The garden and Mickey

All the story of the garden is correct. Yes, we enjoyed so much sitting between the rows eating tomatoes with our salt shaker.

Dad and Uncle Elmer owned the gas station. I was often allowed to walk up to the station and Mickey always went with me. We had to cross the highway but back then that was no big deal.
Mom was in labor with Michelle and dad left to take mom to the hospital and Mickey followed them up the road to the highway but then couldn't keep up with the car naturally. Some drunks in a car or truck swerved clear over to the opposite shoulder to hit Mickey. This was seen by some of our small community. Yes, I was very sad and, being a child, I blamed Michelle. I would have nothing to do with her for the first three weeks after she was home. But mom was smart, she just let it take it's course and one day she asked me if I would please help her by giving Michelle her bottle. I did and I learned that my baby sister was okay and I frequently held her after that.