Virgie Bell's View: Memory LAINE

"Virgie Bell get up now,” is how my mornings used to start off for me. Then climbing out of that nice warm bed and dragging myself into the living room to set in front of the flaming Dearborn Heater. My two brothers and me. Linda Gay was just a little thing and got to sleep on. I’m certain my pajama set was reminiscent of a forties pin-up. In my room where Linda slept was this little closet which held mine and Linda’s clothes. It couldn't have been over two or three feet wide. Closets just weren't back then. Finally, it’d be my turn to go into the nice warm bathroom and brush my hair and wash my face, then I’d use my lipstick and eyebrow pencil, plus a little red plastic Maybelline eyelash color in black or brown. That was it. None of us high school girls used anymore than that. I’d put on my Pink Chenille bathrobe, and then it was Bennie's turn at the bathroom. My older brother, ole handsome Mickey “bless his heart” would have his bath towel wrapped around his waist and combing his raven hair back into that pompadour. He’d turn to me and say, "Don’t you wish I wasn’t your brother?" He was incredible. No movie star was even close to him in looks but one of the joys of my life was that he was my brother. He opened doors for me that I could have only dreamed of. Finally Linda Gay would drag in and lay down in front of the fire to doze again. All this time Daddy would have been at his end of the table drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes as mother cooked bacon, eggs, and biscuits. And so the day began, and always with that radio going, playing the music we all loved. Goodbye Frankie Laine and thank you for being part of my happiest times. SUPPORT THE TROOPS!