Every couple of weeks I call my brothers. The agenda for the call goes first; How are you doing; second what are you doing and then it wanders on to what happened in the family a long time ago.
A lot did happen in our family. My brother and I were Irish twins. Irish twins are when there are two births within the same year. My brother was born on the 6th of the month and I did not turn one until the 21st of the month
Twins get a bum rap for being able to get into mischief. We've all heard ,"What one can't think of the other one will."
However, I think Irish twins can get into mischief by just standing there.
When my brother and I were 3 and 4 we were sent up to our paternal grand parents in the middle of the winter. I'm not sure how long we stayed with them but I remember grandma had the big feather comforter that was about 12 " thick.
We then went to our uncle Fred's. We got into our aunt's cupboard and found her dried apples which she used for making pies. Fortunately we were caught before we managed to eat the whole package.
Then we went to Uncle Albert's . Here, we found a package of playing cards that we hid so that we could play with them but we didn't know any card games.
Then we went to Uncle Friske's, who had a large three story house. This was a great place to run around. The teacher boarded there and took us to school the next day. Some of the bigger kids supervised us. The teacher later became our Aunt.
At some time our family was rescued from us. The hostage exchange was made in the village.
Why were we away from home in the winter? We think we were sent away when our brother was born. You can see why they wouldn't want us in the house during a birth.
So did nobody want us and kept sending us to different families or did they all want us and took turns looking after us?
Memories of children is suspect. One of us will remember one thing but not another. How accurate is our memory as young children? The other factor is that now we are in our mid eighties. That's about 80 years ago the this happened.
For us it's pleasant to look back.
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All those moves sound a bit overwhelming for small children but if you remember it well, that's what counts. I wonder if your mum had some post partum depression or something like that. Whatever the reason, Irish twins plus a new baby is a lot to deal with.
ReplyDeleteI like the memories you have shared, a pack of dried apple must have felt like a great treasure
There was an issue in the birth but that was taken care of. I'm pretty sure there wasn't post partum depression.
DeleteI think you were loved! And that aunt was my mom! Love hearing this story Keith.
ReplyDeleteWith being general nuisances we were still loved. My Aunty dug me out of a deep hole one time. Some day I'll tell you and Myrna what happened.
DeleteInteresting round robin visits. One of you looks really ready to cause problems in that top pic. It was probably a mixture of reasons: the new baby, and a chance to know your relatives better. Did you ever return to those places after you were older or as an adult? Hadn't heard of the Irish Twins term before. Linda in Kansas, after 9" of rain.
ReplyDeleteWe were close enough that there were many visits although not much in the winter. Grandpa was quite often at our house and lived with us half the year during the last years of his life.
DeleteIt's always fun to reminisce.
ReplyDeleteThe different memories are part of the fun.
DeleteBy doing that your parents got time to concentrate on the matter in hand..and you both got to know more relatives properly.. can't fault that!
ReplyDeleteThe family was close enough that we visited often.
DeleteTwo small children can be a handful. I'm sure the family was sharing the joy. I love the photographs - happy days.
ReplyDeleteOur 2 year old sister stayed at home for this time.
DeleteYou were really shunted about. You’re right about memories being different from person to person.
ReplyDeleteYes, not many baby sitters at that time.
DeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteYou two were both cute boys, I know my two grandsons that are 3 and 4 get into all kinds of stuff. It is nice you family were there to take care of you both. Take care, have a great day and a happy weekend!
Hey, we're still cute!
DeleteThey all wanted you! This is a great memory to be part of your family history story you mentioned a while back that you wanted to write.
ReplyDeleteI've never got back to my family history.
DeleteI have a few memories like that. I remember my sister and I were sent to stay with our grandmother and no one ever told us why. I think my parents were going through a hard time, but they are both gone and nobody knows exactly why we were there.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were little there were some things we were not told.
DeleteOh Red, what a tale of the Irish twin kind,
ReplyDeleteWith memories fuzzy but mischief well-lined!
From Grandma’s thick quilt to dried apple theft,
You two left a trail—though some facts have left.
At Albert’s you plotted with cards you had stashed,
Though poker was foreign, your hopes weren’t dashed.
At Friske’s, you ran like loose little sprites,
Till the teacher said, “They’re mine for the night!”
Aunties and uncles all took their turn,
While parents at home let candles burn.
A baby arrived (your new brother, no doubt),
And you two were shipped like mail heading out.
Now eighty years on, the details may blur,
But the joy of the story still seems to stir.
Were you passed 'round like a holiday ham?
Or in high demand, like two pots of jam?
Either way, the truth’s clear in the end—
You gave them all stories they still might defend!
Thanks for the chuckle, the warmth, and the grace,
Of childhood capers no time can erase.
John 😊
PS Great pictures!
Loved the photos, and enjoyed the fascinating look back on your childhood. I'm glad you had one another!
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting Hiawatha House. We got into lots of mischief.
DeleteSounds like you had a friend for life in your "twin" brother! How nice that you are all still around to share your memories.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you were wanted by all of your relatives and so that is why you were shared with all of them. ;)
We were active and put on quite a show.
DeleteGood memories
ReplyDeleteSuch a twin must have been great fun…most days.
ReplyDeleteWhen we were little we "sort of" looked after each other.
DeleteGreat old photos! What fun to visit all your relatives!
ReplyDeleteMy copying of the photos was really poor.
DeleteOh those memories!
ReplyDeleteI imagine most families talk about good memories.
DeleteGreat memories to have along with those nice priceless photos.
ReplyDeleteVery few people had cameras at that time. Mom had a camera.
DeleteThose are such great photos! I smiled at the line about hiding the cards but not knowing any card games ... and the "hostage exchange" - ha!
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed with my scanning of the photos.
DeleteSuch fun memories.
ReplyDeleteGoog times!
ReplyDeleteWell I have to say that much as I did enjoy my childhood I think it was very quiet and uninteresting compared with yours.
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of the term "Irish twins" before. In this blogpost the pictures appear very dark. The last picture is so sweet - the two of you holding your lunch boxes. I saved it to Microsoft Office 2010 and then simply clicked on AutoCorrect to bring the image back to life and dispel the darkness.
ReplyDeleteI know a woman who had Irish twins in which each which both births were twins! Can you imagine four babies that close together!? She also had two older boys. Her alcoholic husband left her, so she raised them alone.
ReplyDeleteI did a crummy job of copying my photos. It was a tradition to take pictures of kids the first day of school each year. My brother was starting gr one and I was starting gr 2 .
ReplyDeleteThose are great memories Red and the photos are treasures.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure they were all just taking turns - one way to give your mother a break!
ReplyDeleteMy guess, they were helping your mom out? My older brother and I are 13 months apart, so we just missed the cut - definitely close tho!
ReplyDeleteI am very much sure that both of you were sent to another house so each family can take the pleasure of hosting you 🤗
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this story and how you twins brother were close to each other 🥹
This is priceless and beautiful thing in relationships indeed 👍
Thanks for sharing these cutest ever pictures 🥰🙏
Enjoyed your story. And you are right about memories being different. Our first 2 children were 18 months apart... and now when we talk about their childhood, I sometimes wonder if they were raised in the same house.
ReplyDeleteKay of Musings: Gosh! I can’t imagine you being naughty, Keith. I guess there’s hope for my younger grandson who can really be a handful.
ReplyDelete