Week 2 (Jan. 8-14): Challenge

The title is Challenge.

My first challenge is the background (ON THIS BLOG).  It hides some of my words when I view it as the blog-  so maybe I'll change it.

As of right now, I have no idea what to write on this week's affair.  I suppose I should give time to the other side of our ancestors -  The Schlemm Family.  Now, that is a challenge.

Growing up Mom did not have an easy time with her mother.   BUT - I guess she must be included in this blog as she is an ancestor.  For the last many years of Mom's life, she STOPPED communicating with her.  None of us were surprised to find out that Grandma Schlemm died one year AFTER Ma.

My memory of our "immediate" Schlemm family members is not a horrible one.  We spent time with them - holidays and whatnot-  Grandpa (Charles) Schlemm Jr. and Grandma (Irene) Schlemm -  and THAT'S WHAT WE CALLED THEM -  Grandpa and Grandma Schlemm-  I guess so as not to confuse them with the Oltmer Grands?!?

Pictured above: Grandma and Granpa Schlemm.  A slight hint of a smile?

Pictured above: GREAT Grandma Pipo (Irene's mother, Ma's Grandma) and Ma (Gloria) and Grandma Schlemm ... and this is one of her happier photos!

(The baby is Patty)
Great Grandma's story will have to wait for another post.  

Ma had two brothers-  both younger.  Charles Schlemm III and Bobby.  Bobby was the oops- I guess He was ELEVEN years younger than our mother.  But - another interesting tidbit... Grandma and Grandpa Schlemm had a baby long after Bobby-  Donald Schlemm was born in 1952 -  when MY SISTER was a year old.  And this STILL was not the end of strange ages of uncles... Ma had an uncle (Grandpa's youngest brother) who was only 7 years older than she was-  Uncle Harry-  died in WWII- He was on the SS Franklin and it was hit by enemy fire and he was lost at sea.  https://www.historynet.com/uss-franklin-struck-by-a-japanese-dive-bomber-during-world-war-ii.htm

There are letters-  to a 13-year-old girl from her very handsome Uncle Harry.  I have them.  They are gold!

Ma carried this picture with her until the day she died.  He was an important memory for her.

Grandpa (in my eyes) was nice.  He showed us girls attention - he was funny.  His only problem was he was devoted to Irene- and she was as warm as an iceberg.  I have no fond memories of her-  none laughing with her -  but remember asking Grandpa to play the Chipmunks Christmas song again... and again... and again.  Hell-  he named his boat THUMPER!  Thumper I, II and III.  I mean you HAVE to be a fun person if you name your boat after a Disney rabbit!  I have a picture of one of the Thumpers... I will update if I find it!



So-  I guess it was a challenge - I also think my WRITING is a challenge.  It winds around and around and I don't know if it tells the story I'm hoping to tell!

So these were a few more names and faces of my #52ancestors!