C.Y. Bourgeois's Blog, page 4

A Favorite of Dad's

Oyster Stew
Serves 6
4 cups light cream1 qt. shucked oysters, drained, liquid reserved½ tsp. celery seed1 tsp. salt¼ tsp. ground white pepper (black is fine too, but affects color of soup)6 tsp. butter1 pinch of love
Combine cream and reserved oyster liquid in a 3 -4 qt. saucepan and warm over moderate heat. Reduce heat to low, stir in celery seeds, salt and pepper, then add oysters. Stirring occasionally, simmer gently for 3 – 4 minutes until the oysters plump up and their edges begin to curl.
Place a teaspoon of butter in a heated soup bowl and ladle in the stew. Serve at once and enjoy!!
*Note:This recipe was sent to Mom & Dad by a friend from Canada and it was one of Dad's faves. The rest of us were, shall we say, less enthusiastic about it, but he loved it, so on occasion he would roll up his sleeves and make it. He and Mom would eat it, but us kids were usually allowed to eat something else. I liked the juice with lots of crackers, but not the oysters. Give me a good clam chowder over this any time! ;-)

Meeting of Minds, Part V

conclusion...
“So,” Anna raised her voice to be heard above the noise of the big rumbling conveyor belt, “are you going to keep giving Bill the cold shoulder?”
Lois caught the first bunch of paper cups that came rolling by and ran her finger around the bottoms to make sure the glue held fast. She dropped them in the “GOOD” bin and smiled over at Anna. “I will if he keeps pushing me about going out for drinks.” 
Anna dropped her stack in the same bin and reached for another one. “So, what if he asks you to do something else?”
Lois shrugged. “We’ll see.”
Anna laughed and shook her head. “I sure hope the poor fellow knows what he’s in for.”
“I guess he’ll find out if he’s persistent enough.” 
Smiles on both their faces, Lois and Anna reached for the oncoming cups. 

Meeting of Minds, Part IV

“That’s what you heard?” Anna shook her head. “Well, like I said, and I know you heard that too, he’s a hard worker too. He was raised on a farm and knows how to bust a sweat. So, it’s not like he’ll ever let you go hungry. He’ll take good care of you and your kids and—”
Lois put up a hand, laughing. “Okay, okay. Good golly, Anna, I’m convinced already. He’s a hard worker and I’d be a fool to let him get away.”
“A fool,” Doris agreed.
“A damn fool,” Polly seconded.
The break whistle sounded and the girls gathered the remnants of their lunches and stood up. 
Lois stuffed her empty Tupperware bowl and thermos back in her plaid lunch box and tossing her apple core in the trash. She shut the metal lid and fastened the silver latch with a click. “Time to get back to work,” she said. 
She walked to her locker, opened it and tucked her lunch box inside and pulled her white apron out. She slipped it over her head, and reached back to tie it around her waist. “Isn’t this new Tupperware stuff swell?”
Anna’s hands paused in the tucking of her hair inside a hair net and she glanced over at Lois. “Yes, the Tupperware is swell. I just got my new set of mixing bowls with lids.”
“The ones you ordered at Doreen’s party?” Polly adjusted her apron and pulled the net over her hair, tucked and pulled and adjusted until she had a few stray stands of her brown hair curling around her face. 
“Those were really nice, but I couldn’t afford them, being single and all,” said Doris. She pushed her locker door shut, snapped on the little padlock and dropped the key in her apron pocket. 
“Me neither,” Lois said. “I just got the little single bowls with lids. They’re great for bringing my own salads and stuff.”
The second whistle sounded and lockers banged shut throughout the break room. The four friends turned and, heels clicking on the dull green and gold linoleum tiles, headed back to the line. 

