L-R Connie Neal, Mom & Mickey
Risoli, and Mollie
This
is a rare photo because it depicts two women who were friends of Mom’s that she
did not maintain a friendship with for the rest of her life as she did with so
many other friends. Mom first wrote about Connie on April 11, 1933 when the two
of them hiked to Lake Chabot. Mollie first appeared in Mom’s journal on June
12, 1936 the last day of school. That day Mom and a group of friends including
Mollie “crashed” the movie theater to see a movie with Fred McMurry. Connie was
mentioned 11 times in Mom’s writings while Mollie earned 21 mentions. How is it
neither of these friends was ever mentioned or invited to our home while I was
growing up?
These
friendships involved several hikes together, at least three trips to Brookdale,
going to the movies, shopping together, and regular dance outings – in fact, mom
was with Mollie at the German House the night she met dad for the first time. She
was also with Mollie on June 4, 1938 when she wrote, “I got myself practically
engaged to Ed. He wants to get me a ring. I asked him not to. I don’t want to
be engaged to anyone.” She and Mollie
went to check out a class in power sewing at a local trade school.
On another day she taught Mollie how to play bridge. Mollie and Connie both attended
the Valentine’s Day party mom hosted in 1938.
Mom
did a lot of sewing for Connie and for Connie’s mother Mrs. Neal. I think she
made more clothes for Mrs. Neal than any other client. Connie was interested in
our Uncle Bert but the feeling was not mutual. The last reference about Connie
was in April of 1946 when Mom gave her a baby shower.
It
is obvious that Mollie and Connie were very close friends – like Rosemary, the
two Mickey’s, Jessie and Gracie but somehow these two friends got away – very curious.
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