Diane

Matt is not.

Matt is not.

I know. Skips a generation. Skips a generation there. That's funny. Yeah, I wanted him to. And his brother did those things, but not Matt.

I know. Skips a generation. Skips a generation there. That's funny. Yeah, I wanted him to. And his brother did those things, but not Matt.

I wished he would, but, you know, you can't force somebody to do something like that.

I wished he would, but, you know, you can't force somebody to do something like that.

Yeah, I don't even think he would. You know, sometimes guys go together, but I don't recall that he even did that. I wouldn't be surprised. I liked his guy friends. He had nice friends. So I didn't have any big complaints about him that way.

Yeah, I don't even think he would. You know, sometimes guys go together, but I don't recall that he even did that. I wouldn't be surprised. I liked his guy friends. He had nice friends. So I didn't have any big complaints about him that way.

But it had no protection. If you'd throw the brakes on, the baby would probably die.

But it had no protection. If you'd throw the brakes on, the baby would probably die.

and everyone's calling them Barbie and Ken they were a real cute couple

and everyone's calling them Barbie and Ken they were a real cute couple

And so that was part of it, I think.

And so that was part of it, I think.

There wasn't even a seat belt law then. It wasn't a real safety car seat. If you'd throw the brakes on, the baby'd probably fly. Oh my gosh.

There wasn't even a seat belt law then. It wasn't a real safety car seat. If you'd throw the brakes on, the baby'd probably fly. Oh my gosh.

Did they go in the back seat? No, I think I carried the baby in my arms sitting in the passenger seat. I carried the baby home.

Did they go in the back seat? No, I think I carried the baby in my arms sitting in the passenger seat. I carried the baby home.

We didn't. I didn't know that it was a granddaughter. Did you? Maybe you knew, but I didn't.

We didn't. I didn't know that it was a granddaughter. Did you? Maybe you knew, but I didn't.

Well, I really wanted a girl because after having two boys, I was hoping to have a little girl in the family. That's sweet.

Well, I really wanted a girl because after having two boys, I was hoping to have a little girl in the family. That's sweet.

I took that half day off from school, and I was so looking forward to it. This is terrible. Oh, it's okay.

I took that half day off from school, and I was so looking forward to it. This is terrible. Oh, it's okay.

No, a Kleenex would be better.

No, a Kleenex would be better.

Oh, but poor thing, don't say that.

Oh, but poor thing, don't say that.

Do not say that. She is not, but... She was a blessing. Thank you. There's more detail to that, but we're not going into that, but... Yeah, she was a blessing. And I took that, I was so excited. I took a half day off school because I would have taken the whole day, but your mother was going to be induced like at four o'clock in the afternoon, wasn't it? Oh, I remember that.

Do not say that. She is not, but... She was a blessing. Thank you. There's more detail to that, but we're not going into that, but... Yeah, she was a blessing. And I took that, I was so excited. I took a half day off school because I would have taken the whole day, but your mother was going to be induced like at four o'clock in the afternoon, wasn't it? Oh, I remember that.

Yes, I definitely remember that. And I thought, well, I shouldn't take the whole day off. But I'll take half. And I couldn't. Oh, my feet weren't even touching the ground when I left the school that day. And we went to the hospital and waited a long time, didn't we?

Yes, I definitely remember that. And I thought, well, I shouldn't take the whole day off. But I'll take half. And I couldn't. Oh, my feet weren't even touching the ground when I left the school that day. And we went to the hospital and waited a long time, didn't we?

I think that's what I did. I don't remember, but I think so. I know. It's been a few years ago. In the front seat? Wow. Yeah.

I think that's what I did. I don't remember, but I think so. I know. It's been a few years ago. In the front seat? Wow. Yeah.

I can do the math on this.

I can do the math on this.

You were 45. Yeah.

You were 45. Yeah.

I'm quite a bit older than her. Like 50 and 55? 55 and 51, right? No, I am like four years older than her at least, aren't I? Something like that.

I'm quite a bit older than her. Like 50 and 55? 55 and 51, right? No, I am like four years older than her at least, aren't I? Something like that.

We were in the waiting room. Oh, okay.

We were in the waiting room. Oh, okay.

It's intense. Yeah. It's nerve-wracking. Yeah.

It's intense. Yeah. It's nerve-wracking. Yeah.

There wasn't even a seat belt law then, was there? Oh, I'm sure not.

There wasn't even a seat belt law then, was there? Oh, I'm sure not.

Yes, a long time before you actually had a date. Yeah, because your mother told me about, she says, there's this great guy that would make a great guy for Abby. He's great.

Yes, a long time before you actually had a date. Yeah, because your mother told me about, she says, there's this great guy that would make a great guy for Abby. He's great.

handsome he they have so many similarities they both love acting and and he's outgoing like abby abby and everything you know we i mean for years before she told us about you oh this was for years before i even asked at least two years oh it was a while a year or two yeah

handsome he they have so many similarities they both love acting and and he's outgoing like abby abby and everything you know we i mean for years before she told us about you oh this was for years before i even asked at least two years oh it was a while a year or two yeah

I know. There was nothing to bash about them. There really weren't that many. No, she just had dates for special occasions, but nothing serious. I just had dates for fun, man. Yeah, like prom and homecoming. Just to keep it fun.

I know. There was nothing to bash about them. There really weren't that many. No, she just had dates for special occasions, but nothing serious. I just had dates for fun, man. Yeah, like prom and homecoming. Just to keep it fun.

Well, I know your parents were very concerned about that. And actually, we were kind of on your side, but we didn't really want to try to promote, you know, something. The bad influence. Well, not bad influence. I mean, we didn't want to. But you came to our house to tell us how bad it was, you know, that things weren't going so well. Yeah.

Well, I know your parents were very concerned about that. And actually, we were kind of on your side, but we didn't really want to try to promote, you know, something. The bad influence. Well, not bad influence. I mean, we didn't want to. But you came to our house to tell us how bad it was, you know, that things weren't going so well. Yeah.

really yeah the the seat that you put the baby in was called an infant seat and it was just a plastic wasn't it was it just i think and you'd put a blanket in it and put the baby in it and hope for the best wow hope for the best don't throw the brakes on

really yeah the the seat that you put the baby in was called an infant seat and it was just a plastic wasn't it was it just i think and you'd put a blanket in it and put the baby in it and hope for the best wow hope for the best don't throw the brakes on

And we did think you were very young and really kind of preferred that you would finish college before you got married. We thought that was what you should really do. But, you know, it really wasn't our decision. We were a couple of generations removed.

And we did think you were very young and really kind of preferred that you would finish college before you got married. We thought that was what you should really do. But, you know, it really wasn't our decision. We were a couple of generations removed.

And younger than her parents did, too. Yep, younger than the parents.

And younger than her parents did, too. Yep, younger than the parents.

I wish that you would have, but, you know, it's obvious that it wasn't necessary.

I wish that you would have, but, you know, it's obvious that it wasn't necessary.

Yes, yes, true, very true.

Yes, yes, true, very true.

Oh, my goodness. We had no clue. No clue. Yeah. I remember when you first started doing it, you got, oh, you got a free pizza. Well, that's nice. We got a free pizza? No, you got some free Mexican food. Some Mexican franchise. Oh, yeah. Remember? I thought, well, that's nice. Shout out to Moe's. I had no clue how it could go from there.

Oh, my goodness. We had no clue. No clue. Yeah. I remember when you first started doing it, you got, oh, you got a free pizza. Well, that's nice. We got a free pizza? No, you got some free Mexican food. Some Mexican franchise. Oh, yeah. Remember? I thought, well, that's nice. Shout out to Moe's. I had no clue how it could go from there.

