Margaret Hardy, Wendi Rudholm, and Lori Elsick

00:00 Cleaning up girls

00:05 Hi, my name is Wendy route home. I'm almost forty-one. Today's date September 24th, 2009. We're in Grand Rapids, Michigan proud to say and with my grandma. Margaret Hardy and my sister Lori, s like no one is Lori McKenna with a flick illustrator is September 24th. I'm in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I'm with my sister Wendy route home and with my grandmother at 94 Margaret Hardy. I'm Margaret Hardy and I'm I was born January 6th, 1915 and 94 purse and I'm with my two grand best granddaughter.

01:05 I'm glad to be here with you guys Lori calling us what last minute 30 minutes. I think you gave us we come to this how awesome Grandma as we work in a prime and outside. We definitely want to hear about your story and just talk about our lives together going up as women and multi-generations. I'm missing our mom right now that we lost wanted to make out with two years ago, right almost three hours ago a little bit about her and stuff. But do you mind Grandma's I just ask you a couple questions. No, I don't mind. Well, I have to know this just have to know. What is the worst thing you've ever done is the worst thing called. There's a lot of worse things.

02:05 Bad real bad

02:08 You are a dancer. Yeah that I didn't dance real good and I'm off to damn you didn't get in trouble for anything. No 94 years and she said they can to know okay. Alright is your favorite imaginary? It was never forget that first time we Ward formals and I had on my friend had a I had a kind of a and we traded dresses and I don't wear that red dress and I thought I was in heaven.

03:08 And then this guy asked me to dance the first dance. We are on the Florida Osceola Osceola. Wow. Yeah, and I thought I was a ballad of all because you were wearing red created the pink. How old are you? I was only seventeen and yeah, I think she's giving us a ride there. How did you get there and buggy one of those crank up cars? Would you have canterville our brother? I brought it took us down there.

04:08 Okay. Alright. Wow, your brother had a car and Dad they were really nice people from Czechoslovakia. Both of them John seller in Magdalena celery. Okay, and they were very they worked hard. They really they were they moved out there. They were like they had a clean out clear all that land and everything and all what do you call them? So they get up in the morning for a car and go to work in my micros had a big everything in all you didn't violate good stuff.

05:09 Had all that buy my always made a lot of good pies in or like see they have cherry pies apple pies meet 7 at a time cuz there was seven children. I like that. I haven't we continue that tradition. Damn my goodness. When did they come over in the states? Right? How old am I was 18 and dad was here are they ended up in Toledo, Ohio? And that's a dad send for my and that's how I met the homestead it. That's what it was home that at home. Can I join your morning, but it was new.

06:09 And then it was a house later. You know, how many brothers sisters are there are seven of us when he was young. He was only two years old he died but the rest and then John was killed in he was in the service. Okay, and you want to do this one German girl. He wanted to bring her home and I didn't even know right?

06:46 You really ended up telling you okay? Yeah, right what love does not mean that they had any family here? No home to that area. I know uncle Frankie, but my Uncle Frank live there across the US to him and his wife Agnes and they had de Lindsay five children and there was an uncle so there was so we had at least you know somebody but in kaleva there was only three Czechoslovakian families families and then all the rest rest or fins. Oh my goodness.

07:46 Not really hard. All of them and then they do have like when they do have

07:53 You know when they have a need help means that you're they made with shingles on a roof not like a spelling bee. All right, all right and went off together the neighbors and then when they had done need when they were making hay not hate but it was at other day when they were doing 500 work and everybody joined it together. The neighbors all came and helped each other the fens and Germans and all little different today is for you and your generation after seeing your parents help each other.

08:47 Was it different? Well, yeah. Yeah, it was a lot different then. Yeah, cuz we had a lot easier than they had it. They really work dad would get up 4:00 in the morning and worked in my to my would have to bake everything. You know, you didn't never bought what your mom be in the memories that you have is the poppy seed roll my head and you should have heard her every time in a hold a thought that would really love that girl in Road. I got the recipe from my okay. You said that your mom grew the poppies?

09:47 She's attracted to seed for the PAW Patrol.

