When I Was Your Age...Madison!

To My Granddaughters...
I've watched you grow up...eight beautiful girls!  I think I know you pretty well...but perhaps not as well as I should.  But here is a question...How well do you know me?  Like you, I grew up with two loving grandmothers, but I really didn't know what they were like when they were young.  Where did they go to school?  What kind of music did they like?  What were their hobbies and other favorite things?  Who were their friends?  I sure wish I knew!

So...I got this great idea...I will tell each of you what I was like when I was your age.  Madison...you are the oldest, the first grandchild.  We were so excited to be grandparents!  I cannot believe you will be in high school this fall.  Yikes!

When I was Madison's Age...

I was born in 1955.  It was a VERY good year!  Disneyland opened for the very first time that long ago summer.  Now you know why I love Disneyland so very much...and why I will never get too old to have fun! 

Eighth and Ninth Grades...

This is a picture from my ninth grade yearbook.  Not my best hair day...lol!  When I was in the eighth and ninth grades I loved to write and enter speech and poetry contests...I was pretty good.  I learned to sew and made all my own school clothes.  In ninth grade I was on the yearbook staff and wrote for the school newspaper.

I wore my hair long and in a "flip" like Marlo Thomas in "That Girl,"a TV series that I liked a lot.  Sometimes the boys would tease me and call me "Marlo."  I didn't like being teased...but there are worse things in life than being compared to a pretty actress.  My big dream back then, was to go to BYU, major in Drama...and be a stage actress.

You know how much you love your ipod?  I loved my transistor radio.  I had an earbud...it wasn't stereo...and sometimes I would put it under my pillow and listen to my favorite station...KCPX...all night long. (They hadn't invented ipod pillows yet)  Sometimes in the middle of the night I would get a station playing the Wolfman Jack show...but that was only when the weather was clear.  My favorite group when I was in junior high was...

The Monkees!  Yay!

The Monkees were THE boy band of my day...before NSYNC or New Kids on the Block...or the Jonas Brothers.  I also listened to Sonny and Cher and The Rolling Stones...the Stones have been around since the Stone Age...pun not intended. =D

Beauty and Fashion...

Twiggy was the Super Model when I was your age.  She wore the cutest clothes, but was so skinny that she was controversial.  Here she is on the cover of Seventeen Magazine.  I adored Seventeen, but I couldn't afford it...so I went to the library to read it.  Sometimes for kicks and giggles I would go down to the basement of the library and read the back issues from the decade before and laugh at the outdated styles.

Our dresses were either very, very short or long "Granny Dresses."  If you were lucky, you could afford a pair of...Go Go Boots!  The coolest boots ever!  I wasn't lucky enough to own a pair, but I did get some fishnet stockings...which we held up with garter belts since panty hose hadn't been invented yet.  I wasn't "allowed" to wear makeup, but I was sneaky and bought some of this...

...with my babysitting money (25 cents per hour of torture).  When my mother caught me with it...I told her I needed the brush to get the tangles out of my eyelashes. I once had very long eyelashes like you and your sisters.  Later I bought...

...Great Lash Mascara...the best mascara in the world...and I still use it to this day.  But my eyelashes are no longer so long or full as they used to be.

You have blowdryers, curling irons and crimper/straighteners to style your hair.  I had this portable hair dryer with a bonnet to put on over my rollers...it took forever to dry.  Sometimes I would iron my hair like the hippie girls to make it stick straight.  But it was a losing battle.

An Exciting Era...

The late 60's was an exciting time to be alive.  Everything was progessing so swiftly...the modern age was upon us!  I was so intrigued by the thought of space travel.  I watched the rockets as they were launched into space...and I was glued to the radio in my parents' car on the day that Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon.  I have always loved science fiction...I admit I am a bit of a nerd...and the most handsome man in the world to me at the time was...

Captain Kirk!

It tickles my funny bone to see how science today is gradually creating the scientific wonders found on Star Trek...especially communicators.  Cell phones!  Who would have thought it? One day...if you are very, very good...you will quit losing your Ipod Touch and may even have a cell phone of your own. 

The Impossible Dream...

In ninth grade I wrote a poem about the moon landing for Americanism Week and won first place!  It's pretty cheesy...but cut me some slack...I was only 14 when I wrote it.

The Impossible Dream

On alien soil lie the prints

Of strangers from a planet far.

A dream fulfilled since first mankind

Hitched his wagon to a star.

In silence tense, a world awaits,

And counts each second ticking by.

Rockets burst!  The glowing flame

Lights the early morning sky.