Didn't you know that would happen?

Didn't you know that would happen?

It's still weird. It's still, it's amazing. Yeah, it is. It's kind of unbelievable. It is. It really is.

It's still weird. It's still, it's amazing. Yeah, it is. It's kind of unbelievable. It is. It really is.

Yes, it is. Our friends, I'll say, well, you know, they have a lot of followers, so they can kind of be, they're like good advertisers, and that makes a lot of money to do that. Yeah. I know. My hairdresser, Chris, he doesn't get it. He doesn't get it?

Yes, it is. Our friends, I'll say, well, you know, they have a lot of followers, so they can kind of be, they're like good advertisers, and that makes a lot of money to do that. Yeah. I know. My hairdresser, Chris, he doesn't get it. He doesn't get it?

I had a stroller. But it was a separate stroller, right? Yeah, separate. It wasn't part of the plastic infant seat. Because you've seen how all these like pops into a stroller. No, that's new age to me.

I had a stroller. But it was a separate stroller, right? Yeah, separate. It wasn't part of the plastic infant seat. Because you've seen how all these like pops into a stroller. No, that's new age to me.

I don't think I explain it very well. Yeah. I just say that they do TikToks, YouTube, and Instagram. Instagram. Well, of course, young people are very familiar with that, but older people don't quite get it.

I don't think I explain it very well. Yeah. I just say that they do TikToks, YouTube, and Instagram. Instagram. Well, of course, young people are very familiar with that, but older people don't quite get it.

A couple of times.

A couple of times.

Just recently. I was in Dollar General. And this really sweet young woman, the same age as Abby, said something to me. I saw her smile at me in the parking lot. I had a smile back. I thought, what a friendly, sweet girl. And then in the store, she came up to me and she said, you're Abby's grandma, aren't you? I said, yes, I am. And she went on. She said, I went to school with her.

Just recently. I was in Dollar General. And this really sweet young woman, the same age as Abby, said something to me. I saw her smile at me in the parking lot. I had a smile back. I thought, what a friendly, sweet girl. And then in the store, she came up to me and she said, you're Abby's grandma, aren't you? I said, yes, I am. And she went on. She said, I went to school with her.

And she told me your name. And that she liked you a lot and she followed you. Remember I told you about her?

And she told me your name. And that she liked you a lot and she followed you. Remember I told you about her?

And then one time I was in the grocery store and just a very young girl came up to me and said something about seeing me on something. And there's been people at my church have told me.

And then one time I was in the grocery store and just a very young girl came up to me and said something about seeing me on something. And there's been people at my church have told me.

Of course not. I have a 10-year-old grandson and I follow... I follow him currently. I'm following him. His teacher posts almost everyday pictures and things that are going on in their class. And I get it on my laptop. I follow him. I could on my phone, but I'm not set up to do that. So I watch him on laptop. And I just love all the things they do. I wish I'd known about these things.

Of course not. I have a 10-year-old grandson and I follow... I follow him currently. I'm following him. His teacher posts almost everyday pictures and things that are going on in their class. And I get it on my laptop. I follow him. I could on my phone, but I'm not set up to do that. So I watch him on laptop. And I just love all the things they do. I wish I'd known about these things.

No, I don't think so. I was an inventor.

No, I don't think so. I was an inventor.

For instance, we had the kids sit at desks for the most part. And then... A lot of teachers went to the tables. I never really did. I pushed desks together, but I still wanted to have their stuff in their desk instead of having them in a cubby. I wasn't really doing it the way they liked, but...

For instance, we had the kids sit at desks for the most part. And then... A lot of teachers went to the tables. I never really did. I pushed desks together, but I still wanted to have their stuff in their desk instead of having them in a cubby. I wasn't really doing it the way they liked, but...

But I like the way my grandson's class and his sister and brother before him, I followed them whenever their teacher, it was their choice whether or not they post this information. But they can sit almost anywhere they want, any way they want. And sometimes there are kids who have energy. They can go and jump on a trampoline or something to kind of get their energy.

But I like the way my grandson's class and his sister and brother before him, I followed them whenever their teacher, it was their choice whether or not they post this information. But they can sit almost anywhere they want, any way they want. And sometimes there are kids who have energy. They can go and jump on a trampoline or something to kind of get their energy.

Just wonderful ideas like that. Those are all new to me. Were you familiar with those? No. I think they call it alternative seating in school.

Just wonderful ideas like that. Those are all new to me. Were you familiar with those? No. I think they call it alternative seating in school.

And I really wasn't familiar with it. And then I just saw something not too long ago. They were doing a math sheet, and she turned the lights off in the room, and they could use flashlights to do their math sheet, you know, just fun ways to do things.

And I really wasn't familiar with it. And then I just saw something not too long ago. They were doing a math sheet, and she turned the lights off in the room, and they could use flashlights to do their math sheet, you know, just fun ways to do things.

No.

No.

And I can't even begin to describe all the fun.

And I can't even begin to describe all the fun.

That's a whole lot of work to keep that updated. Yeah, she posts that and puts little sentences on it explaining what they're doing and takes several pictures. And you can just see, hoping you'll see your grandson in one of the pictures. So it's really neat.

That's a whole lot of work to keep that updated. Yeah, she posts that and puts little sentences on it explaining what they're doing and takes several pictures. And you can just see, hoping you'll see your grandson in one of the pictures. So it's really neat.

It was great. It was a big deal. Because you could look and see. Instead of ordering, I don't like to order things. I like to see what I'm buying. I loved that they had the store where you could go.

It was great. It was a big deal. Because you could look and see. Instead of ordering, I don't like to order things. I like to see what I'm buying. I loved that they had the store where you could go.

Yes, lots of money. But also, I know in our public school system, each teacher was allotted so much money for supplies, like getting ready for the next year maybe. And I would go there and get stuff for my next school year.

Yes, lots of money. But also, I know in our public school system, each teacher was allotted so much money for supplies, like getting ready for the next year maybe. And I would go there and get stuff for my next school year.

You say before. I mean, I remember watching I Love Lucy on TV as an adult. Didn't you? Sure. Yeah.

You say before. I mean, I remember watching I Love Lucy on TV as an adult. Didn't you? Sure. Yeah.

Okay. Wasn't it the 50s? I remember watching it when I lived at home with my parents, I think. I remember my mother really cracking up. The 50s.

Okay. Wasn't it the 50s? I remember watching it when I lived at home with my parents, I think. I remember my mother really cracking up. The 50s.

I think community theater was kind of her launching pad for that kind of thing. Yeah. Yeah, she was in the best Christmas pageant ever. She and her brother, were you like seven and five?

I think community theater was kind of her launching pad for that kind of thing. Yeah. Yeah, she was in the best Christmas pageant ever. She and her brother, were you like seven and five?

The memorization of those lines.

The memorization of those lines.

I think I saw every performance.

I think I saw every performance.

It was just awesome. It really was.

It was just awesome. It really was.

You're almost at the beginning of television there. I was 10 years old in 54. Oh.

You're almost at the beginning of television there. I was 10 years old in 54. Oh.

One play for four years in a row. Four years in a row. And yeah, we knew somebody in Quincy who had season tickets to the Muny. And... Your mom would make arrangements for us to get them and pay him back for them. So we could have, is it called box seats? Right in the front. Because I remember the first performance, we were back a ways. I can't see her. It was frustrating. You had to look quick.

One play for four years in a row. Four years in a row. And yeah, we knew somebody in Quincy who had season tickets to the Muny. And... Your mom would make arrangements for us to get them and pay him back for them. So we could have, is it called box seats? Right in the front. Because I remember the first performance, we were back a ways. I can't see her. It was frustrating. You had to look quick.

