What do you know about your birth and infancy?
I was born in St. Joseph's Hospital, which was a Catholic hospital, so all the nurses were nuns. When my Mom was in labor with me, her back was hurting and the nurse told her, "oh, stop complaining!" Mom said, "it does hurt! How the h*ll would you know?!" The nurse quickly gave Mom some ether, which knocked her out. She didn't wake up until after she'd delivered me.
How did you get your name?
When my Mom was a little girl, her sister (my Aunt Lucille) couldn't say "LaVon," so she called her "Bon." My middle name is LaVonne. I don't know why my Mom decided to spell it differently.
Tell me about your siblings:
Gail is 3 years younger and I couldn't stand her, except when she was a baby. I never did anything with her. Kathy is 4 years younger and Kim is 6 1/2 years younger. Kevin came along much later, so he is 14 years younger. I was the oldest in my family.
What do you remember about your Grandparents:
My Mother's parents were my Grandma and Grandpa Peterson. I lived in a house that was basically in their backyard. My Grandparents were very sweet. I was spoiled rotten by my unmarried aunts and uncles. I would go to my Grandparent's house almost every Saturday. Grandma paid for my piano lessons and also paid for me to take ice-skating lessons by her house. These Grandparents would read to me and play with me. Grandpa never went to college, but was really interested in geology. He was very smart and could help me with my Chemistry homework. My Father's Mother, Grandma Staker, died when my Dad was 6 months old. I'm not sure what she died of - either cancer or a hot water heater exploded. Grandpa Staker lived in Utah.
What extra-curricular activities were you involved in as a child?
Church activities and Campfire Girls and Bluebirds. When I was 12, 13 and 14 my Mom made me play softball and I hated it. I struck out every time.
What else can you remember about your childhood?
My parents never took me to the doctor, because it cost too much money. The house I moved to when I was in 7th grade had no heat on the side of the house where my bedroom was. There was also no heat in the family room where the piano was. Grandma Peterson taught me how to sew and crochet. When I was in high school I only had 2 outfits to wear; one skirt from Goodwill and one that Grandma gave me. My Dad didn't make a lot of money and didn't spend his money on good things. Also, he was in a car accident and didn't work for a long time, so we never had a lot of money. I was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington. I didn't like going to seminary because it started at 6:00 a.m.
Who were your childhood friends?
I had a really good friend named Jo Robinson. She was my friend when I was 3 and we stayed friends even after I moved further away. She had a house on the Puget Sound beach, and I got to stay there with her for a couple weeks every summer. It was wonderful! I really liked to hang out at my Grandparent's house or Jo's house.
Tell me about your early schooling:
I went to Whitman Elementary School. It was a brick one-story that had a basement with a concrete floor. We would roller-skate on the concrete in the basement. We had recess inside often, because it rained a lot. We'd play hopscotch and dodge ball inside. The school was brand-new the year I started Kindergarten. My favorite teachers were Miss Trotter, my 1st grade teacher, and Mr. Lyon, my English teacher in high school.
What was your favorite subject in school?
Science classes.
How did you get to school every day?
I walked every day until I was in high school. Then I rode the bus.
Did you bring a lunch or buy a school lunch?
I always brought food from home.
What did you do during the summer?
Besides going to the beach house with Jo, I worked and tried to get out of working! I also weeded and weeded and weeded.
{I lost the rest of the interview . . .oops! At least I got this much written down, and I'll interview Bonnie again soon.}
This picture was taken in July, 2006 on the trail by our house.
2 comments:
I am so glad that you have thought to ask these questions. It was really fun to read what they had to say. I'll have to share this with my girls. Hey, I have a new cell #. I sent you an email. Call me.
Wow....this is a keeper interview! Good job!
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