My History as I remember It
by
Elwin Ray Rogers
The First Five Years
As might be expected my memories of the first five years are few and sketchy. However, there are some things that I remember very vividly. I was born October 11, 1941 the first child of Ellwin Hosea Rogers and LuRay B Dodge. I was born at Hailey, Idaho in a small hospital clinic on the second floor of the Fox building which was owned by Doctor Fox. The first floor was a pharmacy, a real old fashioned pharmacy with a soda fountain. The second floor was Dr. Fox’s medical offices and a small clinic hospital. I guess that the reason I remember this building at all is mainly because at age five I contracted polio. I came down with it on thanksgiving day. It had been one of those family thanksgiving days. There had been uncles, aunts and cousins. The tables were loaded with food and all had enjoyed themselves. The uncles, aunts and cousins had all gone home and I had gone to the table to get something else to eat and as I reached up to get it my legs collapsed and I was unable to even get up. I can remember being taken to Dr Fox three or four times a week for the next six weeks. I had to be carried everywhere. Not a fun time for an active five year old. I gradually recovered and a couple of months later I was recovered. It was assumed that I had contracted a light case of Polio. This left me with a weakness in my legs which has plagued me for my entire life. It also left me with an inability to hold my breath for very long, which hampered my underwater swimming. However, I was blessed to recover and be able to use my legs and live a normal life. Another person in our town had Polio and had to use braces and crutches to get around.
The first six months of my life I lived in north Richfield, Idaho where my dad was employed by a farmer named Pierson. On December 7, 1941 I was taken to church to receive a blessing. When they got home they turned on the radio and heard that the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and World War Two had begun. My dad and uncles went to enlist in the armed services. The recruiter sent my dad home and told him they needed farmers as much as soldiers so go home and raise food and his child. My uncle Norman had a hernia and was rejected for medical reasons. Uncle Willis and uncle Roy and uncle Bob joined the navy and uncle Russel joined the army. My mother’s brother uncle Earl was drafted into the army and Uncle Gene joined the navy.
Dad moved us to a rented farm, south of Carey, Idaho, owned by a man named Griffen. My memories start at about age three. Needless to say these memories are connected to the war. The most vivid memories are of family gatherings at my grand parent’s home to read letters from the uncles. I think the fear and concern for their welfare that the adults had made it more vivid to me. Letters that came from such places as San Diego, London and Okinawa. I didn’t know where these places were but my uncles were there and fighting a war. I didn’t understand what war was but I got the sense that it was bad and frightening.
At this time my mother’s parents lived about four miles east of Carey in a two bedroom house made of lava rock. It had a basement/cellar underneath that you got to by moving the kitchen table and lifting a door in the floor. There was also a real neat shop with a forge for heating and welding metal for machinery repairs and horse shoes.
Though my early memories are sketchy the things I do remember are vivid. Most vivid are the war memories but like all the rest of my memories of this time they are the memories of a very young child and of the things that interested and were important to that child.
It has been almost 1 year since my Grandfathers have left this earth. I truly miss them and the wisdom that was there. It was always comforting to know you could pick up the phone and talk to them and just chat. I would hope that family would spend a few minutes every once in a while to share their feelings and thoughts on this blog. I would like to hear about grandpa, grandma and some of the things they remember. Everyone has a story. I don’t think I want to pass on a blank page.
Grandpa was a tall man – does anyone know the color of his eyes. I think they were blue. ???That piece of information escapes my memory. I remember his eyes were kind.
I remember Grandpa sleeping in his chair. He was always reading something, but I don’t know for sure what he really liked to read. I am not sure how he really met grandma. What were his hobbies? I know he was amazing with wood and could carve things…
Please let me know what you remember.
Mom, What lives under the Road? Mom, what happens if people don’t have eyes? Mom, what happens if people don’t have ears? Mom, what happens if people don’t have brains? Mom, what do Jack rabbits Jack (Let Ray tell you about this one)?
Well Jennifer told Jake, Worms and bugs live under the road, if you don’t have eyes, you can’t see, etc. Well what if people don’t have brains, “it is complicated – you are probably dead”. – Well I like my daughter think that is a complicated question – as many people don’t use their brains – so then does it really doesn’t matter if they don’t have a brain. Or if you don’t have a brain can you lead a good life, I know of a little girl born with only a brain stem and she lives with a beautiful family and has a beautiful room and gets all the love she could ask for… I am not sure I would call her lucky . . . but she is to have so many love and care for her. I wish I could get to know her.
