About Me
I will start at the beginning, Danville Illinois. My parents had been married for several years before the birth of their first child, me. So after a night of dancing my mother found herself in labor and gave birth to a daughter, Susan Mary Roth. From my father I learned she arrived at the hospital and within a few minutes gave birth! Glad we made it. So weighing in at 7lbs. 15oz and 21 inches in length I made it. My early baby years are a mystery to me. Hard as I try I just can't remember a thing from the age of 0 to 5. I see my bald little body walking and smiling and doing what all the other babies do. I'm sure I was unique, my mother told me I began to read by 4 years of age, but I'm clueless to anything else.
My childhood began in Covington Indiana, in one of those huge homes with a white wrap around porch. It has stuck in my mind for ever and has grown in grandeur as time has gone by. The house was still there the last time I went back. Whether I remember or I was told but my dad worked somewhere around the square downtown.
I remember riding my bike, dance lessons with cousins, playing with my friend, and swimming in the yard in my blow up pool. Being young is nice. No worries back then. I had two of my childhood illness at this time. The German measles nearly killed me. I remember laying in my mom and dad's big bed, lights out and curtains closed. I was very ill. It seemed like I had this for weeks but I'm sure it was only a few days. I do know that it took a long time to recover. The measles had just about damaged my ear drums but I really don't have many after effects from the measles. The mumps took their toll also but I don't remember them. I remember my parents going out to eat and leaving me with the babysitter. I was in bed feeling rotten I'm sure, the babysitter had found some small ornate bottles with various liqueurs in them. When my parents got home they found a drunk babysitter and all the decorative bottles opened! My mom use to tell me how angry she was when she got home.
This house that I loved had a grape arbor in the back yard. As a little girl who was born with a great imagination, I would play princess and fairies and make up all my own plays. I did love my made up world!
When I was 5 years old my parents moved to New Mexico. Daddy had four brothers and they had all moved west, so we followed suit. Albuquerque was our first stop. A small apartment that I don't remember much about. Being an only child, our move took away all my life long playmates. Even though I was just 5 it did make a difference in my life.
At this time we had a little blue parakeet named Pedro. My mother would talk to Pedro, he would ride all over the house on her shoulder. One day, after we had been in New Mexico for a while, Pedro was flying around the house and someone, maybe me, opened the door and away flew Pedro. Mom and I walked the neighborhood calling for Petey as mom called our bird. Of course he never came home and mom covered his cage and mourned for several days the loss of her friend.
I had three cousins that lived in Albuquerque, all girls, all older. I remember very little about them until I was about 10 years old. I'm not sure why, but later on they became very instrumental in the direct understanding of who I am and why.
It wasn't long until we moved to Santa Fe, into one of the oldest buildings in the small (at that time) city. I started school in Santa Fe, Mrs. Rucker was my teacher. What a wonderful lady, who I'm sure I thought was ancient. She furthered my love of books and encouraged my imagination. She was a special lady, and we kept in touch with her until I was in middle school, then we lost touch.
Santa Fe was a new place for my imagination. This was the cowboys and Indians era. I idolized Roy Rogers and saw him many times while living in SF. I had my own cowboy (girl) outfit, boots, gun and holster. Gene Autry, Hop Along Cassidy, the Lone Ranger were part of my world. We had just gotten our first television and I never missed these shows. These shows fed my need for adventure and any imagination I had at that times was always with them in mind.
The old adobe apartments we lived in butted up against a large fenced in piece of land. On this land was an old shed, broken windows, falling roof, and exactly what my mind needed for a new and exciting adventure. My new adventure was "the red wolf". I had no idea but in my mind and in the minds of the children that I played with, we must find the red wolf! We did some pretty silly things, climbing over the fence and putting old bottles of medicine on bread to feed the wolf! I'm sure we did other things just as silly.
Santa Fe was a wonderful place to live. Lots of Indian culture that was fabulous for my education. The Indians in this area had several festivals each year. One that I vividly remember had a huge fireworks monster that was atop one of the areas around Santa Fe. Seems like you could see it from everywhere. Now I was only 6 but this monster was terrifying. I believe it was called Zezobra. When they lit it the eyes swirled and it made horrible noises. Scared this little girl!!
