Irene: 1974

Don't know just how old I was when sister Lena operated on my hair.  She really got right next to my scalp!  Tried to hide me in the hen house until it could grow out, assuring me that mom would never miss me and that Lena, herself, would keep me well fed and watered.  This worked for about an hour--until Mama got real thirsty.  She thought nobody would run fast enough to get her a real "cold"drink of  water from the spring, so she'd always say, "Rene, run and get me a cold drink of fresh water--you can get there and back while the others are thinking about it."  This little pat on the back was all I needed --compliments were few and far between--so I

grabbed two zinc buckets and took off like a streak of greased lightning!