We've been working on getting Ma's bedroom straightened up for the past week or so. A combination of things, her being a pack rat, having limited mobility and an incident involving a closet avalanche have all added to the current state of disarray. Last week, when they delivered her hospital bed, we uncovered a whole new pile while disassembling her old, queen size bed.
Saturday morning, as I napped on the couch planned my domestic duties for the day, Ma walked in and sat down at the kitchen table with an odd look on her face.
"Do you remember that book you bought me for my birthday a long time ago, the one that had all the events for the year you were born, but you bought the wrong year?" she asked.
"Yes. Are you ever going to let me live that down?"
"Actually, no.. but I found it in there in one of those boxes and I was flipping through it and saw something that I'd forgotten about all these years," she explained. "In 1942, one of Uncle Cicero's granddaughters was Miss America. One of our cousins."
I thought she'd lost her mind. This was the first time I'd ever heard anything about anyone in our family being Miss America, but apparently this time, Ma wasn't having a crazy spell. Jo-Carroll Dennison, Miss America 1942, from Tyler, Texas was my great grandmother Tina's niece... at least I think that's the way the connection goes. She went on to have a career in movies and according to the official Miss America website, she's still living in California and is writing a book.
Here's a little of the article:
"It was afterward that Jo-Carroll first heard of The Miss America Pageant. She didn't even know where Atlantic City was. She protested that nobody had told her this included a trip to New Jersey, and she just had no desire to go. Yet, after experiencing everyone's pride in her she decided to go on the three-day train trip East. While in Atlantic City, she won the swimsuit and talent contests with a hand-clapping, foot-stomping rendition of "Deep In the Heart of Texas", the national pressed dubbed her "The Texas Tornado", and became Miss America 1942."
Is that not cool or what? Oh and by the way, while I do sometimes change names to protect the innocent.. and to cover my butt... Ma really did have an Uncle Cicero. I just love that name.
Here's a little of the article:
"It was afterward that Jo-Carroll first heard of The Miss America Pageant. She didn't even know where Atlantic City was. She protested that nobody had told her this included a trip to New Jersey, and she just had no desire to go. Yet, after experiencing everyone's pride in her she decided to go on the three-day train trip East. While in Atlantic City, she won the swimsuit and talent contests with a hand-clapping, foot-stomping rendition of "Deep In the Heart of Texas", the national pressed dubbed her "The Texas Tornado", and became Miss America 1942."
Is that not cool or what? Oh and by the way, while I do sometimes change names to protect the innocent.. and to cover my butt... Ma really did have an Uncle Cicero. I just love that name.
Anywho.. I thought I'd take a break from the regular nonsense and share that with ya'll.
Ya'll have a great Monday, we'll talk again soon!
Later Taters!
3 comments:
I think that's groovy! I was a local pageant victim. First Runner-up. I lost to a girl with a lazy eye.
Wow! A real live Miss American cousin AND an Uncle Cicero? Awesome!
That is VERY cool! And if that's her in the picture she is gorgeous!
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