Vinegar

Hello Dear Reader,
The Carter household was always full of happiness and laughter. Grandpa and Grandma bought a wonderful new stereo and, when Grandpa returned home after several days on the road, he often had a new album or two for the family to listen and dance to. And we danced a lot. The girls dated fairly frequently, went to church activities regularly, and hung out with the girls who served as office staff in the Church Building office. They also "laid out," working to get beautiful tans which were usually preceded by terrible burns.

One evening LeAnn had a date with Kenneth McIntosh, a young man in the Data Processing program at DeKalb Tech with Marilyn. The girls had been in the sun all day and when they went indoors they were pretty red. But no matter, they knew the cure--apply vinegar liberally. The vinegar took the burn out of the skin but left a rather pungent smell. LeAnn, however, looked georgeous and we were all anxious to see her off on her date.

When Kenneth arrived we all gathered to see his reaction to our beautiful LeAnn. He was polite but it wasn't long until he said something like, "You smell good. What kind of perfume do you have on?" LeAnn quickly responded, "It's Vin-e-garr." I still laugh when I think about it, nearly 47 years later.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Life Goes On--Even Better

Hello Dear Reader,
It wasn't long until the Carter family settled into a routine. Neither Grandpa or Grandma mention anything specific in their life stories after summer and for the rest of 1964 except that the three children still at home were in school and that we moved from Stone Mountain into Decatur. I seem to remember that the lease was up on the house in Stone Mountain. But, anyway, the move put Grandpa closer to his office in Decatur and it was only a few minutes more for Marilyn and LeAnn to get to school. Billy had to change schools again but he seemed to be happy.

We were now about 10 minutes closer to the stake center in Atlanta where we attended church. Grandma was called to serve as a counselor in the Atlanta Stake Relief Society presidency and we made many good friends at church.

We all learned to appreciate the Southern culture. The civility of the Southern people, their hospitality, their soft-spoken ways, their charm, and their gentle sense of humor all enhanced our outlook on life and made us better people for being there. The slower pace of life, the beauty of the area, and the mild climate also contributed to our sense of well-being. It was easy to love living in the South.
Love,
Aunt Genni

Formal and Informal Education

Hello Dear Reader,
A new technical school was opening up in Clarkston, DeKalb County--a school free to anyone who lived in the area. This appeared to be an opportunity too good to pass up. So, with their drivers' licenses in their purses, LeAnn and Marilyn decided to inquire about the credentials and the courses that would be offered at the highly-touted school. After a tour of the facilities, LeAnn enrolled in Secretarial Science and Marilyn enrolled in Data Processing Technology. It would be fun to be in school together again. And this only about five minutes from home.

Thus began a new adventure for the Carter sisters. For the next eleven months every day was an adventure. Grandpa (Wes) and Grandma (Mary) Carter provided a car for them to drive. Sometimes it was the Volkswagon station wagon that the family had purchased in Germany--a total lemon. The girls had to be sure to park on a hill so, when the car wouldn't start, they could take off the emergency brake, roll down the hill, and pop the clutch to get the engine to turn over. They were learning more than secretarial and data processing skills.
Love,
Aunt Genni