My mother was married twice. First to a man named Carl Phillips, then to my dad, Marvin Barkley. My sister was born to Mary Lou and Carl, and she was named Barbara Ann Phillips. What a blessing that earlier marriage was to me--because I can't imagine life without my wonderful, and amazing sister!
Barb was born in Michigan (I won't say when, just that it was during the last century!), and lived for a time in New York (at least I think she did). But when she was still small, Mary Lou and Carl divorced, and Barb and our mom came back on the train to Marshall MN where our grandparents lived. Her dad, Carl, was then killed in WWII. She lived in Marshall until after our mom married my dad, Marvin, and they moved to Fresno, CA, then Watertown, where Barb graduated from high school, at the top of her class (at least I assume she was :)) During her high school years, she was blessed with a baby brother, then a baby sister!
Back to Minnesota she went, where she graduated from Northwestern School of Nursing, again, at the top of her class (again, I assume). While in school, she met and married a handsome, charming, intelligent young man named Marvin Walter Heins. (His intelligence was proved out in that he married my sister.)
After college Marvin served in the military, and Barb and Marv lived in Massachusetts, or possibly Connecticut--I'm a little unclear on the details since I was just a little kid at the time.
Anyway, during that period of time, our mother was in a automobile accident. They were preparing for a transfer at the time, but they headed back to Minneapolis, where our mother was hospitalized. Eventually, our mother was brought back to Watertown, where she died. Barb and Marv stayed at our house and took care of me and our brother Mike until after our mother died. Then Marv had to report for duty in California, so he hitched down to Arlington to catch a train. Barb stayed with us a while longer, but then had to leave for California, where she gave birth to her first baby, Mary Lou Heins.
Whenever I think about what I just wrote, it makes me cry. But it also makes me admire my sister more and more. She was a young woman, pregnant for the first time. She must have longed to have her mom to talk to, but instead, she had to put aside her personal grief and worry, looking out for two little kids, and a grieving step-dad. Then she traveled across the continent to settle on a military base and give birth to her baby. But that's what she did.
They settled in Rochester where Barb worked until she retired at St. Mary's Hospital, mostly in the pediatric unit, and mostly at night. In the daytime, she was busy raising her six children. And she and Marv did an amazing job with their kids, who all are as amazing as their parents. Maybe even more so!
Anyway, Barb never forgot her little brother or sister, even after my dad remarried. She always kept in contact by letters, gifts, and visits, even though she had her own family to raise. The highlight of summer was going to Rochester to stay with her!
Barb, my dear sister, I hope you know how much I love, and admire and cherish you!
Happy Birthday!
Barb was born in Michigan (I won't say when, just that it was during the last century!), and lived for a time in New York (at least I think she did). But when she was still small, Mary Lou and Carl divorced, and Barb and our mom came back on the train to Marshall MN where our grandparents lived. Her dad, Carl, was then killed in WWII. She lived in Marshall until after our mom married my dad, Marvin, and they moved to Fresno, CA, then Watertown, where Barb graduated from high school, at the top of her class (at least I assume she was :)) During her high school years, she was blessed with a baby brother, then a baby sister!
Back to Minnesota she went, where she graduated from Northwestern School of Nursing, again, at the top of her class (again, I assume). While in school, she met and married a handsome, charming, intelligent young man named Marvin Walter Heins. (His intelligence was proved out in that he married my sister.)
After college Marvin served in the military, and Barb and Marv lived in Massachusetts, or possibly Connecticut--I'm a little unclear on the details since I was just a little kid at the time.
Anyway, during that period of time, our mother was in a automobile accident. They were preparing for a transfer at the time, but they headed back to Minneapolis, where our mother was hospitalized. Eventually, our mother was brought back to Watertown, where she died. Barb and Marv stayed at our house and took care of me and our brother Mike until after our mother died. Then Marv had to report for duty in California, so he hitched down to Arlington to catch a train. Barb stayed with us a while longer, but then had to leave for California, where she gave birth to her first baby, Mary Lou Heins.
Whenever I think about what I just wrote, it makes me cry. But it also makes me admire my sister more and more. She was a young woman, pregnant for the first time. She must have longed to have her mom to talk to, but instead, she had to put aside her personal grief and worry, looking out for two little kids, and a grieving step-dad. Then she traveled across the continent to settle on a military base and give birth to her baby. But that's what she did.
They settled in Rochester where Barb worked until she retired at St. Mary's Hospital, mostly in the pediatric unit, and mostly at night. In the daytime, she was busy raising her six children. And she and Marv did an amazing job with their kids, who all are as amazing as their parents. Maybe even more so!
Anyway, Barb never forgot her little brother or sister, even after my dad remarried. She always kept in contact by letters, gifts, and visits, even though she had her own family to raise. The highlight of summer was going to Rochester to stay with her!
Barb, my dear sister, I hope you know how much I love, and admire and cherish you!
Happy Birthday!
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