The Grandma Book--Freeda Rose Moody 1933-1998

You were born in the evening of January 27th, just before dark. Mama was confined in Grandma Laura May's living room bed. (In those days everyone had a bed in the living room.) I remember us older kids walking around the house trying to peek in the windows, but all the blinds were pulled down. Finally you were born and the Doctor left so we all got to come in and see you. Then Grandma Miller came down and stayed a week or so to help out. We stayed at Thatcher about 2 months before we went back home to the little farm in Ashhurst. --Aunt Ruby
Dad got out of the hospital, but his right leg had to be amputated. He got an artificial leg and was learning to walk on it at the same time Freeda was learning to walk. Things were not going well for Dad. He was very discouraged and about to give up and just use crutches. When he walked, he had to throw the artificial leg way out to the side in order to hobble along. when he turned around, there was Freeda, following behind and throwing her leg out too.

Mother used to tell about the time all of the kids were down for a nap and she went in to check, and guess who's muddy little feet were sticking out from under the covers! --Uncle Tom

I was asked to give a poem for Mothers Day in Sunday School. It said:
Mother's fingers fashion wonders,
Make a cake or mend a tear
Cover books or help with numbers
Doing tasks everywhere
Children read of fairy stories,
Of the deeds of Elf and gnome
And looking at the pictures
Quite forget things done at home.
As I said the last words "done at home" I was already jumping off the stage and heading back to my chair--much to the dismay of the teacher and embarrassment of my family.

The FLOOD

Grandma--Freeda Rose Moody Costner:

When I was about 5 years old, Dad would sell citrus, in the winter for Art Lee. Gracie Ann and I went along. We would go up to houses and knock on the door and ask if they wanted to buy any oranges or grapefruit. If they did they would buy from Daddy. That day there was a flood warning out for the Gila River. Dad wanted to cross the river and sell citrus in Eden Arizona. Mom asked him not to go that day--but he assured her he would beat the flood and then come back by the Pima Bridge. He went to school and got Gracie 9, and Ann 7, (I wasn't in school yet) and took us with him to do the knocking on doors. Usually the Gila River is small and can easily be crossed, but Dad drove off into the Gila River that had already begun to rise (he was singing "Praise to the Man" in a loud voice) halfway across the river the car drowned out. Dad knew he was in trouble so he left me and his wooden leg in the car and told me he would be back for me. I knew he would come. He swam out and had Gracie and Ann hold on to him while he swam across current and got them out. Water began to run through the car, and I was really scared. I looked upstream and it looked like all the water in the world was coming at me. I could see Dad and the 2 sisters about to get to safety, but the water was getting higher in the car, with me and the wooden leg floating and bumping. Daddy said I was crying loudly (but I don't remember it) when some CCC Boys drove up in a big truck. Before Daddy had time to come back they came in and carried me out. A wall of water hit and carried the car down stream just after I was out. The car was a new 37 or 38 Terraplane. Dad said, later, they dragged the car out, cleaned it out and continued to drive it. I can still remember the dress I wore that day--it was my Easter dress--a white cotton dress with little o polka dots (multicolored.)

[The 1935 Terraplane was produced in Detroit Michigan by Hudson - Ted J. Welch tjwelch@classictruckshop.com]