JUNE 20, 1913

Posted on June 23, 2021 by oneta hayes

I checked online for famous people born on June 20, 1913.  I found that Rosa Parks, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jesse Owens were born in 1913 but no celebrities on June 20, 1913.

There was at least one! My mom – Cleda Amy Riddle. I see that name, I see a picture of a lovely little baby girl in the beautiful frilly dress. I look closely and there she is, same eyes, same laugh, my mom. She went to heaven with most people knowing her as Amy Rodgers Venter. Most of the time she was Amy Rodgers. I think she wore all those names well.

She knew and lived her priorities. I have in a trunk in the back bedroom, penciled pictures she drew as a young woman. I see a passion for art in her way back then. But she never gave herself time, money, or focus to play out that passion until well into her fifties or sixties.

Why? For one thing she was too busy raising me—busy being wife, mother, cook, house keeper, seamstress, I could just keep adding on. Just ask my siblings.

So in remembrance of my mom who now resides in Heaven, I say:

Thanks, mom, for not being too much of a “it’s my right to be myself” woman.

But I sure am glad for those years you did get to express yourself in ways that showed us more about you, the writer, the painter, the “crochet-er”, the historian, even Miss Spirit of Springfield (or something like that). I’m glad you got to have your day. But as your firstborn, I doubt you ever had one that outdid ME. (Just joking on that last bit. No fights among siblings!)

About oneta hayes

ABOUT ME Hello. To various folks I am Neat’nee, Mom, Grandma Neta, Gramma, Aunt Neta, Aunt Noni, Aunt Neno, and Aunt Neto (lots of varieties from little nieces and nephews). To some I’m more like “Didn’t you used to be my teacher?” or “Don’t I know you from someplace?” To you, perhaps, I am a Fellow Blogger. Not “fellow” like a male or a guy, but “fellow” like a companion or an adventurer. I would choose to be Grandma Blogger, and have you pull up a chair, my website before you, while I tell you of some days of yore. I have experienced life much differently than most of you. It was and is a good life. I hope to share nuggets of appreciation for those who have gone before me and those who come after me. By necessity you are among those who come after me and I will tell you of those who came before. Once upon a time in a little house on a prairie - oops, change that lest I commit plagiarism - and change that “house on the prairie” to “dugout on the prairie.” So my story begins...
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15 Responses to JUNE 20, 1913

  1. Julie (aka Cookie) says:
    June 23, 2021 at 7:34 am

    My parents would have celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary last week— funny how dares in a calendar stay in our heats— oh and a happy 70th to you and Sammy!!!!!

    Reply
  2. marymtf says:
    June 23, 2021 at 7:35 am

    My birthday on the 28th. 😘 to your mum in heaven.

    Reply
  3. Frank Hubeny says:
    June 23, 2021 at 8:56 am

    Beautiful recollection of your mother.

    Reply
  4. atimetoshare.me says:
    June 23, 2021 at 9:17 am

    What a beautiful tribute to your mom.

    Reply
    • oneta hayes says:
      June 23, 2021 at 4:51 pm

      Thanks, Kathy. I was fortunate (blessed) to be raised by a Christian mother. It is heart-breaking to realize how sad it is for those whose mother’s neglect their children. It seems to happen to both rich and poor. Rich can buy substitutes but children soon recognize that that is what is happening.

      Reply
  5. Salvageable says:
    June 23, 2021 at 6:03 pm

    Nice post about your mother. But those famous people were born in 1913, but not on June 20! President Nixon, for example, was born January 9. J.

    Reply
  6. Janis says:
    June 24, 2021 at 2:12 am

    Happy birthday in heaven to your mom! ❤
    I enjoyed reading about your memories of her… and I loved how you still have some of her drawings.

    God bless you always, Oneta!

    Reply

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