You didn't have big roles. The last one you had quite a few when you were a flying monkey and all that. My big debut.

You didn't have big roles. The last one you had quite a few when you were a flying monkey and all that. My big debut.

The Muni is an awesome place to go. There's nothing like outdoor theater in the summertime there. Oh, it's the best place in the world.

The Muni is an awesome place to go. There's nothing like outdoor theater in the summertime there. Oh, it's the best place in the world.

I think we stayed with Mike and Jen.

I think we stayed with Mike and Jen.

It was fun. It really was.

It was fun. It really was.

No, I didn't have to discipline her.

No, I didn't have to discipline her.

Yeah, Grandma, you did, and you were pregnant. Oh, yes, I was. It wasn't a very fast moving. I was on State Street. Somebody bumped me from behind, and when I got out of the car, I was pretty far along, and the guy behind me was just scared to death. He says, are you all right?

Yeah, Grandma, you did, and you were pregnant. Oh, yes, I was. It wasn't a very fast moving. I was on State Street. Somebody bumped me from behind, and when I got out of the car, I was pretty far along, and the guy behind me was just scared to death. He says, are you all right?

But then they showed reruns for years after that, I think.

But then they showed reruns for years after that, I think.

I was about nine months. Oh, no. Well, he was born a little bit early, so I was about as far as I was going to get. Yeah. I think it was like the week before he was born. The man was very concerned for me, but I was okay. I think my car was, too.

I was about nine months. Oh, no. Well, he was born a little bit early, so I was about as far as I was going to get. Yeah. I think it was like the week before he was born. The man was very concerned for me, but I was okay. I think my car was, too.

Not fast at all.

Not fast at all.

Cars were really bigger on the inside. I can remember being down in the plane, I mean, being on the floor, sitting on the floorboard.

Cars were really bigger on the inside. I can remember being down in the plane, I mean, being on the floor, sitting on the floorboard.

We didn't have a station wagon, but my dad would try to drive through. We just went to Tennessee, and we would try to drive through, and one day... To get there so we wouldn't be staying in hotels. We did too.

We didn't have a station wagon, but my dad would try to drive through. We just went to Tennessee, and we would try to drive through, and one day... To get there so we wouldn't be staying in hotels. We did too.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I don't remember even working out in those days. Pregnant or not, I don't remember working out very much.

I don't remember even working out in those days. Pregnant or not, I don't remember working out very much.

I walked a lot. I walked a lot. I would push Matt in a stroller around the neighborhood a lot. Mm-hmm.

I walked a lot. I walked a lot. I would push Matt in a stroller around the neighborhood a lot. Mm-hmm.

Probably. I don't remember. I mean, you just have to go by what the hospital rules are.

Probably. I don't remember. I mean, you just have to go by what the hospital rules are.

Well, it was Jane Fonda.

Well, it was Jane Fonda.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yes, I've heard of that before. Wait, really?

Yes, I've heard of that before. Wait, really?

Was that ever something that you tried out? I don't even know people really knowing the science behind those fad diets.

Was that ever something that you tried out? I don't even know people really knowing the science behind those fad diets.

I remember hearing about the grapefruit diet, but I don't remember doing it. I was in Topps Clubs a couple times.

I remember hearing about the grapefruit diet, but I don't remember doing it. I was in Topps Clubs a couple times.

No, this was actually so unacceptable. And Weight Watchers, of course, too.

No, this was actually so unacceptable. And Weight Watchers, of course, too.

Didn't you have a mantra you had to say at your fitness class? We had a thing we said. Say it.

Didn't you have a mantra you had to say at your fitness class? We had a thing we said. Say it.

I don't think so. The boys, my boys can because they went with me to it. You don't remember it? I had to take them. I mean, it wasn't like I was going to get a babysitter for Topps Club, so they went with me to Topps Club. What does top stand for? Take off pounds sensibly.

I don't think so. The boys, my boys can because they went with me to it. You don't remember it? I had to take them. I mean, it wasn't like I was going to get a babysitter for Topps Club, so they went with me to Topps Club. What does top stand for? Take off pounds sensibly.

Say it, say it.

Say it, say it.

I am an intelligent person. I will not use food to satisfy my... Frustrated desires build up my injured ego or dull my senses. Something like that.

I am an intelligent person. I will not use food to satisfy my... Frustrated desires build up my injured ego or dull my senses. Something like that.

Toxic. Yeah. Hopefully they have learned a lot. See, they didn't know the science. Just like you talk about those. I don't think anybody knew the science behind those dyes. Do you?

Toxic. Yeah. Hopefully they have learned a lot. See, they didn't know the science. Just like you talk about those. I don't think anybody knew the science behind those dyes. Do you?

Let's see. Something like that.

Let's see. Something like that.

Probably. Well, yeah, I'm sure I did. Well, I mean, I don't think it was very much. It was just probably a few cents or something. I mean, it wasn't a big amount of money.

Probably. Well, yeah, I'm sure I did. Well, I mean, I don't think it was very much. It was just probably a few cents or something. I mean, it wasn't a big amount of money.

Mostly you were counting calories. Interesting. You were counting calories.

Mostly you were counting calories. Interesting. You were counting calories.

Sure.

Sure.

Popcorn and all kinds of things.

Popcorn and all kinds of things.

I think some people still count calories. No. Yeah.

I think some people still count calories. No. Yeah.

You shouldn't beat yourself up about it.

You shouldn't beat yourself up about it.

You're fun grandmas. Well, we do. I certainly do. I love shopping with both of you. Do you remember your grandma? Oh, yeah.

You're fun grandmas. Well, we do. I certainly do. I love shopping with both of you. Do you remember your grandma? Oh, yeah.

Oh, I know it. Women of that age, like my grandma, Nelson, she had a lot of kids. They didn't all survive. She had a rough life, really. I mean, they did everything from scratch. At least my grandma did. Even your mom did. They worked hard. They worked hard. They did.

Oh, I know it. Women of that age, like my grandma, Nelson, she had a lot of kids. They didn't all survive. She had a rough life, really. I mean, they did everything from scratch. At least my grandma did. Even your mom did. They worked hard. They worked hard. They did.

I think when you're raised by parents like that, they want you to get an education. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

I think when you're raised by parents like that, they want you to get an education. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Well, in my immediate family, I was.

Well, in my immediate family, I was.

Mm-hmm.

Mm-hmm.

How old were you during World War II? You had to be really young. Well, I was born in 44, so that was kind of, the war was still going on, but it was about, it was toward the end of it.

How old were you during World War II? You had to be really young. Well, I was born in 44, so that was kind of, the war was still going on, but it was about, it was toward the end of it.

Yes. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, they've changed. That's for sure.

Yes. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, they've changed. That's for sure.

I kind of, I remember the burning of the bras. Oh, yeah, that's true.

I kind of, I remember the burning of the bras. Oh, yeah, that's true.

I don't know. What was that?

I don't know. What was that?

I don't know. I can't even remember. Maybe that's too progressive for you guys. I can't even believe you're asking that question.

I don't know. I can't even remember. Maybe that's too progressive for you guys. I can't even believe you're asking that question.

But when I was in high school, I remember thinking, well, do I want to be a nurse or do I want to be a teacher? Yeah, exactly. I didn't really see any other.

But when I was in high school, I remember thinking, well, do I want to be a nurse or do I want to be a teacher? Yeah, exactly. I didn't really see any other.

That's about it. I didn't see other opportunities for women.

That's about it. I didn't see other opportunities for women.

No, I never heard of a woman engineer. Really, I didn't. There may have been. I'm sure there were. I didn't know any. But I didn't know. I didn't certainly know any.

