My Mother’s 1942 Vacation
This memory quilt draws on my vintage fabric collection and features the green handkerchief appliqued in the center and the chenille flowers—both recall the 1940s for me. The flowers in the border fabric appear to be oleander flowers that thrived in south Florida and are part of my childhood memories.
My mother, Marie Virginia Donovan Neilson, was in her early 20’s when she and girlfriends made this trip to the beach. I’m guessing the cottage is located in south Florida because of the landscape and architecture. She lived on Miami Beach and had attended high school there, graduating in the late 30’s. In high school she was an athlete who participated in the track, swimming, softball, volleyball and basketball teams. She was an athlete despite being born with a clubfoot. Her mother, Marie Coghill Donovan, massaged and manipulated her foot and leg several times a day in her infancy to minimize the effects of this disability. I believe she also wore a metal brace for many years. Mother’s disability was unknown to me until one of my Girl Scout friends noticed that mother’s leg turned slightly and she bluntly asked her about it. Because Mother died in 1979, I have no direct information about this vacation trip, only these pictures. Marie appears in the black bathing suit with the skirt.
On the back of this memory quilt, as part of the label, I included a photo of me about the same age as my mom in these pictures. That photo of me was taken circa 1973 in Kansas City, MO. size: 31”x 31”
