Cousin's Yvonne's Memories

Hi to Beverly Bree's Family from Yvonne D. Simms, with memories of her family and herself and me. When we were very young, I would visit Aunt Vi (note: Violet, Bev's mother), Uncle Harold, Beverly, Hal Jr., Donald and later Tommy as he was younger. I was always treated so well and had fun. We would wake up early and Aunt Vi would tell us it was too cold to get up. So we would then ask each other riddles like, "There's something in this room that's green." I was always so impressed that Aunt Vi would iron their sheets and pillow cases with a mangle iron and board. She would also peel the tomatoes that they ate.

We had many fun times together. When we were little, we would go to Grandma Elson's (note: Tuttle & Bertha Elson) house, and get on the roof and pick figs, which we were strictly forbidden to do. We'd pay with the chips and make parades on the carpet with Grandma's ceramic animals. That was FUN!

When we were 18 and 19, Bev and I lived in Hollywood and a women's apartment house. We would go to "Coffee Dan's" and just watch the people walk by. There were always strange sights to see. We also saw actors and actresses.

At one point, we went to Catalina and met a young man named Capy who was very taken with Bev. He was very handsome and had a boat. Catalina was fun and we biked and went to the ballroom to dance. After that trip I had the only really good tan I ever had.

Bev, Mike (your dad), a friend of Mike's and I went to Ciro's where we saw Jose Greco and his dance troupe. Ciro's was a very popular place and Jose Greco was Famous. He had been in movies, and they dance the flamenco.

I worked for the telephone company and Bev worked for the insurance company. I was very shy, while Bev was outgoing and had many friends. She always was a good hostess when I came and visited her. She really enjoyed her place in Huntington Beach, and her job with the California Lottery.

Bev loved the September song. I believe she was born in September. (note: BD is 9/27/33).

She and her family were and are very good people.

(Above sent to David via her sister Vicky Johnson. Edited and notes added by David.)

My Earliest Music Lessons

Tonight I was roaming the Internet, when I came across the above video of my Mom's favorite group, The Limeliters. Growing up I listened to The Limeliters, The Kingston Trio, Harry Belefonte, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Mom loved to play their LP records and sing along with them. The first record bought for us kids was The Limeliters "Through Children's Eyes." Even watching television, we watch the show Hootenanny, and saw lots of our favorite groups performing on the show. I remember singing along to many of those songs. I even remember trying out for a talent show when I was in the 4th grade singing "Puff the Magic Dragon." The first instrument I tried playing was mom's guitar. Because of mom's love of that music, I think it help me develop a love for music. I enjoy playing my guitar, along with my trombone. And it's just not folk, I enjoy Jazz, Classical, and Pop. The above song "Have Some Madeira M'dear" was probably my mom's favorite song of all time. I was lucky to see the Limeliters preform that song live three times. Once in 1974 in Pasadena during a reunion tour with Glenn Yarbourgh, again in 1986 at the Marin County Fair with Red Grammer, and then in about 2001 in Smith River, CA. When I listen to this song and close my eyes, I can almost see mom singing along with Lou and all of us having a good laugh.