The missle gleaming in the sun,

Soon swallowed up among the clouds,

Leaves a wisp of smokey trail

For the watchful, earth-bound crowds.

The mighty "Eagle" landed

On a vast and barren sea.

Neil Armstrong took mankinds' first step

On the Base of Tranquility.

Gone now, but something left behind

Remains to tell the story.

Planted firm in lunar soil,

Stand proud and free "Old Glory."

Well, Madison...

That was me in a nutshell.  I could probably tell you more...and I would love to share stories with you sometime.  I wish you lived closer so we could spend more time together.  I love you and...

Love, Grandma Shirley

New Picture...American Fork Junior High

Added February 29, 2012

Out of This World!

Packing our Bags...
The mister and I are packing our bags and getting ready to leave tomorrow for other lands...Adventure Land, Frontier Land, Fantasy Land and especially Tomorrow Land.  After all the happy wedding chaos, it's nice to have a chance to unwind.  I still have not had a chance to work on some of my after-Christmas goals...I hope I can return on Monday with a new lease on life and renewed ambition.  The 70 degree sunny weather will help a lot!

See you soon!

Lovely Dotty Swap Gifts!

Going Dotty!
I couldn't wait to unwrap the dotty tissue paper to see what my swap partner Betsy fromThe Little Red Hen at Home had sent me.  Look at all the red and aqua happiness!  I've been loving that color combination lately...as my endless Pinboards will attest...and sweet Betsy picked up on it.  All her gifts were handmade...I feel so special!  I wish I could say I made all of Betsy's gifts myself...but I didn't even remember to take a picture, so excited was I to get them in the mail.

What Betsy made...

The Dear Dotty Apron.

I've decided there must always be an apron in this spot on the kitchen wall.

Sweet Coordinating Potholder

It has joined the apron on the kitchen wall...too cute to be separated!

Pincushion Notion Jar

I've pinned several of these because I love them so much...

...for now it joins my Zetta Letters in my office!

Thank You, Dear Betsy!

And thanks to Holly of Cutie Pie Cottage for hosting such a fun swap!

Well done!

Cute Dotty Cherry Mugs...

Cutest Enamelware Mugs!

I picked these up at the D.I. thrift store for 50 cents each!

Could make cute Valentines gifts next year.

The Wedding is over at last...

I intended to post pictures of  the wedding decorations...but in the happy chaos I forgot to take my camera!  Fortunately the photographer graciously photographed all my decor...but I haven't received a picture disk yet...when I do I will be excited to show you how nice everything looked.  It was a lovely evening!

Happy Valentines Day!





Send in the Clowns!

Don't bother...they're here...
Left is another entry in the parade of dress form people I have been having fun with.  I have a wedding in three days and I should be concentrating on the endless list of chores that need to be done...instead I have been practicing creative avoidance.  My list of characters keeps getting longer and longer.  I had to go back to Popalicious Too  the Etsy shop, and order a few more.  There are so many projects I want to do...but when inspiration strikes...one has to act while the iron is hot!

One inspiration for a future DFP came from Pinterest...the coolest, wickedest looking witch.  I'm sure mine will be radically different when I'm done...but isn't she cool!  I will be looking out for the perfect paper to use for her dress.

She is a creation of...

Hudson's Holidays Etsy Shop

A little bit of a closeup.

I found the cute wee redbird in a box of random vintage Christmas doo-dads.

Some Random Shower Pics....

The Cupcakes!  Red Velvet from Dippidee.  So yummy!

More Door Prizes...the prettiest mugs ever from the Disney Store.

My sweet Amber at the party.

Thank you for letting me share some of my projects and ideas.  I've gotten so much inspiration from all of you!  

Dress Form Fun!

Project for a Lazy Sunday...

I wanted to show Andrea of The Cottage Market what I made with one of the fun dress form kits she sent me.  I couldn't think of a good name for this piece...Angel of Music or Time Flies, perhaps?  I just know that I had a fun time playing with it.  I will make another soon with butterfly wings...a friend for Tinkerbell...or a rival! =D  The wings were from The Graphics Fairy.  Thank you, Andrea, for the inspiration.  Stop by and visit her cute Etsy shops!



"We the People"...Mel's Replies!

In His Own Words...
My dear husband brought to my attention that my last post about The Lost Plane was sadly lacking.  He said "I enjoyed reading about the invitation from "We the People" radio program...but you only posted the questions they asked Grandpa Mel...not his answers. I wanted to read it in his own words."  So I will repost the questions from the "We the People" letter of January 1938...and Mel's handwritten replies.