09:58 What do you call a gram and I'll backpack my first question. I'm going to answer I write 94 years. Dancing in the red dress. Google is so I wasn't supposed to go that night. You know that we did get out. How did you get out this one? Yeah, cuz it well Mom and Dad they approve of it. But then you have a favorite song that maybe you wanted to dance to your son to was their favorite song back. Then the blue skirt Waltz. I love that. We like losses.

10:58 I don't know. I can't think of how that goes has blue skirt Waltz you all do you have a favorite song now? And yeah, that's what I always feeling. Okay. I always go and ask for Tennessee Vols and a beer barrel. Polka Yeah Yeah Yeahs remember that every wedding Oliver cousin, which I wish I could let her know. I'm all right. Now for already said at your funeral near your Barrel, okay, we hear it. We hear it now. It's about your kids.

11:58 Wayne L. And Darwin and Gordy the baby if he likes to remind us all of the babies in the family, but he's a really nice to me and I will talk to her about butterflies and buy some new shoes macular degenerate teacher duration get in the way of you know, she like this jacket and eyeliner and knows what I like right and she knows my size would they hit her and Gordy go together and they get them for me and they're just be

12:58 But you know what? I like and you should hear that compliments. I get Ellen and that place I come down with this jacket one time. I know you're really good. I know one of the recent photographs I have of you and we went out and did the Hat thing we went out for tea and had tried and he ain't I cute. You know, I'm rather fond of their own complement yourself. I do feel good about myself. I help me. Yeah, you know that my mom used to say that you are healthier than she ever was and I know you take good care of yourself and I are you state that that really gives me

13:58 A lot of focus and Margaret youth you got to have these clothes cuz we don't want you going around and we remember you and your red dress, you know Graham and that I'm just curious. What would be the biggest piece of advice that you'd want to give all of us grandkids when God Church in new do the thing. You're the best thing you can and then your life will be. Okay who's been the most significant person in your life in my life. I had so many projects to hear difference in age. Yeah, and then I had them.

14:52 Through the years I had so many Vera pichosky. Remember Vera the neighbor Manhattan for Manhattan. It was a for Manhattan night and Grandma was having a good next door to each other. That was really fun figuring moment. And then I have the lake at the shop and she was a really good friend to me when I'm trips a lot. Well, in fact that one time she went with your beer and I and her and then neighbor found that time and all she felt right and hit her head and it bled and they had to take her to the hospital is where in Indiana my good buddy from the shop.

15:52 But you don't let things slow you down. No, cuz I like it reminds me of growing up and how as a teenager. You would always ask me, you know a couple things. How are you doing kid? Were you working? And so that was always so focused and member you saying there where you work, you know, and so I would always tell you and I I think that's a really unique thing in my age at 49 basically growing up for oral and and I say that because there wasn't a lot of focus and jobs growing up before there was a lot of chauvinism when I was growing up. So in in your generation being skipping a generation from our mom to you I was curious about how that was for you as a woman growing up with chauvinism, even though you always Folk

16:52 It's done, you know for me. Yeah, where was my focus where was I going to go with my jobs in in my work and that always came from you as a really important thing to me. I know it was I used to tell me what did you help us that for you as far as jobs in folk? How did you clean that as a woman back? And you know, you're coming of age in your day.

17:29 She is I really don't know. I just was important to you, right it was or was not I know that you've always been very focused on what we were doing. Yeah as women. Yeah, that's too and I think of that as being very positive to me as a woman, you know, you've been a positive role model out. How do you want to be remembered Graham?

18:01 Real now. How would I say it I always liked everybody and and I want to be remembered by that. Everybody was my friend.

18:22 Cuz you've been a friend to you know, many many people have and that's what everybody says. You're a really good and they say that you know, you got to be a friend. You got it. You got to be a friend yourself and to have a friend. So let's talk about biggest sisterly advice. What did Helen what kind of advice did Helen give you growing up? And then I went to town with my sister about that too and see how I have and I were buddies, you know, we'd walk together is a mailbox as about a mile from our place that we don't always get over there and there's some Woods there we can wait for the mailman to come and she was really a good friend in or like a friend to in the sister.

19:20 Yeah, and birth was too Babe Ruth was younger. She was 7 years younger. How about 6, how about biggest advice for me?

