The Marcottes

It’s been a long time since I stood on a rug that used to be a Wonder Bread wrapper. Perhaps too long.

That’s Bill Christison on the right and again as a young man in the middle. He was Grandma Clara’s father. That’s an earlier picture of his family on the left. Bill was the cute little boy. The photo was labeled the “Addie Christison Family.” I’m guessing Addie was the mom, but I don’t know for sure.

Grandpa Bill smoked a pipe, and I remember telling him that smoking was bad for him. He told me that a pipe wasn’t as bad as cigarettes. He was probably right. At any rate the smell was more pleasant, and he played Chinese checkers with me. I liked him. That’s pretty much all I can remember of Bill. I was very young when he died.

This is Grandma Clara’s mother, Gertrude. Gertrude may not seem like a hip name now, but back then…well, it probably was never a hip name. I never knew Trudy when she was younger. I only knew her when she was getting up there in years and had a little dog named “Buttons” and crocheted plastic rugs from bread wrappers.

She was a sweet lady who caused auto accidents and made many inedible meals. I suspect she could cook quite well at one point, but as she got older she began to forget recipes and to substitute ingredients when she was out of the correct item. For instance instant potatoes would be used instead of flour. This seldom worked in her favor.

Grandma Trudy also managed to steal a man’s Volkswagen Bug by slamming into the car and dragging it onto the highway with the bumpers interlocked. I love that story, and if I ever write a famous book, the story of Trudy and the stolen Bug will be in it somehow.

Does anyone else have any memories of Bill and Trudy?

Thanks to Steve for additional pictures of Bill and Trudy.