Meeting of Minds, Part III

Anna, however, was not nearly as amused. She frowned. “Oh, come on now Lois, give the man a chance. Mark says he’s ready to settle down and start a family. He’s thirty-four now and is ready to grow up and get serious. Personally, I think he’ll be a great husband and father.”
Doris cocked her head in Anna’s direction and wiggled her eyebrows. “Sounds like you have a little crush yourself.”
Anna blushed. “So what? Maybe I do.” She held up two fingers about an inch apart. “But just a little one.”
Polly snorted and that got all the girls giggling. 
Lois recovered first. “So, what does Mark think about that?”
Doris and Polly tipped their smiles towards Anna and she blushed. “He says it’s okay as long as it stays smaller than the one I have on him.” 
“Aww,” Polly purred. “You are one lucky gal, you know that? Handsome and sweet, that’s your Mark.”
“Yep, that’s my Mark,” Anna said. “And that’s,” she pointed at Lois, “Bill. Handsome and sweet and loyal and hardworking.” Lois grinned and swatted at the accusing finger. “He has big dreams, you know.  Wants to make good. And, he seems, for some unknown reason, to have picked you to get serious with.”
“That’s all I need,” Lois said, “a dreamer.”
*Note: She had no clue where his dreams would eventually lead them! :-)

Meeting of Minds, Part II

Lois set her fork down, sat back in her chair, and crossed her arms. “So, what if I do? It’s nobody’s business but mine,” she said, raising her voice so it carried. Her hazel eyes held a dark glint as she looked around the room and there was a split second of silence, and then the normal chattering magpie conversations resumed. She lowered her voice and leaned forward. Her companions leaned in to hear over the magpies. “Besides,” she said, with a playful smile, “I don’t want him to think I’m easy.” 
“Ha!” Polly barked out a laugh. “Gal, ain’t a man in the Can thinks you’re easy.”
Anna and Doris laughed. “Isn’t that the truth,” Anna said.
“Keep your voice down,” Lois said, peering around the room, but nobody was paying attention. At least, not that she could tell. 
Doris cleared her throat. “Bill is a good man, though. Everybody says so.”
“Yeah,” Lois’s eyebrows shot up, “especially the women.”
Anna smiled. “Well, Mark and I know Bill pretty well, and yes, he’s been a bit of a playboy ever since he came back from the war, but it’s not like he’s ever been married and is a cheater. He’s just been sowing his wild oats—”
“Yeah, and I bet they’re all sowed by now,” Lois interrupted, much to the delight of Doris and Polly. 

Meeting of Minds, Part I

1957 Michigan
Back on the line at Continental Can Company on Monday, Lois did her best to concentrate on the work, but Bill kept wandering over from his area and, as careful as her sneaky coworkers thought they were, she knew everybody was watching and waiting to see what she would do.
At noon, Bill wandered up to the table she shared with Anna and a couple other girls in the break room. “They’re taking bets on whether or not you’re gonna shoot me down,” he said, motioning over his shoulder.
Lois looked up and, as one, all the looky-loos turned away and pretended to concentrate on their own lunches. She shook her head and turned her gaze up to the man towering over the table. “Instead of wondering if I’m going to shoot you down, why don’t you just leave me alone?”
Anna gasped, fork stuck midway between her salad and her open mouth.
Bill’s eyes widened and he frowned. He tipped his head to one side. “You got it, lady.” He turned and walked away.
“Lois,” Anna said, “what on Earth is the matter with you?”
Polly shook her head. “What was that all about? I thought you liked him.”
Doris nodded in agreement. “Yeah, what the heck?”
**Note: Meeting of Minds is a fictionalized version of what Mom told me regarding how her and Dad met and (spoiler alert) finally got together. ;-)

Pray Hard That I Don't Let Us All Down

 July 12, 1962Fairbanks, Alaska
...conclusion
Well sweetheart, tomorrow I’m going to see about another job. If I get it, I’m going to start working on getting you up here. From what I understand so far it only pays $2.50 per hour, 5-1/2 days. If I get it, am going to look at a small house, think we could get along in a 2-bedroom house? If you want to work and help out, maybe we can get ahead. There’s a chance to make more money too. Keep your fingers crossed and pray hard that I don’t let us all down.
Got a letter from Kenny the other day but haven’t got around to answering it yet. Also got one from Mom & Pop that I have to answer.
Well, honey, I can’t think of too much more to write about so guess I’ll close for this time and will send you some money soon.
By the way, have you heard from Bub or seen him? He’s got $50 I loaned to him to get home on. If you haven’t got it yet, call Chas Fosdick and ask for Bub. He said that was one of the first things he would do when he got home.
Am going to sign off now and hoping to hear from you real soon with an answer.
Tell everybody “Hi” and give them all my love.
Goodnight sweetheart and I miss you and the kids and wish very much you were here.
Love and Kisses,Always,Bill XXXXXXX
P.S. Did you ever get any more money from the credit union?
Love & Kisses,BillXXXXXXXXX

