Time Travel Tuesdays~Superstitious Much?

When I was a little girl my cousins and I had big plans for just about everything. We were going to become world famous animal doctors and save all of the injured and sick animals on our farm. We started by saving baby sparrows that had fallen from their nests, and we ran to pull stickers out of our doggies' paws whenever they came limping. We were going to build the world's biggest house out of straw bales, catch the Mogollon Monster and sell him to a circus, and dig our very own Grand Canyon with the help of our father's irrigation trenches.

One of our biggest dreams was to pack a lunch with PB&J sandwiches and Barg's root beer and set out to find The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine in the Superstition Mountains east of our dairy. Of course we would succeed, become so rich we could buy all of the root beer we wanted, and we'd be home in time for dinner! We were young and smart plus we had access to some bikes, a little red wagon, and a shetland pony and cart! Matt could figure out any problem and he drew the most amazing treasure maps. If he couldn't figure out where it was then nobody could! We never did get to take that adventure (most likely a good thing!) and a lot of people have tried and failed. Some say they've found it but the gold is gone. We'll never know!

I have been thinking about home a lot. I have several homes in my heart, always including the one where I currently hang my hat; but the one I often miss is my childhood home of Mesa, Arizona. People tell me it's so different now and that I wouldn't recognize it. I know that. I've been back, though not as often as I'd like. There are parts of it that still look pretty much the same, and places that will never change. One of those is the beautiful mountain ridges that outline the valley. Here is a vintage post card I found online. It is postmarked Feb. 8, 1917 and sent by a vacationer to her friends back in New York City. She marvels at how lovely and warm it is in Arizona. She says they took a drive out on the Apache Trail to Globe and back. What a drive on what was then dirt roads, I'm sure! But certainly not too hot in February!

The following photo is one of my Grandpa Frank Ellsworth. It's a bit blurry but judging from the car I'd say this was taken in the 1950's. It looks a lot like where we went on a few desert picnics and ward parties. This is most likely a pull-out near one of the trail heads for some of those hikes that my nephews Tyler & Tom and their families love to take.

This is a post card from 1974 showing the mountains with Apache Junction in the foreground. It was just beginning to grow then. Still a lot of desert around.

Last week the folks around the Phoenix area went a little crazy. It snowed! Literally snow on the valley floor which doesn't happen very often! As a girl I recall snow on the Superstitions, a dusting up top that lasted a few hours or so but this...

Wow!
 I have lived in Utah for a total of about 24 years in my life. I have seen more snow that this in my neighborhood, But for the Superstitions to have that much snow all at once was a sight to behold. Aren't they pretty? And all of that gold is still in there somewhere, and quite cold! Is anyone up for a little adventure? I'll bring the root beer and the little red wagon!

Time Travel Tuesday ~ Seventy Years Ago

June 5, 1942 ~ Mesa, Arizona

George Dean Ellsworth married Helen Hamblin in the Arizona Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  In that historic and beautiful place my parents were sealed together not just "as long as you both shall live" but for Time and all Eternity. This knowledge has been very comforting to all of us since we lost Dad in 2003. I know with all of my heart that my dear father lives on in spirit. I know that he watches over us because I have felt that wonderful presence and spiritual confirmation. I know that we will all be resurrected and that this marriage that was sealed on Earth will continue on into the Eternities. Families are indeed forever and I am so glad to be part of this one!

The above photo has always been very dear to me. Look at the two of them! My father was one month shy of 21 years of age and my mother was not yet twenty. They look happy and Dad looked proud. (Posture! He always emphasized that, you know.) There was a war raging in Europe and the Pacific. Pearl Harbor had rocked their world only six months earlier. Through all of the uncertainty of the future they found each other and fell deeply in love. Their faith and the promise of Forever would carry them both through the next few trying years.

Does Mom look a bit wilted here? It was June in Arizona!

 The temple only had evaporative coolers then. Wow! Bless them all!

