Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Puff Sleeves and Smallpox Vacinations

When I was in the First Grade in 1954, we got our Smallpox Vaccinations through the School system...........I remember it like it was yesterday. We all went down to the Municipal Building on a School Bus and stood in line for a nurse to poke us on the arm................lots of tears and lots of screaming for all those little 6 year olds.........I don't remember it hurting that much, but kinda like Childbirth.........the pain fades............

But what I do remember is the cookie and cup of Koolaid we got after the shot. Plus, we were out of school. Now after spending a total of 3 weeks in school, why would that be a treat? Who knows the mind of a 6 year old.

Anyway, the other thing I remember is..........the big honkin' sore that came up on my arm a week later...........at that time all little girls were puff sleeves that fit tight around the upper arm (not elastic)..........so what did the enterprising post depression Mom's do? Of course they cut one sleeve out of the dress................so there was a plethora of little 1st grade girls running around town with one puff sleeve and one bare arm.

This is a perfect example of the dresses we wore that year.


Of course we didn't wear the Sundress version.............even though it was warm enough here in Texas and there was no air conditioning....the concept(for Eisenhower Era Moms) was that it was September and a New School Year so you wore, New School Clothes.........WOW have Times Changed!!!!

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

They really just cut one of the sleeves off? That seems awfully wasteful, especially seeing as the swelling would go down in a few days.

I'm sure you were adorable in your little dress though :)