Sweetheart, Darling, Honey

July 12, 1962
Fairbanks, Alaska

...continued


Sweetheart, what you told Irene was okay, because I’d sure hate to have her know much more. I really feel sorry for her and he’s now talking about letting her go to California with his mother when she has her heart set on coming up here. So just keep on telling her anything. I’d hate for it to be you that told her, let him do his own heartbreaking.
Darling, think about what I said earlier about working and if you decide you want to, we’ll get you up here and quick, even if I have to borrow the money, and I think I can. So, let me know and I’ll start trying to find a place, it’d probably be an apartment or a small house.
You know honey, it’s too bad about Kathy, but I can’t feel sorry for her too much. But I agree with you that Flo should know what she’s doing to Rainy. Also think Flo would be smart to pack her things and send her home and let her mother take care of her. My opinion. She’s just sticking her neck out and is going to get it chopped off.
Too bad someone didn’t let me know they were coming and I could have gone out and seen them. Only live about 2 miles from the airport on the only road going to and from it. You know they might have landed or taken off almost right over us. They do a lot of times. Wait until you write to her and tell them it was only 2 lousy miles between all of us. Bet she’ll flip.
I thought I told you the name of this place but maybe I didn’t. In case I did and you forgot or I didn’t tell you, it’s “The Riviera Boatel” on Airport Rd. about halfway between town and the airport. Sure would liked to have seen them. Dammit.
to be continued...

Well Darling...

July 12, 1962Fairbanks, Alaska
...continued
Sure sorry about Tiki, but you did the right thing and am glad the kids took it so good. They’re a couple of real troopers and little darlings too (sometimes), most of the time. Tell them not to worry because when you get up here, we can get them another dog. Maybe you won’t want to tell then that though, I know you’re all going to miss her and it’s really my fault.
Well darling, I saw Neil yesterday and he said he hasn’t heard from Irene in over a week but that she did send him a collect telegram, $4.50, about the car, I guess. When I asked him about the title, I don’t think he liked it too much and told me he’d sent it about a week ago then changed it and said 3 or 4 days ago. He’s still trying to talk me into going into the cabin with him, but I’m going to stay where I’m at. I don’t think much of living in that part of town.
You know in a way, I hope Irene goes ahead and send the stuff up here and to the apartment, it would serve him right. You can bet he isn’t doing without anything he wants. To tell you the truth, I’m beginning to wonder if he even wants her to come up here or not. He told me he traded off his two rifles and got him a new pistol and belt and the whole works. Even said something about a reloading outfit too. 
*Note: I always thought Tiki made it to AK with us, but apparently, I was wrong! I'm not sure why Dad thought it was his fault she died, but it makes me sad that he did.

Hang On If You Can

July 12, 1962Fairbanks, Alaska My Dearest Lois & Kids:
Received both your letters and will try to answer both at once if that’s alright with you. Sure glad you had a nice birthday and wish I’d been there. Maybe I did the wrong thing by coming up here but I hope not. Have really been trying though. You’ve probably received my letter saying I had a steady job. Well, I thought I did but it didn’t work out too good. He found a guy who knew more about bus work than I did and let me go. Sorry it turned out that way, cause I thought I’d hit it pretty lucky.

But I haven’t given up and have been sending as much as I can to you. So please hang on if you can a little longer.
By the way, I talked to Hank and his wife (Doris) and asked them about work for women. Doris asked if you could type and I told her you could. She said there was a lot of work for typists here as long as you could type 45 words per minute. I said I thought you could. Also, the pay is real good too. She said some of the girls make over $400 a month. How does that sound to you?