"Dear Mr. Bass..."
Yes, I am willing to come to New York and appear on your program, if all my expenses are paid.  As far as I know now, I could make the trip any time within the next month or so.

The Western Air Express passenger plane was lost Dec. 15, 1936, but wasn't found until June 6, 1937--nearly 6 months later.  I will try to answer the questions to the best of my ability.

Q. What were you doing on December 15th?
A.  I live up Fort Canyon, 3 miles north of Alpine, Utah, and almost at the foot of Lone Peak.  Alpine is about 8 miles east of the regular Los Angeles-Salt Lake air route.  On Dec. 15, 1936, at about 3:30 a.m. we were awakened by our boy's coughing.  About 4:05 we hadn't gone back to sleep.

Q.  Did you notice the plane in the air?
A.  No, I did not see the plane in the air, but at 4:10 or just before, we heard it coming.  We knew it was off the route.  As it roared past, we jumped to the window to see it, but snow was falling.  The window rattled it was so loud.  The all of a sudden the sound was cut off.  All was silence.

Q.  When did you first hear of or see the wreck?

A.  About 12:30 p.m. that day, a large plane came around the mountain, flying just under the clouds.  We wondered then if the plane we had heard had not reached Salt Lake City. I went to Alpine and reported hearing it at the store about 1 p.m.  Returning to the store at 5 p.m., I was informed by Sheriff Durnell of Utah County about the plane being lost.  But I didn't see the wreck itself until June 11, 1937.

Q.  Exactly when did you first reach the plane?

A.  I saw parts of the plane at the scene of the crash about 8 a.m. June 6, 1937, when I first reached the crash.

Q.  What first met your eyes?

A.  Letters, found by Frank Bateman and Will Healey of Alpine [on] May 25, 1937, localized the search in the Lone Peak area.  I had spent 20 days since Feb. 13 searching.  On the morning of June 6, Emory Andrews and I left my home at 5 o'clock to continue looking.  We proceeded up the mountain, until we reached the region where it was thought the plane would be found.  Andrews climbed one ridge, while I took another.  As I was climbing, I noticed a piece of metal shining in the sun.  Upon arriving at the spot, I tore a piece off the fuselage, which was buried in the snow.  This was about 8 a.m.  Mail, pieces of landing gear, and part of one propeller were lying scattered around.  

Q.  Were there any survivors?

A.  There were no survivors.

Q.  Give us a full description of the wreck.

A.  The plane had crashed within 15 ft. of the top of the mountain near Lone Peak and had toppled over to drop 1000 ft. to rest in Hoagum [sic] Canyon on the north side of the mountain.  There it was covered  by the snow that day and all of the winter's snow.  The main body ws located June 9, 1937 and dug out of the snow on June 11.  There were no bodies found in the cabin as the floor of the plane was torn out by the crash.  The bodies were thrown clear of the wreakage [sic].  The motors were later found about 2000 ft. from the spot where the plane hit the floor of the canyon.  One wing was still intact.  The other was lying parallel with the main body.  The tail was broken off next to the baggage compartment.  The tires were found within 100 ft. of the plane.  One body was found about 200 ft. from the scene of the crash and the others were found within 100 ft.  Mail was scattered as far as three miles.

Old newspaper photos show crew members above.  Below is Hogum Basin...where the plane ended up.

Q.  How many persons were killed?

A.  There were 7 persons killed--a crew of three and four passengers.

Q.  How many people were in your party?

A.  I was given a job helping dig out the wreakage [sic], carrying out the mail, and bodies.  The first body was recovered July 3, 1937, and the last was removed August 11, 1937.  To remove all of the bodies and mail, etc. was no easy task.  We were in constant danger of rock and snow slides.  Everything had to be lifted out of Hoagum [sic] Canyon, over the pass which was 500 ft. above, and carried down the steep mountain side to the horses, a distance of two miles.  They were then placed on pack horses and carried down mountain to the Alpine power house, a distances of about 5 miles.  As the snow melted back it became very hazzardious [sic] to carry the stretchers over the piles of granite boulders [which varied] from rocks the size of water buckets to huge boulders the size of houses.  We had to step or jump over huge holes not knowing how sure our footing would be. There were ususally 8 or 9 men in the parties when the bodies were carried out.

