Well, not long after we were first married, and still driving the white '63 oldsmobile, a gift in part from Aunt Ruth Mae, your dad had an accident. It was a minor one, he inadvertently ran a stop sign in Oakland, down the street from our first apartment (another story) and didn't quite clear and oncoming car. We were hit in the rear panel, on the passenger side, enough to give us quite a jolt, but not enough damage to affect the mechanics of driving. Since we were on a very tight budget, basically what I made at CalPak along with a monthly stipend from Ruth Mae and probably grandma and grandpa, we couldn't immediately afford to make the cosmetic repairs. Your dad was in law school at the time. It must have been in the fall, because we made a trip south before our budget allowed for anything extra. Anyway, we drove to 354 Orlena for whatever family gathering was happening. Your dad drove and parked in front of the house, across the street, hiding the damage from view. However, he neglected to clue me in to an apparently very important Crosby family rule and the next time the car was parked, probably after I had gone to 271 Park to visit grandma Marky, et al, I parked it in front of 354, passenger side for all to see. The upshot was that Ruth Mae saw the damage and although she never said a thing, your poor dad was beside himself. He couldn't understand how I could not have known to hide the damage, how anyone would know not to be so insensitive to Aunt Ruth Mae's feelings, and I can't remember what else. For some reason, the appearance of evidence of his error, or the perceived mistreatment of a gift, or whatever went on in his brain, just about made him nuts. Of course, we finally had the car repaired, but I don't think he ever mentioned it to Ruth Mae or his parents. If everything could be swept under the table, then all was well.

I probably told him he was irrational, which no doubt didn't help, but I learned a bit more about the family into which I had married. I don't think grandma Lucille ever minded talking about anything at all, but grandpa Tom and his sis apparently had different rules. We'll have to ask JP if he has any such memories. xo mom