19:33 Think really be kind to yourself.

19:36 And

19:38 Find what really feeds you and your juices kind of like me asking Graham. What is it that

19:47 You know, you've obviously all of us as women have encountered many obstacles that human beings but also as women and there have been glass ceilings and and yet I think that that is shattering and dispersing. Thank God for your generation me being by 8 years older sister. Are you 8 years old? Yeah, let it be known right here.

20:18 Record youngest by car

20:24 An infant in your voice in finding what really makes you happy inside be able to embrace that place whatever it is, you know, if it's pushing your children on the playground in the swing set or if that makes your board that you and I share. Yeah is that it was September like this time of year.

21:10 And we took my little baby boy who is now 10 and we went out to the beach and it was windy and I and Mom and Wanda and we went out to the beach.

21:25 And in that beautiful September afternoon, we just hung out which was very rare for us to have that moment. It was very exclusive. Nobody else was there just gorgeous beautiful.

21:40 And we rested and laughed and had stories like this and played and nice and I felt relaxed enough to where I'm going like a bikini. I took off my clothes and Grandma aren't supposed to tell her it was wonderful to have freedom of the Waves. Remember remember I said I said that the ways and stuff and how beautiful the waves came in and it was water and it was reflective. And I and I said that's wave Anatomy app and I remember that you like that. I don't remember the stripped-down. I'm a little happy about that really, but I never heard of that one.

22:40 You haven't gone skinny-dipping I am certainly not believe in that Michigan or Michigan beaches in ladder ways. It's like I got Michigan beautiful memory moment, you know and I think about life in life all we have our moments, you know, and we have a moment lenses together like tonight skip that we used to go on picnics too. And you know what we had for picnic Mondays a ring Abalone on the milk and a loaf of bread.

23:40 At the beach there, you know what I'm even down would be a long and down with play the guitar you as an entire player, you know, he's so we had a good time to four of us which we come together. Do you have your favorite moment in life Grandma favorite and so many so many I mean like one that just really stands out maybe you with Grandma and we take her to the doctor that was in Lansing and not at least everybody said, oh what a pretty baby. It'll everybody that met us. Is there a pretty baby after me hear? You said that about my kids? I remember you saying that about ya and telling me that

24:40 Sorry when I had my to my electrical babies, yeah, I'd like to say a little bit about my daughter's husband Rick Rude home daughters. Erica route home who we met two and a half months old. We adopted from Colombia cuz we were told we could never have biological kids. Remember that gram and then yes, like 5 months after getting back Columbia. We found out about a free at home or middle daughter and thank you. Thank you and then only a year ago, we had Macy her rations just ever ever ending smile.

25:40 I know I don't know know know but she's getting a little face dear. How about your kids this how about my kids? Well with 15 years between them hard to remember a lot of that stuff. I look at the pictures and then I remember and as an artist when I paint their faces and I remember those things for me to be able to be transported in time to what I've painted. Yeah is something I remember very keenly, you know, that's what I'm most proud of in your artwork is the beautiful beautiful Park Jets you do if your kid over and over again and all their ages and the beach scenes so often but very proud of that work,

26:40 Yeah, I'm very very very proud of how you handle yourself of how you treat others better than yourself.

26:53 You have always been like that and you've always been a Spitfire from the red dress. So you think Camille was a nice baby too young she is a very pretty. I come down now everybody come over to seeing you tonight is contemplative. Although he's very sensitive guy. I like he ran in one time the side door of the house and Camille and II and his dad coleman. We were all in the kitchen at the same time. And this defines Chase very well and he ran in the side door to go. That's it.

27:53 Skip and 6 and going right to 7 and then the door slammed again.

28:02 He's got to focus and he's also got a lot of energy. He's a little pissed off. You know what I like about you and him is that you I have always liked the Spitfire. Yeah, you know if you have an affinity throw it out. How many grandkids do you have? Do you like but I'm not sure or is there more now? I don't know. I think that would be right for grandkids. But then when you break it down great-grandkids, yeah, and then you have a couple of great great great great.

