More Life in Glendale, 1960-63

I was expecting again and this time our drive to Mesa and Dr. Allen took one hour. I was in labor but one muscle didn’t want to relax and Dr. Allen put his hand inside to massage it. He said I was a real stoic, that anyone else would be screaming! I guess it worked because Rob was born January 21, 1961 at 10:20 p.m. and weighed 9 lb 5 oz. He was a cute, round-faced little boy who had a huge smile when he got a little older. I don’t remember who came to help us out.
We were given a little Pomeranian dog which we named Brownie. The kids loved him and when we moved to California he had to be left behind with the twin neighbor girls. Sylvia really didn’t like that.
Leon received his Masters Degree and started teaching in the Alhambra School District in Phoenix. He would go to two elementary schools a day teaching band. He also played for many musicals that came to town.
Another baby was on its way. My sister Mary came to help out with the kids but she was not much older than our kids. Sylvia was just 8 ½ and didn’t like having her in charge.. Leon and I went grocery shopping one evening and I guess that got things going well. Doug was born the next day at 4:25 a.m. on July 11, 1962 and weighed 9 lb 4 oz. He was my only baby born on his due date. David was a couple of days over and everyone else was early.
My father was the business manager of a Peruvian airline called TAPSA. There were several crashes of their airplanes and the airline went out of business. Dad sent Mom, Nancy and Mary up to the States. Mary stayed with Keith and Gina and Mom and Nancy with Leon and me. Dad stayed to settle up the business affairs. This was a very hard time for him as he had had to identify the bodies of the pilots. He read lots of action-packed books to get his mind off of all he had seen. He then came up to the States and he and Mom and girls moved to Downey, CA.
One day Tricia and Rob went for a walk. They thought they were lost and little Robby suggested they say a prayer. I was proud of the little guy for thinking of that.
Tricia decided she wanted to be a nurse so for her 3rd birthday she got a little nurses’ kit. Later for Halloween she wanted to be a mother. Sylvia was a little more exotic, and dressed as a bride or princess. David was always a cowboy or pirate. Alan wore a Bolivian knit cap and little poncho for his disguise.
After four years in Glendale, AZ, Leon wanted a change and interviewed for a teaching job in California. He accepted a position in the Garden Grove School District at La Quinta High School.