I loved the dresses we wore with so many layers of gathers. It was a good time in my life. Six-year-olds need to be happy.
It wasn't long before we moved to Albuquerque New Mexico. I remember several different houses, I think, but this is where I met my childhood best friend, Colleen. We stayed friends and kept in touch forever, but alas that too waned in my life as we moved so much.
I can remember learning to write in cursive, writing stories out of my head and playing outside on the playground. I was always one of the kids picked last. I must have been very shy, plus I was always a little overweight. Reading and theater were my passion, this was the time of the Mickey Mouse Club and I fell in love with Annette Funicello.
Whatever she did I idolized and even in adulthood I craved information about her and her health. I never missed an episode of the show. My friend, Colleen, didn't share my passion but she had her own likes too! My parents and hers were good friends so we spent a lot of time at their house. They owned a huge home with a guest house in the back, tennis courts, etc. We spent a lot of time listen to the big bands and doing our own dances. My family had a collection of 78s that rivaled the best of them. Wish we still had them! Colleen had older brothers that thought we were pests. As I look back they must have been in high school while Colleen and I were only in the 3rd and 4th grades.
Memories of a time gone. El Paso Texas, grade 4 maybe, we were outside at lunch recess.....the time had long passed to go inside. The teachers kept hundreds of kids outside for hours, up against the back fence. I later learned there had been a bomb threat. That was in the mid-50s, some things never change. Those who are sick just get sicker when it comes to our children.
As I have said, I loved to read. Science fiction was my interest at that time, I would get on a city bus, 3rd or 4th grade, to go to the library in downtown El Paso. I remember spending hours searching for the right book to read. I guess my parents always felt I learned responsibility by giving me the opportunity to ride the bus. I had great parents. Today life is so different.
Time marched on, I graduated high school and college, became a school teacher, and dreamed about becoming an author. That passion that surpasses all. I married, gave birth to three children, and now my husband and I have ten grandchildren. I've been blessed. We live in a small town in North Central Texas. I write, he retires, great life.
I try to put a little of myself into each of my stories. Many of the experiences you read about are connected to my life growing up. Different time, but all times are different, even tomorrow. I hope you enjoy my stories.
God has blessed our lives and we are thankful. I teach a women's Bible Fellowship Class which I love.
Susan
My childhood began in Covington Indiana, in one of those huge homes with a white wrap around porch. It has stuck in my mind for ever and has grown in grandeur as time has gone by. The house was still there the last time I went back. Whether I remember or I was told but my dad worked somewhere around the square downtown.
I remember riding my bike, dance lessons with cousins, playing with my friend, and swimming in the yard in my blow up pool. Being young is nice. No worries back then. I had two of my childhood illness at this time. The German measles nearly killed me. I remember laying in my mom and dad's big bed, lights out and curtains closed. I was very ill. It seemed like I had this for weeks but I'm sure it was only a few days. I do know that it took a long time to recover. The measles had just about damaged my ear drums but I really don't have many after effects from the measles. The mumps took their toll also but I don't remember them. I remember my parents going out to eat and leaving me with the babysitter. I was in bed feeling rotten I'm sure, the babysitter had found some small ornate bottles with various liqueurs in them. When my parents got home they found a drunk babysitter and all the decorative bottles opened! My mom use to tell me how angry she was when she got home.
This house that I loved had a grape arbor in the back yard. As a little girl who was born with a great imagination, I would play princess and fairies and make up all my own plays. I did love my made up world!
When I was 5 years old my parents moved to New Mexico. Daddy had four brothers and they had all moved west, so we followed suit. Albuquerque was our first stop. A small apartment that I don't remember much about. Being an only child, our move took away all my life long playmates. Even though I was just 5 it did make a difference in my life.
At this time we had a little blue parakeet named Pedro. My mother would talk to Pedro, he would ride all over the house on her shoulder. One day, after we had been in New Mexico for a while, Pedro was flying around the house and someone, maybe me, opened the door and away flew Pedro. Mom and I walked the neighborhood calling for Petey as mom called our bird. Of course he never came home and mom covered his cage and mourned for several days the loss of her friend.
