before I could accompany Fred to Germany. He had been told that all personnel in the Pentagon wore Class-A uniforms, even in the summer. That included his wool uniform, with long-sleeved shirt and full jacket. So in hot hot hot June, we were in D.C., with me wearing that hot hot hot dress, and Fred in full uniform – only to find that ALL the military personnel were in short-sleeved summer uniforms! No wool and no jackets! We were both about to melt!
After securing my passport, we were scheduled to fly to Philadelphia, PA, and spend the night with Fred’s Aunt Anna and Uncle Lyn. I could hardly wait to get there – and into that air-conditioned house! And perhaps take a nice, cool shower, as well. Well, to our surprise and dismay, when we got to their house, we found it to be a row-house: no air conditioning, and no shower – only a tub! But I made the best of that situation, and got into a cotton dress I had made. Here is a picture of me in that dress alongside Fred’s Aunt Anna and Uncle Lyn.
~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~
Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .
Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.
After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson and a great-granddaughter. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.
Old Things R New 
Super cool, no wait super hot great blog!
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