Q.  Where did you take the victims?

A.  The victims were removed from the Alpine power house to Salt Lake City by the Joseph William Taylor Mortuary.

Q.  What was done with the wreckage?

A.  The radios, carborators [sic], instruments and propellers were removed to the offices of the Wester Air Express Company in Salt Lake City for inspection.  The rest of the wreckage is still in Hoagum [sic] Canyon.

Q.  Were you the first person to reach the scene?

A.  I was the first person to reach the scene of the crash.

Q.  What are you doing now?

A.  I am unemployed and looking for work at the present time.

More to Come...

So far I have presented the story from three different perspectives...Grandma Zetta's scrapbook, my father Tad's recollections, and now my Grandpa Mel's account.  When writing of historical events, there may be many different view points...but added all together...they often tell one heck of a story.  There are even more stories to be told pertaining to this adventure...many questions to be asked.  For instance...did Amelia Earhart give up on the Lost Plane after failing to find it in December of 1936?  And another important question...would "Pigeon Post" aid in the recovery efforts and would it revolutionize the newspaper business?  Tune in another day to find out!



The Lost Plane Chapter 3..."We The People!"

A Letter Arrives From New York City...
According to my dad, the publicity Grandpa Mel received for locating the crash site, and the "hub-bub" which followed the lawsuit over the reward, made him a minor celebrity in the tiny town of Alpine, Utah.  The reward money, and the salary he received while working for the Airline on body recovery was enough for the family to live a little better than they had in the previous few years. 

If you recall, Grandpa was able to buy a radio so he could listen to the news without having to leave Fort Canyon to get the news at the local store.  Radio was the main entertainment for people all over the country...with soap operas, game shows and sporting events along with news and weather.

All in all, life was getting back to normal for the Devey family...until January 1938 when the letter from "We The People" arrived in the mail.

"We The People..."
One of the most popular radio shows of the day was called "We The People."  It was a talk show from Phillips H. Lord Inc. Radio Productions. Mr. Lord is the gentleman on the left.  The program billed itself as "truly a cross-section of American Life." All races and ages appreared on We The People...some examples:

• A 91 year old Negro slave.
• An eyewitness to the Chicago fire.
• Indian Chiefs.
• The granddaughter of Charles Dickens.
• Mary and her little lamb. (I am not making this up)
• The man who owns the universe.
• Casey Jones's fireman.
• A man who assisted Pasteur in the first innoculation against rabies.

The list goes on and on.  Would Grandpa Mel be next on the list? 

"Dear Mr. Devey," read the letter, "Would you be willing to come to New York and appear on the radio with us, if all your expenses were paid?" The letter explains a little bit about the radio show, then continues, "We would like to know whether you would be available for a possible broadcast some Thursday night in the very near future necessitating your arrival the preceding Tuesday."  They then asked him a lot of questions about the Lost Plane and asked him to send them the information as soon as possible:

1. What were you doing on December 15th?
2. Did you notice the plane in the air?
3. When did you first hear of or see the wreck?
4. Exactly when did you first reach the plane?
5. What first met your eyes?
6. Were there any survivors?
7. Give us a full description of the wreck.
8. How many persons were killed?
9. How many people were in your party?
10. Where did you take the victims?
11. What was done with the wreckage?
12. Were you the first person to reach the wreck?
13. What are you doing now?

Since the Radio people had kindly sent Grandpa a self-addressed stamped envelope for his reply, Grandpa sat down with a pencil and paper and painstakingly answered the questions.  I can picturing him giving the pencil lead a lick to get started, then getting to work, bent over the paper in the dim light of a single bulb hanging from the ceiling.  But I can't help wondering, since I have those handwritten answers in front of me now...did he send them in?  Maybe he made another (more legible) copy to send to "We The People."  I am sure he was excited about the opportunity...to get his own bite of the Big Apple.  But life is a funny thing sometimes...

The Glitch...
Here's the problem...one of the sponsors of "We The People" was Western Air Express...the very airline who owned the doomed aircraft that crashed on Lone Peak.  He would be flying in the same type of plane and Grandpa Mel's expenses would be paid if full if he were to fly to New York on Western Air Express.

But Grandpa had gotten his fill of airplanes, working at the crash site.  He knew what burned and twisted metal looked like. Could he please travel by train? After some negotiations, the sponsor backed out and Grandpa did not get his trip to New York.  He would have nothing to do with flying for many years.

There is still more of this story to tell.  Tune in again...same time...same station.

As an old-time radio announcer might say...

"This, then, is the program which Mr. Lord has originated.  It is truly the heartbeat of America, for there is more drama, more action, more startling stories in real life than in all the fiction of the world combined...when WE THE PEOPLE speak!"