I had three cousins that lived in Albuquerque, all girls, all older. I remember very little about them until I was about 10 years old. I'm not sure why, but later on they became very instrumental in the direct understanding of who I am and why.
It wasn't long until we moved to Santa Fe, into one of the oldest buildings in the small (at that time) city. I started school in Santa Fe, Mrs. Rucker was my teacher. What a wonderful lady, who I'm sure I thought was ancient. She furthered my love of books and encouraged my imagination. She was a special lady, and we kept in touch with her until I was in middle school, then we lost touch.
Santa Fe was a new place for my imagination. This was the cowboys and Indians era. I idolized Roy Rogers and saw him many times while living in SF. I had my own cowboy (girl) outfit, boots, gun and holster. Gene Autry, Hop Along Cassidy, the Lone Ranger were part of my world. We had just gotten our first television and I never missed these shows. These shows fed my need for adventure and any imagination I had at that times was always with them in mind.
The old adobe apartments we lived in butted up against a large fenced in piece of land. On this land was an old shed, broken windows, falling roof, and exactly what my mind needed for a new and exciting adventure. My new adventure was "the red wolf". I had no idea but in my mind and in the minds of the children that I played with, we must find the red wolf! We did some pretty silly things, climbing over the fence and putting old bottles of medicine on bread to feed the wolf! I'm sure we did other things just as silly.
Santa Fe was a wonderful place to live. Lots of Indian culture that was fabulous for my education. The Indians in this area had several festivals each year. One that I vividly remember had a huge fireworks monster that was atop one of the areas around Santa Fe. Seems like you could see it from everywhere. Now I was only 6 but this monster was terrifying. I believe it was called Zezobra. When they lit it the eyes swirled and it made horrible noises. Scared this little girl!!
I loved the dresses we wore with so many layers of gathers. It was a good time in my life. Six-year-olds need to be happy.
It wasn't long before we moved to Albuquerque New Mexico. I remember several different houses, I think, but this is where I met my childhood best friend, Colleen. We stayed friends and kept in touch forever, but alas that too waned in my life as we moved so much.
I can remember learning to write in cursive, writing stories out of my head and playing outside on the playground. I was always one of the kids picked last. I must have been very shy, plus I was always a little overweight. Reading and theater were my passion, this was the time of the Mickey Mouse Club and I fell in love with Annette Funicello.
Whatever she did I idolized and even in adulthood I craved information about her and her health. I never missed an episode of the show. My friend, Colleen, didn't share my passion but she had her own likes too! My parents and hers were good friends so we spent a lot of time at their house. They owned a huge home with a guest house in the back, tennis courts, etc. We spent a lot of time listen to the big bands and doing our own dances. My family had a collection of 78s that rivaled the best of them. Wish we still had them! Colleen had older brothers that thought we were pests. As I look back they must have been in high school while Colleen and I were only in the 3rd and 4th grades.
Memories of a time gone. El Paso Texas, grade 4 maybe, we were outside at lunch recess.....the time had long passed to go inside. The teachers kept hundreds of kids outside for hours, up against the back fence. I later learned there had been a bomb threat. That was in the mid-50s, some things never change. Those who are sick just get sicker when it comes to our children.
As I have said, I loved to read. Science fiction was my interest at that time, I would get on a city bus, 3rd or 4th grade, to go to the library in downtown El Paso. I remember spending hours searching for the right book to read. I guess my parents always felt I learned responsibility by giving me the opportunity to ride the bus. I had great parents. Today life is so different.
Time marched on, I graduated high school and college, became a school teacher, and dreamed about becoming an author. That passion that surpasses all. I married, gave birth to three children, and now my husband and I have ten grandchildren. I've been blessed. We live in a small town in North Central Texas. I write, he retires, great life.
I try to put a little of myself into each of my stories. Many of the experiences you read about are connected to my life growing up. Different time, but all times are different, even tomorrow. I hope you enjoy my stories.
God has blessed our lives and we are thankful. I teach a women's Bible Fellowship Class which I love.
Susan