In this photo are my parents up front, behind them from left to right are middle row- Lora Ellsworth Hunsaker, Annie Dean Ellworth (Dad's mother), Ida Lee Hamblin (Mom's mother), back row- Naomi Ellsworth Harris, Roy Elmo Harris, George Franklin Ellsworth Jr. (Dad's father), & Alta Ellsworth Standage (Dad's aunt).  This must have been a very tender day for my Granny Hamblin. She had lost her sweetheart only 6 1/2 months earlier. How comforting the Gospel of Jesus Christ must have been to her on that day.

Aren't they a darling couple? Here they are a few months into married life. My mother has shared her memories of that day. This grapefruit tree, the sight of many family pictures, is where they stood that evening to greet their guests at the reception. It was in the front yard of the Ellsworth's home on North Hobson Street in Mesa. The property is still there but sadly the lovely bungalow home is not. For many years the old grapefruit tree stood in front of the apartments that stand there now,  just north of Pioneer Park. Is it still there? Mom recalls that Dad's sisters provided the music that night. She will have to remind me whether it was Ruth or Lora who played the piano. Dora played this violin. They also had a fun punch bowl. It was a block of ice with the "bowl" carved out of the center. It survived the heat of the night and kept that punch cold. The veil Mom wore was given to her by Dad's younger sister Naomi. She wore it on her wedding day one year earlier.

 I wanted to include this picture of Aunt Noni and Uncle Roy because it shows the veil and the Ellsworth home in the background as well. I am sure it was quite similar the night of Mom and Dad's reception; chairs borrowed from the church, flowers on the trellis, family gathered at home. It makes me long for simpler times! Do you notice someone on the front porch in a long dress? I have always wondered who that is and what they are carrying.

 

Later on that June night my parents heard a tapping at their downtown Mesa hotel window. One of Mom's sisters was calling, "Helen! Helen! Come outside! There is something I need to tell you!"

Psssh! Did they really think that the newlyweds were going to fall for the old Shivaree attempt? Not these two! It was customary for the bride and groom's friends to attempt a kidnapping and stage such antics as running the bride up and down Main Street in a wheel barrow and trying to keep the couple apart all  night long. I am glad they had the sense to stay inside that night!

I love these old family stories. I love my parents. How I wish my Dad were here today to celebrate 70 years of marriage with my Mom. I know he is with her though, just as surely as the sun rose this morning I know I will see him again and that our family will have an Eternity of love and togetherness!

Time Travel Tuesdays~

I have had the most nostalgic feelings for my growing-up years lately. Maybe it's because my sweet mother was with me for three weeks after the surgery. She went home last Wednesday and I sure do miss her! We spent some time looking at old photos together and I got to ask her lots of questions about the good old days. It got me wondering about some of my old favorite things about my Mesa home.

One of those favorites was this sign way out on East Main Street. The Diving Lady at the Starlight Motel fascinated me. I would beg for Mom and Dad to drive by her at night so I could watch her perform her daring and perfect dive.

 I love this black and white photo. Wasn't my childhood captured in black and white?? This is time lapsed. She only lights up one place at a time until she would completely disappear into the water with hardly a splash. Give her a 10!!

 Here is the old Starlight during the day. I miss palm trees in my life...

 Tragedy struck our Diving Lady in October of last year when a violent wind took her down, all 70 feet of her! Looks like the old pole just gave way. Word was that she was gone for good. There was no money to restore her. No!

From the East Valley Tribune:
"Portions of the nationally known Diving Lady neon sign of the Starlite Motel in east Mesa have been taken apart and she's on the "operating table" at Graham's Neon Electric Sign Specialists in Mesa so workers can see what's needed to fix her. The 78-foot tall neon sign, which features a bikini-clad lady in three stages of a springboard dive, needs to be completely rebuilt.
"We're figuring out how we're going to make her look pretty again," said Larry Graham, owner of Graham's Neon, who has brought two workers on board full-time to help restore the sign. Graham is donating $6,000 worth of labor toward the $65,000 restoration project."

Recently, the Diving Lady has made an appearance at a local mall to show her progress. Oh, how I wish I could see her up close!

I used to crane my neck in the car window to get the full effect. In a world where magic was pulling on a string to make your doll talk, things like this really impressed me! I am so happy she is getting a second chance at life! May she dive for many more generations!

MAGIC!