No, I never heard of a woman engineer. Really, I didn't. There may have been. I'm sure there were. I didn't know any. But I didn't know. I didn't certainly know any.

Yeah, a lot of women were secretaries. But that's about all I can remember women being. I remember I went to a school at Western Illinois University. It was very much of an agricultural school because that's an agricultural area. But at that time... But, I mean, there were no, I'm pretty sure there were no women in the agriculture department. But now I have a great niece.

Yeah, a lot of women were secretaries. But that's about all I can remember women being. I remember I went to a school at Western Illinois University. It was very much of an agricultural school because that's an agricultural area. But at that time... But, I mean, there were no, I'm pretty sure there were no women in the agriculture department. But now I have a great niece.

She's majoring in some phase of agriculture. And I have another, my husband had a cousin's daughter who is an agriculture teacher, and she's outstanding teacher.

She's majoring in some phase of agriculture. And I have another, my husband had a cousin's daughter who is an agriculture teacher, and she's outstanding teacher.

The medication that they gave me just, it did, it just put me to sleep.

The medication that they gave me just, it did, it just put me to sleep.

I kind of think so. Yeah, it was. Yeah, I used to like to play school.

I kind of think so. Yeah, it was. Yeah, I used to like to play school.

I liked school a lot when I was a kid. I loved school. I loved my teachers. I don't know if they loved me as much as I loved them. They were pretty strict. They were strict. You know, teachers were pretty strict when I went to school. How so? I don't remember ever being hugged by a teacher when I was, you know, really, they just didn't do that.

I liked school a lot when I was a kid. I loved school. I loved my teachers. I don't know if they loved me as much as I loved them. They were pretty strict. They were strict. You know, teachers were pretty strict when I went to school. How so? I don't remember ever being hugged by a teacher when I was, you know, really, they just didn't do that.

So you just woke up and your baby's there. I woke up and I said, I asked, have I had my baby? Yeah. I had a horrible headache. And so she put her hand on me and said, yes, you have. I said, what was it? Because you didn't know. You didn't know. No. They didn't have ultrasound or whatever it is that you, is that what you have to see what the sex of the baby is?

So you just woke up and your baby's there. I woke up and I said, I asked, have I had my baby? Yeah. I had a horrible headache. And so she put her hand on me and said, yes, you have. I said, what was it? Because you didn't know. You didn't know. No. They didn't have ultrasound or whatever it is that you, is that what you have to see what the sex of the baby is?

And I think it was much different for even my dad. I remember him. I remember he admired his teachers very much. They were really respected in the community. And if you got in trouble in school, you were going to get in trouble at home too because they really respected the teachers. And you did not ever disrespect the teacher. That has really changed.

And I think it was much different for even my dad. I remember him. I remember he admired his teachers very much. They were really respected in the community. And if you got in trouble in school, you were going to get in trouble at home too because they really respected the teachers. And you did not ever disrespect the teacher. That has really changed.

Oh, definitely.

Oh, definitely.

Definitely. Definitely.

Definitely. Definitely.

Yeah. It all stems from the home. And unfortunately, American family is just not what it used to be.

Yeah. It all stems from the home. And unfortunately, American family is just not what it used to be.

I don't know. I shouldn't say. I'm no expert.

I don't know. I shouldn't say. I'm no expert.

It feels that way. Your perception, how you feel.

It feels that way. Your perception, how you feel.

Part of it was the schools that I taught in.

Part of it was the schools that I taught in.

But your mother, you should have her on a podcast about...

But your mother, you should have her on a podcast about...

Oh, yeah. I have, but I don't look too often. How does it make you feel? I was like, oh, yeah. Terrible. Yeah, I don't want anybody saying anything against my great-grandchildren. I know, I don't like it.

Oh, yeah. I have, but I don't look too often. How does it make you feel? I was like, oh, yeah. Terrible. Yeah, I don't want anybody saying anything against my great-grandchildren. I know, I don't like it.

And blood tests do also show that. No, I didn't. Did you?

And blood tests do also show that. No, I didn't. Did you?

I know sometimes I've been tempted to comment them, and I think, well, no, don't do that.

I know sometimes I've been tempted to comment them, and I think, well, no, don't do that.

Yeah, I... I know. I have to really. I really try to cool it. I can. No, you're good. You're good.

Yeah, I... I know. I have to really. I really try to cool it. I can. No, you're good. You're good.

I don't know if I knew or not. No, people did.

I don't know if I knew or not. No, people did.

Of course. Where were you? I was teaching.

Of course. Where were you? I was teaching.

I was in the, it was recess, and we were in the basement of the school where the restrooms are, monitoring kids, and one of my colleagues came up to me and said that a passenger plane has been, what was her word? Has been, what was the word?

I was in the, it was recess, and we were in the basement of the school where the restrooms are, monitoring kids, and one of my colleagues came up to me and said that a passenger plane has been, what was her word? Has been, what was the word?

Hijacked. Hijacked. Hijacked, okay. A passenger plane has been hijacked and flown into one of the Trade Center buildings And I just remember, I thought, I just remember those, trying to comprehend those words that she just said to me. How could that be? And I remember, you know, it was just shocking to all of us. And as soon as there was a... Well, then that was recess.

Hijacked. Hijacked. Hijacked, okay. A passenger plane has been hijacked and flown into one of the Trade Center buildings And I just remember, I thought, I just remember those, trying to comprehend those words that she just said to me. How could that be? And I remember, you know, it was just shocking to all of us. And as soon as there was a... Well, then that was recess.

I think they put a TV on in the Resource Center, and we all went in there and were watching, and we were just stunned. I don't know how else to express it. Just stunned. What is going on in this world that this could happen? It was just stunning. Mm-hmm.

I think they put a TV on in the Resource Center, and we all went in there and were watching, and we were just stunned. I don't know how else to express it. Just stunned. What is going on in this world that this could happen? It was just stunning. Mm-hmm.

I remember that. You remember that too? I know right where I was. I do too.

I remember that. You remember that too? I know right where I was. I do too.

It was a very scary time. I know. I was getting ready to make an observation. I was in college at the lab school. My college had a school where it was just a regular school, but it was used for teacher training. And I was waiting to make an observation. And I just wasn't observing the body language of people.

It was a very scary time. I know. I was getting ready to make an observation. I was in college at the lab school. My college had a school where it was just a regular school, but it was used for teacher training. And I was waiting to make an observation. And I just wasn't observing the body language of people.

I remember there was a science teacher who had a cart with all of his science paraphernalia on it. He would probably go from class to class to teach. And there was a janitor, and they stopped and they talked and shook his head back and forth. And I thought, I just could tell there was something wrong. I thought, what is going on here?

I remember there was a science teacher who had a cart with all of his science paraphernalia on it. He would probably go from class to class to teach. And there was a janitor, and they stopped and they talked and shook his head back and forth. And I thought, I just could tell there was something wrong. I thought, what is going on here?

And then finally, somebody came up to me and told me that the president had been shot. I don't remember if I knew that he'd died yet or not.

And then finally, somebody came up to me and told me that the president had been shot. I don't remember if I knew that he'd died yet or not.

I think he might have died, but he wasn't pronounced dead. I think he was pretty gone when they shot him. And then I just so happened, I had a history class after that. I had a history class after that. And, of course, that's all the history teacher was talking about. We didn't do any, obviously, we did nothing about school, just talking about that. And I think it was a Friday, wasn't it?

I think he might have died, but he wasn't pronounced dead. I think he was pretty gone when they shot him. And then I just so happened, I had a history class after that. I had a history class after that. And, of course, that's all the history teacher was talking about. We didn't do any, obviously, we did nothing about school, just talking about that. And I think it was a Friday, wasn't it?

