It was during this period my mom began to blossom. She hadn’t been pregnant for six years. Dad had been steadily employed. They had made a large circle of friends at our church and participated widely in its social life. She took over the head cook responsibility of the kitchen and provided meals for all the functions. It paid her a little and that boosted her morale, I am sure.
She and I started using make-up at the same time. Although we were different ages the learning process was very much the same – too much at first, finally toning it down to a more natural look. We were often perceived to be sisters. Mother, of course, liked it. I wasn’t so sure it should please me but for some reason it did.
My mother was a remarkable lady. She sometimes asked my advice on hair style, clothing selection and health practices. She felt that I was getting more up-to-date information than she had. She often followed my lead and that was good for my ego. I made us closer, too.
Every summer we worked up a wardrobe for the coming year. I had some things, like sweaters and coats, purchased ready-made, but she made or supervised my making garments of a good quality, at least as good a quality as we could afford.
For my Senior Ball I purchased my first formal. It was a modest silk navy taffeta with a Bertha collar. Harry took me. He purchased a corsage, my first, and we danced to a real live orchestra in the Sa Jose Civic Auditorium. That was a first, too.
For graduation exercises other made a white dress of textured rayon material with a waist length cape lined in red. I really liked that ensemble. Of course, we wore caps and gowns for the exercises which were held next door in the Quad at San Jose State.
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