My own HGTV, circa 1960’s.

In 1960, when Dunn babies were booming and I’m told, chicken pox were blooming on my 1yr. old body, my parents moved to what seemed to be “clear across the country” from their rental in their hometown of New Haven, CT. to the little suburban town called Clinton, CT.  Total distance: 25 miles.  “It’s almost Rhode Island!” I think was heard from more than a few New Haven relatives!

Dad was an elementary, (non-union, he even crossed picket line$, he had to, to feed his family!) public school teacher and a HS swim coach.  Where? Yup, back in New Haven.  He was away from his brand spanking new house from sun up till sun down.  (“25 miles, one way!” We heard that a lot.  26 miles to Grandma Dunn’s, the distance of a marathon, which I’ve never run and never plan to either. Sticker seen on my husband’s car 0.0…I ❤️ him!)  Any who, definitely a long day for Dad, however, I’d put money on the fact that Mom’s day was considerably longer!!  Why? Two words: One car.  (2017 HGTV whine: “But it doesn’t have a 3 car garage! Where will put our extra Land Rover?!!)

Many moons and a few kids later, Dad bought a brand new, second car, from Charlie Mannix, remember him? It was kind of a snazzy car, for us anyway.  A 2 door Chevy something and kind of goldish in color. The following Sunday we all went to pile into our new car to go to Mass and guess what? We didn’t all fit! Oops!!  “I’ll stay home!” rang loud and clear from a few siblings, but you know that didn’t fly!

So, my Dad, who btw, made me the #1 rule follower that I am today, did break at least one rule that I know of.  He actually drove on I-95 BEFORE it was finished.  (Can you even imagine CT without I-95???!!! Let that sink in for a second!) Anything to shorten his new commute and get home to his beautiful wife and soon to be 3+ kids.  (IrishCatholics =>Always one on the way!)  Funny, as I think of it now, he would eventually make his ride lonnnnger by getting off the turnpike in Madison, jumping on RT.1 for a mile or so, then getting back on in Guilford, and reverse it coming home.  Why? No, not to lengthen the ride, avoiding the semi-organized chaos at home, but honestly, to save every single cent he could and not pay the 0.25 toll x 2. Public school teachers before unions and before combat pay, made, well, let’s just say, they weren’t in teaching for the money.  I know, they still aren’t.  It wasn’t until the ? mid 80’s that teachers started to make a little bit more, just in time for Dad to yes, retire from teaching!  Timing is everything!  My first RN job in ‘82 paid me 15K.  Same year, Dad, after almost 30 yrs teaching hadn’t broken 20K yet.  Saving money at the tolls make sense now? You betcha!

Ahh, the suburbs. 16 Park Drive.  A quaint 5 room ranch, 1 bathroom, 1 garage, no cellar and no attic, but biggest lot on the street.  Final count: 7 people, plus 1 dog, 2cats.  2 parents, 4 boys, and I like to say, 1 princess, but I’m hardly a princess and nor was I treated like one.  Ok, maybe I was Daddy’s little girl, thank GOD, but my 4 brothers reminded me daily that I screwed up their “Starting 5” for a basketball team!  “Let’s make Katie cry!” was their daily mantra.  (Me? Therapy?  No, God answered my prayers with my 2 beautiful daughters and a very patient husband!)

So have you Dunn the Dunn bathroom math in your head yet?  That’s right, 7 people , 1 bathroom and oh yeah, 1 empty, soon to be filled, frozen orange juice can!!  (2017 HGTV whine, “We must have 3 bathrooms! Little Johnny can’t possibly use the same bathroom with his 2 sisters, Buffy and Biffy!)  Rarely, and I mean rarely, did we ever get to use the bathroom alone. There’d be 1 person taking a shower, 1 person using the toilet, if standing, they’d have to strategically position themselves if Mom or I were also within sight.  2 people brushing their teeth, but one had to brush in the hall hoping the mint mouth freeze wouldn’t hit before the other person finished rinsing and spitting!  “Hhhurrree yup, III’vvve gotttToossppittt!”  (2107 HGTV whine: “We can’t have only 1 sink in the master bathroom!! How will we ever get ready on time in the morning??!!)

Now, I know, you’re dying to find out what’s with the orange juice can?  First of all, just “concentrate” for a second, (LOL!) ….Yes, OJ does come concentrated and frozen in a can, or at least it did in our house.  Were the Dunns on the cutting edge of “Going Green” and not just on St. Patrick’s  Day? You betcha!  We started the “re-use” part of the recycle world long before it was hip!  Youngest brother, Neil Dog, would usually wake up last and immediately have to go!  (Ya schnooze, ya lose, aka bathroom’s full!!)  From the hall, you’d hear, “Get the can, quick!”  Person on toilet would reach down to the floor, pick up the empty OJ can, pass to tooth brushing person who’d pass it out into the hall.  Neil would fill it and, if lucky, it’d get passed back without spilling to person at/on toilet who’d empty it.  Did we even blink an eye about this? Not one bit.  As a matter of fact, I don’t think Neil even opened his eyes because he was usually half asleep!

At some point, maybe after 4 yr.old Neil Dog almost died from epiglottitis, (I learned about emergency tracheotomies at a young age). Dr. Hertzberg, our family doctor, suggested that we buy a dishwasher.  Dishwashers could wash and rinse plates at a much higher water temp than handwashing, thus helping keep germs and winter colds at bay.  Yeeehah! We got a dishwasher! It was even on wheels!  What?!! You mean dishwashers aren’t usually on wheels?! They’re built in? Not ours. We had to roll ours around from the back corner by the washing machine into the kitchen, hook up the hose to the sink and yes, remember to turn the water faucet on.  (2017 HGTV whine: “Well these appliances will have to go, they’re NOT stainless steel!)  My Mom loved having a dishwasher (who’s name wasn’t Jane), but she wasn’t too happy with the arguing about who’s turn it was to empty it!

Dryer? What’s that? You mean you didn’t have frozen towels on your clothes line? We did.  A little rough around the edges, but you get used to it!

Oh, happy day and hello, warm towels, when we finally got a clothes dryer!!  Although, can’t remember if it was one of those Mother’s Day gifts gone bad, but had good intentions?! Either way, seeing that the rolling dishwasher lived where the dryer should go, the dryer, by default, ended up on the outside wall of the garage.  So to “move the clothes” meant carrying as much as you could, bobbing and weaving through the kitchen, into the garage, around the car the we all don’t fit into, open the dryer door with whatever finger is left and voila, clothes are in the dryer!  Easy peasy?  Well, maybe not, but it beat frozen towels!

Eventually, my dad built a good size family room on for a total of 6 rooms, just in time, as eldest brother Billy says, “for me to go to college!”  57 years later, and by the grace of God and the selfless, unending help from many wonderful neighbors and family, (God Bless, Nancy!) my two parents are still living at 16 Park Dr.  They get the gold medal for the only original owners left on the street.

Xo, Kate  12/13/17

Kate: Another day wasted, typing in my pjs. Life is good.

Joe: What’s for supper?

Kate: Reservations!