To knock you out. Yeah. Wow. So then since you weren't awake, a lot of times they had to use forceps to deliver the baby. Really? Matt had a very dented head. Oh. And his head was very long because I had been in labor for, you know, what do they call pre-labor for several days.

To knock you out. Yeah. Wow. So then since you weren't awake, a lot of times they had to use forceps to deliver the baby. Really? Matt had a very dented head. Oh. And his head was very long because I had been in labor for, you know, what do they call pre-labor for several days.

Griffin seems to call me grandma because Abby does. Yeah, and I call you grandma, but then I feel like...

Griffin seems to call me grandma because Abby does. Yeah, and I call you grandma, but then I feel like...

Yes. It's much better now. So you were... knocked out for both babies no with michael i don't i didn't even know that they kept that great of records but i think i think my doctor knew that i that that the amount that they had given me you know three years earlier was too much and so they cut it back and so i wasn't completely out

Yes. It's much better now. So you were... knocked out for both babies no with michael i don't i didn't even know that they kept that great of records but i think i think my doctor knew that i that that the amount that they had given me you know three years earlier was too much and so they cut it back and so i wasn't completely out

Frippin' do it. Fiffin'.

Frippin' do it. Fiffin'.

GGG. And then... You don't really care what they call you just so you have a relationship with them. Exactly.

GGG. And then... You don't really care what they call you just so you have a relationship with them. Exactly.

I think to eat.

I think to eat.

I worked at a variety store in my hometown, which was a very small town. I probably got the job because the people who owned the store, I went to church with them. And I think I was 16. I think I was. I got 60 cents an hour. 60 cents? Yeah. I did. I guess I wasn't good help. Oh, my goodness. I never even got a raise. I would work from 12 to 5 on Saturdays. Wow. So what does that get you?

I worked at a variety store in my hometown, which was a very small town. I probably got the job because the people who owned the store, I went to church with them. And I think I was 16. I think I was. I got 60 cents an hour. 60 cents? Yeah. I did. I guess I wasn't good help. Oh, my goodness. I never even got a raise. I would work from 12 to 5 on Saturdays. Wow. So what does that get you?

$3.

$3.

$3? $3 for the, and actually $3 would buy a whole lot more back then. I'm sure. Yeah. Would that get you a tank of gas? I wasn't driving. Well, I guess I would be about the age where I was getting a license, but I don't think I put gas in the car. I think my parents did.

$3? $3 for the, and actually $3 would buy a whole lot more back then. I'm sure. Yeah. Would that get you a tank of gas? I wasn't driving. Well, I guess I would be about the age where I was getting a license, but I don't think I put gas in the car. I think my parents did.

I would get a permanent every three months. I would get a fro because it was so easy to take care of. I tried to get rid of my natural fro.

I would get a permanent every three months. I would get a fro because it was so easy to take care of. I tried to get rid of my natural fro.

My mom was a good cook. Is that what you mean? She made good noodles. Yeah, she did, and I didn't get a recipe. I've never made a noodle in my life.

My mom was a good cook. Is that what you mean? She made good noodles. Yeah, she did, and I didn't get a recipe. I've never made a noodle in my life.

They were delicious, though. Yeah. My dad would have a big garden, and she would freeze and can the vegetables and fruits.

They were delicious, though. Yeah. My dad would have a big garden, and she would freeze and can the vegetables and fruits.

I remember hearing about computers being called, I mean, the information highway, and I didn't quite know what they meant. But boy, do I now know now. I mean, it's just awesome what you can learn. You should see her all day every day.

I remember hearing about computers being called, I mean, the information highway, and I didn't quite know what they meant. But boy, do I now know now. I mean, it's just awesome what you can learn. You should see her all day every day.

I don't.

I don't.

Am I? Are you using it? Oh my. Okay. I've heard be careful with it, but I don't know much about that.

Am I? Are you using it? Oh my. Okay. I've heard be careful with it, but I don't know much about that.

Do you listen to our podcasts? I do. I do. I mean, I certainly haven't listened to a hundred. I missed a few, but- Wow.

Do you listen to our podcasts? I do. I do. I mean, I certainly haven't listened to a hundred. I missed a few, but- Wow.

Thank you. That's really sweet. I can't honestly say I've listened to most of them, but I watch you on Instagram all the time. Yes. There's not a day goes by which I don't Instagram. And I do watch the podcast, especially the people that I know. Yes. If I don't know them, but I have watched a few that I didn't know, but mostly it's the people that I kind of know that I've watched. Yeah.

Thank you. That's really sweet. I can't honestly say I've listened to most of them, but I watch you on Instagram all the time. Yes. There's not a day goes by which I don't Instagram. And I do watch the podcast, especially the people that I know. Yes. If I don't know them, but I have watched a few that I didn't know, but mostly it's the people that I kind of know that I've watched. Yeah.

And I've watched, like I say, I've watched some of the others too.

And I've watched, like I say, I've watched some of the others too.

I know people at church will say, I think you're going to have a boy because they had their own philosophies about. That's fun. Mm-hmm.

I know people at church will say, I think you're going to have a boy because they had their own philosophies about. That's fun. Mm-hmm.

Oh, yeah. Last week?

Oh, yeah. Last week?

Oh, don't. Don't. Just cut it there. Let it in there.

Oh, don't. Don't. Just cut it there. Let it in there.

No, she does not want to.

No, she does not want to.

But you still – No, I just suggested you might read something else. But that wasn't – that I was all – I started reading Harry Potter and that was really good. But I got kind of dark. So I – Yeah. Yeah. I see that. So then I quit.

But you still – No, I just suggested you might read something else. But that wasn't – that I was all – I started reading Harry Potter and that was really good. But I got kind of dark. So I – Yeah. Yeah. I see that. So then I quit.

What's going on there? Actually, I know a lot of adults that read them. I know a lot of adults that read the Harry Potter series. Yeah. Maybe it's because a lot of people I knew were teachers. I don't know.

What's going on there? Actually, I know a lot of adults that read them. I know a lot of adults that read the Harry Potter series. Yeah. Maybe it's because a lot of people I knew were teachers. I don't know.

That's true. I love children's literature.

That's true. I love children's literature.

Two was considered what you should have.

Two was considered what you should have.

Oh, that was... Yeah.

Oh, that was... Yeah.

Mm-hmm. Oh, they probably didn't have birth control when you're... Oh, yeah, yeah.

Mm-hmm. Oh, they probably didn't have birth control when you're... Oh, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, that's true. Driving home from the hospital with a new baby... Who knows what they're doing at that? You have no clue what you're in for. Raising a child, it's huge. But you were also in the hospital for how long were you in the hospital? Several days. I know I was in for a week. I was too. A week? Yeah. That was standard. And you would be so weak.

Yeah, that's true. Driving home from the hospital with a new baby... Who knows what they're doing at that? You have no clue what you're in for. Raising a child, it's huge. But you were also in the hospital for how long were you in the hospital? Several days. I know I was in for a week. I was too. A week? Yeah. That was standard. And you would be so weak.

I mean, I was weak as a kitten when I came home. Because you had so much medication? Yeah. Well, you had a lot of stitches from the forceps and everything, you know, and so you're just exhausted. Yeah. Because I don't, you know, I don't remember getting up and walking and... You?

I mean, I was weak as a kitten when I came home. Because you had so much medication? Yeah. Well, you had a lot of stitches from the forceps and everything, you know, and so you're just exhausted. Yeah. Because I don't, you know, I don't remember getting up and walking and... You?

Yeah, right.