29:02 John Deere to remember at Leon Hardy in the nae nae and you know what that kid is doing good. There's another kid. I'm so proud of you because he had a bad beginning see the mother they were too young and they had an awful life for a while it always hard for them kids and I helped, you know, I used to have him a lot. You know the stand up for the underdog I do ya don't you? Yes, I do but it turned out to be a great kid and threatening to hit railroads.

30:02 Account on a lot of people to bring up and help bring up my kids not just me and my voice going to be their voice within and it's going to be others. Yeah, that's right. So you been a you fit any voice in my life Grandma where you have reported me as a woman and as young thing going to be a Woman Soon in doing a job and that being important to me in life and you've always looked at the good know that you've always been positive and and mom used to Cannon. She said Grandma never met a meal. She didn't like that. I just ate a McDonald Hamburger banquet and it was the best

31:02 Forever grandma would walk away from someone now. That was fun. Matter what I'm not sure if a funeral but I like that song. Yeah, you know, I want that mine something write it down. Don't you think that has a lot to do with health and I mean positive attitude you think Grandma? Yeah. Yeah, you have to think you know that way and I always I always I like everybody, you know, really know how do you know? What do you call him a parallelogram? They won't believe that out. I don't think I'm not sure.

32:02 Oh, yeah, and then we already know where we're going in in one time my husband and I said yeah and if there's a little offended before and he's like, oh my gosh, I bet you always talk about those old biddies Graham. I have to remind you. Usually they're like 70, but there is Grandma 94 then you're calling them old bitty old biddies walk out of here. We're going to be at Storey mobile any last things that you guys want to talk about?

32:50 Anything you want to ask us Graham?

32:54 She I can't think now why my brain's gone love for you to visit and that was the one I told you about that. Mom always loved she told me the story about how it was Christmas Eve and you drove your car to your parents back in the farm. Yeah, and the snow is so deep sleeping Hills to go and it was really stormy that while they had her come give to her. How was that they had to come get us. Yeah, cuz it was about a mile away. Yeah, cuz they couldn't get up the hill but the thing that mom remembered I was that your dad came with the horse. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

33:54 A horse than he hits two horses to the sleigh and then went in and then and that's what he used to do on rainy or snowy days, you know, when is snow so hard and we'd be a kids in school and he'd pick us up and he'd have that horse and sleigh and then they have lot of hay or straw in there and and blankets to pick up and then he picked up some of the neighbor kids too cuz they had to go over you no more than a mile in that there was a lot of bad days then yeah that is hard winter and then come home and have hot chocolate ready and then big oatmeal cookies. Are you going to give us those recipes? Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah.

34:54 Try to make them in poppy seed rolls, but it never turned out right by ya. Any less things about a time. Are we about out of time and see what else did what kind of memories do you have to leave us with about our mom about your mom? I think she was such a nice lady happen.

35:32 Silver and green chilies trying to be just good to know. She has always been for me in like the epitome of mom let you know in a little bit Rollie Pollie a little bit. And remember it's a good thing. I have to say a memory for my daughters and hopefully throughout the years is of mom is her warm hand to my cheek and the kids Halle. I love you in Hindi.

36:32 Fact Chase still laughs about him peas and Mom by sitting in her chair and then and then grandma going

36:44 I share your Rugrat. Remember when she oh my gosh.

37:04 Oh, yeah, she wasn't talking right and I didn't know who it was. Yeah, you really does Arie heard. He had that I sure hope we all carry this pump continuously. It looks like a generational thing. I love it. I love it. I love Dad about our family has a great sense of humor and you are definitely the matriarch of his 50th where we all head depends on where you really enjoyed cuz he does have really nice party.

38:04 Not there, but you have to climb all them steps Yeah Yeah Yeahs have a birthday party this year. No, wait till I'm a hundred we do it every year till then. I had a party for us gals at play bingo at the township. And then I had a one minute timer, please add to our coffee and we bring a cake. Turkey and I had three different ones that we wanted to have a month. Yeah after I you guys later what we want to have many many birthday.

39:04 Yeah, right anymore probably will know. I don't know you never go for any of us for any of us. That's really I really enjoyed that talking to you gals Thank you, Grandma.

39:22 I love you, too. Grandma. Love you, too. Thanks so much fun. That's right in a few. Laughs.