Well we have a lot of things happen to us in this life and many of them are not so nice. I am grateful that God loves us and our families so much. If you could just write a story and publish 1 story about yourself every year – we would have a great family history at the end of every year to pass on to all our descendants. Dad (Ray) I would expect 1 every other month at the very least. :) :) Dorian, I would like to hear your story in your own words. Brandon we would like to hear about your family and your military endeavors, Troy – I appreciate your blog. It makes me laugh when I am feeling down. I don’t quite know how to even explain it. Your family reminds me of when you were growing up and I was living with you. Jodi and Shawna- I realize our family lives in a musical and it is truly entertaining to receive phone calls about the ammendments of the US and which one was which. Tony and Trish – I would just like to have the new site you have – so I can hook it up. All of Virgil’s family, I know you couldn’t lead really boring lives. My heavens Virgil cut my dad’s hair while he was sleeping – that had rub off on at least 2 or 3 of you. Terry – Give me a break – you and Pat – I am sure just sit back and laugh at the rest of us – I would love some stories. Kay – Those minor inconveniences in life – we could all use a laugh from your perspective. Dan – I remember firecrackers, bebe guns, pop bottle rockets and oh my gosh – your kids can’t have given you a run for your money – nope not your family. We are just hoping they are more like their mother. Monte – I live with in 5 miles of you and most of the time never hear anything – you have been to where on your mission, your kids are doing ?what? and we would like to hear just how your life is treating you. Fred, Fred, Fred . . . there are more stories here than welllllllll we may ever have time for. Lorie Ann, do you remember playing cowboys, your dad showing us baby kitties, and what about your family, I know you are older than dirt – Ok I am older than dirt and you are older than your husband :):) – there is a lot of stories we just are not getting.
Then all my dear sweet brothers, sisters & cousins, friends, great(relatives) – I know there is not one of us that ever got to be perfect – look who we had for parents – there was just no chance….. I know I am the closest I realize that and I will have to live with that… :) :) I did get the good looks and brains too. If any one would would like to share stories – please do – I don’t want them lost forever. Well maybe one or 2 should stay a little under wraps –
Wendy and Lisa I would like to hear of some of your struggles and successes. Neil and Eric and the rest (including spouses) – I don’t know you very well at all. You are amazing people with amazing stories. Everyone has a story. Terry – I don’t know you and Pats kids very well – but wow – it would be great to hear. Anna and Grant – you have had some amazing things in your lives – please share – I do talk to your mom – but I would like to hear from you. Chris, Jeff, Kendall, and ? see I how bad I am with names – I am racking my brain – Oh my gosh – I would just love to hear about the things you have learned and any stories on uncle Dan would be much appreciated – also your mom. Justin, and I have just got a brain fart and lost all names for all my younger cousins, please don’t be offended – just send me a story with your name and birthday and any thing I can hold as blackmail :) :) over your parents :):) no blackmail – I promise – but I would really love to hear all about you and all about your families. I want to learn about you.
I wasn’t there – but I hear KOA doesn’t like Rogers family reunions – we need more details so we don’t forget that one. I am working on many things trying to get some Histories available. Find a picture and just write – hours sometimes fly by.
Grandpa Ellwin and Grandma LuRay would really love this collection.
to Noah, Blair, Colby, Jakob, Brian and David this month. I hope this next year brings you the desires of your heart.
I would really like to see what others are doing… Please let us know what you are doing or send an email to us and we can get you a user name and password.
Please write, I would like you to know this does cost me only a small amount and I don’t mind paying for it, but I would like to see it used. I can tell people are reading it, but I would really like to have people write. If you have your own blog or web page, I will hook it to this one (like Troy’s) so that you only have to do one. Troy – I appreciate your families web page. Even tho I don’t get to talk with you guys very often, I feel I am still a part of your family.
Just to let you know – Ross is leaving for Kuwait this month. I will post an address as soon as we get one or post monthly here. It will help his morale while he is over there. I have not heard if Brandon ever got home or how he is doing – please let us know.
Remember: When you visited Grandpa Ellwin and every time you visited – “Would you like some ice-cream?” Sure! “What kind would you like?” – You always had a choice.
—- My favorite is still vanilla.—- He said to me – “Are you sure, there are hundreds of flavors, you should at least try them all” So I every now and then try a new flavor. Grandpa told me, “You never know if it is your favorite if you haven’t tried them all.” So eventually I will have them all tried, you never know – vanilla may not be my favorite. :-)
Family news: Jessica had her wisdom teeth all pulled last month and is doing better.
Maia Rose rolled over at 6 weeks and Jacob wrote Grandma Tammy a letter that said that one of his favorite foods was tacos, spaghetti, Cheetos, and ice-cream. Grandma will be stocking all of those yummy foods in her refrigerator. Of course there will be cookies in the cookie jar, carrot sticks in the fridge, pudding in cupboard and candy on Blaire’s desk. We hope we will get to see them this summer around his birthday. By the way Jacobs mom is his friend and his dad is his bestest friend. So they must be awesome parents. We sure miss them.
Dad fell about a month ago and hit his head – we were pretty worried, I guess it is pretty hard – because he saw stars and still drove him self to the doctor. Mom got to visit James and Amy last week or so. They stopped by here – it was great to see her.
LOVE YOU ALL!
Terry and Pat are in charge this year. It is July 23, 24, 25, 26 – Remember the Auction & probably up at High 5 at Carey. Remember to save your pennies and bring your auction items. It will be fun as always. Please RSVP as soon as possible.