Yeah, right.

Usually, if you felt that was necessary, you'd take the child to the principal. And the principal would do it. And they would make that decision. They would do it. Was that the way it was for you?

Usually, if you felt that was necessary, you'd take the child to the principal. And the principal would do it. And they would make that decision. They would do it. Was that the way it was for you?

That's what I taught for the lower grades, like first, second grade mostly.

That's what I taught for the lower grades, like first, second grade mostly.

Well, maybe the kids who were naughty might not have liked the principal.

Well, maybe the kids who were naughty might not have liked the principal.

Well, no, it's not that they were not. I said that a lot of the kids that I happened to teach were, you know, they came from homes where they had very big challenges. Let's put it that way. Very big challenges.

Well, no, it's not that they were not. I said that a lot of the kids that I happened to teach were, you know, they came from homes where they had very big challenges. Let's put it that way. Very big challenges.

Yes.

Yes.

For me, not her, right? No, not necessarily.

For me, not her, right? No, not necessarily.

I didn't know Diane until Matt and Lori.

I didn't know Diane until Matt and Lori.

Not true.

Not true.

I don't think you should talk about that.

I don't think you should talk about that.

Yeah, that's right.

Yeah, that's right.

I guess.

I guess.

Oh. You don't remember? I think you may have invited us to your home. I remember that Greg had all, he really loved antiques, and you had a lot of really interesting antiques in your house. That's kind of something I remember. Mm-hmm. Well, that's interesting.

Oh. You don't remember? I think you may have invited us to your home. I remember that Greg had all, he really loved antiques, and you had a lot of really interesting antiques in your house. That's kind of something I remember. Mm-hmm. Well, that's interesting.

It's much easier to be the mother of the groom than it is to be the mother of the bride.

It's much easier to be the mother of the groom than it is to be the mother of the bride.

Your main responsibility is a rehearsal dinner. That's true.

Your main responsibility is a rehearsal dinner. That's true.

You know, it could be individual parents make those decisions.

You know, it could be individual parents make those decisions.

I was delighted with Lori. She was a darling blonde girl, so cute. She was a catch for Matt, a real catch for Matt. And he really hadn't dated much.

I was delighted with Lori. She was a darling blonde girl, so cute. She was a catch for Matt, a real catch for Matt. And he really hadn't dated much.

Oh, that's not true of Lori. I don't know. I bet really not very much. There might have been one other girl or maybe two at college. He did not go to prom or homecoming.

Oh, that's not true of Lori. I don't know. I bet really not very much. There might have been one other girl or maybe two at college. He did not go to prom or homecoming.

Matt is not.

I know. Skips a generation. Skips a generation there. That's funny. Yeah, I wanted him to. And his brother did those things, but not Matt.

I wished he would, but, you know, you can't force somebody to do something like that.

Yeah, I don't even think he would. You know, sometimes guys go together, but I don't recall that he even did that. I wouldn't be surprised. I liked his guy friends. He had nice friends. So I didn't have any big complaints about him that way.

But it had no protection. If you'd throw the brakes on, the baby would probably die.

and everyone's calling them Barbie and Ken they were a real cute couple

And so that was part of it, I think.

There wasn't even a seat belt law then. It wasn't a real safety car seat. If you'd throw the brakes on, the baby'd probably fly. Oh my gosh.

Did they go in the back seat? No, I think I carried the baby in my arms sitting in the passenger seat. I carried the baby home.

We didn't. I didn't know that it was a granddaughter. Did you? Maybe you knew, but I didn't.

Well, I really wanted a girl because after having two boys, I was hoping to have a little girl in the family. That's sweet.

I took that half day off from school, and I was so looking forward to it. This is terrible. Oh, it's okay.

No, a Kleenex would be better.

Oh, but poor thing, don't say that.

Do not say that. She is not, but... She was a blessing. Thank you. There's more detail to that, but we're not going into that, but... Yeah, she was a blessing. And I took that, I was so excited. I took a half day off school because I would have taken the whole day, but your mother was going to be induced like at four o'clock in the afternoon, wasn't it? Oh, I remember that.

Yes, I definitely remember that. And I thought, well, I shouldn't take the whole day off. But I'll take half. And I couldn't. Oh, my feet weren't even touching the ground when I left the school that day. And we went to the hospital and waited a long time, didn't we?

I think that's what I did. I don't remember, but I think so. I know. It's been a few years ago. In the front seat? Wow. Yeah.

I can do the math on this.

You were 45. Yeah.

I'm quite a bit older than her. Like 50 and 55? 55 and 51, right? No, I am like four years older than her at least, aren't I? Something like that.

We were in the waiting room. Oh, okay.

It's intense. Yeah. It's nerve-wracking. Yeah.

There wasn't even a seat belt law then, was there? Oh, I'm sure not.

Yes, a long time before you actually had a date. Yeah, because your mother told me about, she says, there's this great guy that would make a great guy for Abby. He's great.

handsome he they have so many similarities they both love acting and and he's outgoing like abby abby and everything you know we i mean for years before she told us about you oh this was for years before i even asked at least two years oh it was a while a year or two yeah

I know. There was nothing to bash about them. There really weren't that many. No, she just had dates for special occasions, but nothing serious. I just had dates for fun, man. Yeah, like prom and homecoming. Just to keep it fun.

Well, I know your parents were very concerned about that. And actually, we were kind of on your side, but we didn't really want to try to promote, you know, something. The bad influence. Well, not bad influence. I mean, we didn't want to. But you came to our house to tell us how bad it was, you know, that things weren't going so well. Yeah.

really yeah the the seat that you put the baby in was called an infant seat and it was just a plastic wasn't it was it just i think and you'd put a blanket in it and put the baby in it and hope for the best wow hope for the best don't throw the brakes on

And we did think you were very young and really kind of preferred that you would finish college before you got married. We thought that was what you should really do. But, you know, it really wasn't our decision. We were a couple of generations removed.

And younger than her parents did, too. Yep, younger than the parents.

I wish that you would have, but, you know, it's obvious that it wasn't necessary.

Yes, yes, true, very true.

Oh, my goodness. We had no clue. No clue. Yeah. I remember when you first started doing it, you got, oh, you got a free pizza. Well, that's nice. We got a free pizza? No, you got some free Mexican food. Some Mexican franchise. Oh, yeah. Remember? I thought, well, that's nice. Shout out to Moe's. I had no clue how it could go from there.

Didn't you know that would happen?

It's still weird. It's still, it's amazing. Yeah, it is. It's kind of unbelievable. It is. It really is.

Yes, it is. Our friends, I'll say, well, you know, they have a lot of followers, so they can kind of be, they're like good advertisers, and that makes a lot of money to do that. Yeah. I know. My hairdresser, Chris, he doesn't get it. He doesn't get it?

I had a stroller. But it was a separate stroller, right? Yeah, separate. It wasn't part of the plastic infant seat. Because you've seen how all these like pops into a stroller. No, that's new age to me.

I don't think I explain it very well. Yeah. I just say that they do TikToks, YouTube, and Instagram. Instagram. Well, of course, young people are very familiar with that, but older people don't quite get it.

A couple of times.

Just recently. I was in Dollar General. And this really sweet young woman, the same age as Abby, said something to me. I saw her smile at me in the parking lot. I had a smile back. I thought, what a friendly, sweet girl. And then in the store, she came up to me and she said, you're Abby's grandma, aren't you? I said, yes, I am. And she went on. She said, I went to school with her.

And she told me your name. And that she liked you a lot and she followed you. Remember I told you about her?

And then one time I was in the grocery store and just a very young girl came up to me and said something about seeing me on something. And there's been people at my church have told me.

Of course not. I have a 10-year-old grandson and I follow... I follow him currently. I'm following him. His teacher posts almost everyday pictures and things that are going on in their class. And I get it on my laptop. I follow him. I could on my phone, but I'm not set up to do that. So I watch him on laptop. And I just love all the things they do. I wish I'd known about these things.

No, I don't think so. I was an inventor.

For instance, we had the kids sit at desks for the most part. And then... A lot of teachers went to the tables. I never really did. I pushed desks together, but I still wanted to have their stuff in their desk instead of having them in a cubby. I wasn't really doing it the way they liked, but...

But I like the way my grandson's class and his sister and brother before him, I followed them whenever their teacher, it was their choice whether or not they post this information. But they can sit almost anywhere they want, any way they want. And sometimes there are kids who have energy. They can go and jump on a trampoline or something to kind of get their energy.

Just wonderful ideas like that. Those are all new to me. Were you familiar with those? No. I think they call it alternative seating in school.

And I really wasn't familiar with it. And then I just saw something not too long ago. They were doing a math sheet, and she turned the lights off in the room, and they could use flashlights to do their math sheet, you know, just fun ways to do things.

No.

And I can't even begin to describe all the fun.

That's a whole lot of work to keep that updated. Yeah, she posts that and puts little sentences on it explaining what they're doing and takes several pictures. And you can just see, hoping you'll see your grandson in one of the pictures. So it's really neat.

It was great. It was a big deal. Because you could look and see. Instead of ordering, I don't like to order things. I like to see what I'm buying. I loved that they had the store where you could go.

Yes, lots of money. But also, I know in our public school system, each teacher was allotted so much money for supplies, like getting ready for the next year maybe. And I would go there and get stuff for my next school year.

You say before. I mean, I remember watching I Love Lucy on TV as an adult. Didn't you? Sure. Yeah.

Okay. Wasn't it the 50s? I remember watching it when I lived at home with my parents, I think. I remember my mother really cracking up. The 50s.

I think community theater was kind of her launching pad for that kind of thing. Yeah. Yeah, she was in the best Christmas pageant ever. She and her brother, were you like seven and five?

The memorization of those lines.

I think I saw every performance.

It was just awesome. It really was.

You're almost at the beginning of television there. I was 10 years old in 54. Oh.

One play for four years in a row. Four years in a row. And yeah, we knew somebody in Quincy who had season tickets to the Muny. And... Your mom would make arrangements for us to get them and pay him back for them. So we could have, is it called box seats? Right in the front. Because I remember the first performance, we were back a ways. I can't see her. It was frustrating. You had to look quick.

You didn't have big roles. The last one you had quite a few when you were a flying monkey and all that. My big debut.

The Muni is an awesome place to go. There's nothing like outdoor theater in the summertime there. Oh, it's the best place in the world.

I think we stayed with Mike and Jen.

It was fun. It really was.

No, I didn't have to discipline her.

Yeah, Grandma, you did, and you were pregnant. Oh, yes, I was. It wasn't a very fast moving. I was on State Street. Somebody bumped me from behind, and when I got out of the car, I was pretty far along, and the guy behind me was just scared to death. He says, are you all right?

But then they showed reruns for years after that, I think.

I was about nine months. Oh, no. Well, he was born a little bit early, so I was about as far as I was going to get. Yeah. I think it was like the week before he was born. The man was very concerned for me, but I was okay. I think my car was, too.

Not fast at all.

Cars were really bigger on the inside. I can remember being down in the plane, I mean, being on the floor, sitting on the floorboard.

We didn't have a station wagon, but my dad would try to drive through. We just went to Tennessee, and we would try to drive through, and one day... To get there so we wouldn't be staying in hotels. We did too.

Yeah.

I don't remember even working out in those days. Pregnant or not, I don't remember working out very much.

I walked a lot. I walked a lot. I would push Matt in a stroller around the neighborhood a lot. Mm-hmm.

Probably. I don't remember. I mean, you just have to go by what the hospital rules are.

Well, it was Jane Fonda.

Yeah.

Yes, I've heard of that before. Wait, really?

Was that ever something that you tried out? I don't even know people really knowing the science behind those fad diets.

I remember hearing about the grapefruit diet, but I don't remember doing it. I was in Topps Clubs a couple times.

No, this was actually so unacceptable. And Weight Watchers, of course, too.

Didn't you have a mantra you had to say at your fitness class? We had a thing we said. Say it.

I don't think so. The boys, my boys can because they went with me to it. You don't remember it? I had to take them. I mean, it wasn't like I was going to get a babysitter for Topps Club, so they went with me to Topps Club. What does top stand for? Take off pounds sensibly.

Say it, say it.

I am an intelligent person. I will not use food to satisfy my... Frustrated desires build up my injured ego or dull my senses. Something like that.

Toxic. Yeah. Hopefully they have learned a lot. See, they didn't know the science. Just like you talk about those. I don't think anybody knew the science behind those dyes. Do you?

Let's see. Something like that.

Probably. Well, yeah, I'm sure I did. Well, I mean, I don't think it was very much. It was just probably a few cents or something. I mean, it wasn't a big amount of money.

Mostly you were counting calories. Interesting. You were counting calories.

Sure.

Popcorn and all kinds of things.

I think some people still count calories. No. Yeah.

You shouldn't beat yourself up about it.

You're fun grandmas. Well, we do. I certainly do. I love shopping with both of you. Do you remember your grandma? Oh, yeah.

Oh, I know it. Women of that age, like my grandma, Nelson, she had a lot of kids. They didn't all survive. She had a rough life, really. I mean, they did everything from scratch. At least my grandma did. Even your mom did. They worked hard. They worked hard. They did.

I think when you're raised by parents like that, they want you to get an education. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Well, in my immediate family, I was.

Mm-hmm.

How old were you during World War II? You had to be really young. Well, I was born in 44, so that was kind of, the war was still going on, but it was about, it was toward the end of it.

Yes. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, they've changed. That's for sure.

I kind of, I remember the burning of the bras. Oh, yeah, that's true.

I don't know. What was that?

I don't know. I can't even remember. Maybe that's too progressive for you guys. I can't even believe you're asking that question.

But when I was in high school, I remember thinking, well, do I want to be a nurse or do I want to be a teacher? Yeah, exactly. I didn't really see any other.

That's about it. I didn't see other opportunities for women.

No, I never heard of a woman engineer. Really, I didn't. There may have been. I'm sure there were. I didn't know any. But I didn't know. I didn't certainly know any.

Yeah, a lot of women were secretaries. But that's about all I can remember women being. I remember I went to a school at Western Illinois University. It was very much of an agricultural school because that's an agricultural area. But at that time... But, I mean, there were no, I'm pretty sure there were no women in the agriculture department. But now I have a great niece.

She's majoring in some phase of agriculture. And I have another, my husband had a cousin's daughter who is an agriculture teacher, and she's outstanding teacher.

The medication that they gave me just, it did, it just put me to sleep.

I kind of think so. Yeah, it was. Yeah, I used to like to play school.

I liked school a lot when I was a kid. I loved school. I loved my teachers. I don't know if they loved me as much as I loved them. They were pretty strict. They were strict. You know, teachers were pretty strict when I went to school. How so? I don't remember ever being hugged by a teacher when I was, you know, really, they just didn't do that.

So you just woke up and your baby's there. I woke up and I said, I asked, have I had my baby? Yeah. I had a horrible headache. And so she put her hand on me and said, yes, you have. I said, what was it? Because you didn't know. You didn't know. No. They didn't have ultrasound or whatever it is that you, is that what you have to see what the sex of the baby is?

And I think it was much different for even my dad. I remember him. I remember he admired his teachers very much. They were really respected in the community. And if you got in trouble in school, you were going to get in trouble at home too because they really respected the teachers. And you did not ever disrespect the teacher. That has really changed.

Oh, definitely.

Definitely. Definitely.

Yeah. It all stems from the home. And unfortunately, American family is just not what it used to be.

I don't know. I shouldn't say. I'm no expert.

It feels that way. Your perception, how you feel.

Part of it was the schools that I taught in.

But your mother, you should have her on a podcast about...

Oh, yeah. I have, but I don't look too often. How does it make you feel? I was like, oh, yeah. Terrible. Yeah, I don't want anybody saying anything against my great-grandchildren. I know, I don't like it.

And blood tests do also show that. No, I didn't. Did you?

I know sometimes I've been tempted to comment them, and I think, well, no, don't do that.

Yeah, I... I know. I have to really. I really try to cool it. I can. No, you're good. You're good.

I don't know if I knew or not. No, people did.

Of course. Where were you? I was teaching.

I was in the, it was recess, and we were in the basement of the school where the restrooms are, monitoring kids, and one of my colleagues came up to me and said that a passenger plane has been, what was her word? Has been, what was the word?

Hijacked. Hijacked. Hijacked, okay. A passenger plane has been hijacked and flown into one of the Trade Center buildings And I just remember, I thought, I just remember those, trying to comprehend those words that she just said to me. How could that be? And I remember, you know, it was just shocking to all of us. And as soon as there was a... Well, then that was recess.

I think they put a TV on in the Resource Center, and we all went in there and were watching, and we were just stunned. I don't know how else to express it. Just stunned. What is going on in this world that this could happen? It was just stunning. Mm-hmm.

I remember that. You remember that too? I know right where I was. I do too.

It was a very scary time. I know. I was getting ready to make an observation. I was in college at the lab school. My college had a school where it was just a regular school, but it was used for teacher training. And I was waiting to make an observation. And I just wasn't observing the body language of people.

I remember there was a science teacher who had a cart with all of his science paraphernalia on it. He would probably go from class to class to teach. And there was a janitor, and they stopped and they talked and shook his head back and forth. And I thought, I just could tell there was something wrong. I thought, what is going on here?

And then finally, somebody came up to me and told me that the president had been shot. I don't remember if I knew that he'd died yet or not.

I think he might have died, but he wasn't pronounced dead. I think he was pretty gone when they shot him. And then I just so happened, I had a history class after that. I had a history class after that. And, of course, that's all the history teacher was talking about. We didn't do any, obviously, we did nothing about school, just talking about that. And I think it was a Friday, wasn't it?

To knock you out. Yeah. Wow. So then since you weren't awake, a lot of times they had to use forceps to deliver the baby. Really? Matt had a very dented head. Oh. And his head was very long because I had been in labor for, you know, what do they call pre-labor for several days.

Griffin seems to call me grandma because Abby does. Yeah, and I call you grandma, but then I feel like...

Yes. It's much better now. So you were... knocked out for both babies no with michael i don't i didn't even know that they kept that great of records but i think i think my doctor knew that i that that the amount that they had given me you know three years earlier was too much and so they cut it back and so i wasn't completely out

Frippin' do it. Fiffin'.

GGG. And then... You don't really care what they call you just so you have a relationship with them. Exactly.

I think to eat.

I worked at a variety store in my hometown, which was a very small town. I probably got the job because the people who owned the store, I went to church with them. And I think I was 16. I think I was. I got 60 cents an hour. 60 cents? Yeah. I did. I guess I wasn't good help. Oh, my goodness. I never even got a raise. I would work from 12 to 5 on Saturdays. Wow. So what does that get you?

$3.

$3? $3 for the, and actually $3 would buy a whole lot more back then. I'm sure. Yeah. Would that get you a tank of gas? I wasn't driving. Well, I guess I would be about the age where I was getting a license, but I don't think I put gas in the car. I think my parents did.

I would get a permanent every three months. I would get a fro because it was so easy to take care of. I tried to get rid of my natural fro.

My mom was a good cook. Is that what you mean? She made good noodles. Yeah, she did, and I didn't get a recipe. I've never made a noodle in my life.

They were delicious, though. Yeah. My dad would have a big garden, and she would freeze and can the vegetables and fruits.

I remember hearing about computers being called, I mean, the information highway, and I didn't quite know what they meant. But boy, do I now know now. I mean, it's just awesome what you can learn. You should see her all day every day.

I don't.

Am I? Are you using it? Oh my. Okay. I've heard be careful with it, but I don't know much about that.

Do you listen to our podcasts? I do. I do. I mean, I certainly haven't listened to a hundred. I missed a few, but- Wow.

Thank you. That's really sweet. I can't honestly say I've listened to most of them, but I watch you on Instagram all the time. Yes. There's not a day goes by which I don't Instagram. And I do watch the podcast, especially the people that I know. Yes. If I don't know them, but I have watched a few that I didn't know, but mostly it's the people that I kind of know that I've watched. Yeah.

And I've watched, like I say, I've watched some of the others too.

I know people at church will say, I think you're going to have a boy because they had their own philosophies about. That's fun. Mm-hmm.

Oh, yeah. Last week?

Oh, don't. Don't. Just cut it there. Let it in there.

No, she does not want to.

But you still – No, I just suggested you might read something else. But that wasn't – that I was all – I started reading Harry Potter and that was really good. But I got kind of dark. So I – Yeah. Yeah. I see that. So then I quit.

What's going on there? Actually, I know a lot of adults that read them. I know a lot of adults that read the Harry Potter series. Yeah. Maybe it's because a lot of people I knew were teachers. I don't know.

That's true. I love children's literature.

Two was considered what you should have.

Oh, that was... Yeah.

Mm-hmm. Oh, they probably didn't have birth control when you're... Oh, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, that's true. Driving home from the hospital with a new baby... Who knows what they're doing at that? You have no clue what you're in for. Raising a child, it's huge. But you were also in the hospital for how long were you in the hospital? Several days. I know I was in for a week. I was too. A week? Yeah. That was standard. And you would be so weak.

I mean, I was weak as a kitten when I came home. Because you had so much medication? Yeah. Well, you had a lot of stitches from the forceps and everything, you know, and so you're just exhausted. Yeah. Because I don't, you know, I don't remember getting up and walking and... You?

Yeah, right.

Usually, if you felt that was necessary, you'd take the child to the principal. And the principal would do it. And they would make that decision. They would do it. Was that the way it was for you?

That's what I taught for the lower grades, like first, second grade mostly.

Well, maybe the kids who were naughty might not have liked the principal.

Well, no, it's not that they were not. I said that a lot of the kids that I happened to teach were, you know, they came from homes where they had very big challenges. Let's put it that way. Very big challenges.

Yes.

For me, not her, right? No, not necessarily.

I didn't know Diane until Matt and Lori.

Not true.

I don't think you should talk about that.

Yeah, that's right.

I guess.

Oh. You don't remember? I think you may have invited us to your home. I remember that Greg had all, he really loved antiques, and you had a lot of really interesting antiques in your house. That's kind of something I remember. Mm-hmm. Well, that's interesting.

It's much easier to be the mother of the groom than it is to be the mother of the bride.

Your main responsibility is a rehearsal dinner. That's true.

You know, it could be individual parents make those decisions.

I was delighted with Lori. She was a darling blonde girl, so cute. She was a catch for Matt, a real catch for Matt. And he really hadn't dated much.

Oh, that's not true of Lori. I don't know. I bet really not very much. There might have been one other girl or maybe two at college. He did not go to prom or homecoming.