In Pat's Words

Grampa wrote this from Grandma Pat's perspective. He told me he wrote until "she left" him. If she comes back, there could be more....


Oct. 15, 2011
Once upon a time a Royal Princess was born. When I was born, I was not of Royal Blood, but to many I was treated like a princess. I was loved and cared for. I had a loving family, many friends and freedom to choose. I would not trade my life for a real princess of Royalty.

I was born and lived most of my growing up years in a 2-family house--upstairs and downstairs--built by my grandfather and his brothers in the early 1900s. Grandfather Howell's family included his wife, Mary, my mother, Florence and her two brothers, Bill and Dick. Grandfather was from England and loved gardens, so our place was a showplace of English trees and flowers. Bill and Dick were older than me by 8-10 years and were more like brothers than uncles. They let me use the skate coaster and chase the baseballs they missed catching as we lived on a hill. Because of the hill, I never had a bike. My dad said it wasn't safe for me to ride in the street on a hill, so I never learned. My dad was very strict. He didn't always agree with we, and we had our differences. Mom was great--always my best friend. She mad my clothes, taught me piano and encouraged my learning. We read together a lot. I liked the OZ books, but enjoyed many others as well. I wanted to be just like my mom. I went to the same early schools as Mom and Bill and Dick--Monte Vista grammar and Franklin High. Teachers knew the Howells and were happy to have a Clark.

My dad was a self-taught electrical engineer and was gone away a lot. He worked on the Boulder Dam and the Owens Valley power plant. He went fishing once with his boss at Big Bear and was so impressed that he built a cabin with the help of the boys', Mom's, and my savings of $500. It was a good investment. I spendt many good days there, even swam across the lake with Mom and Dad in a rowboat to aid me if I needed--they weren't needed.

In grammar school, in 6th grade, I met some friends that lasted a long time--Paul Starr and Bruce Swan. We stayed together in schools until 1944 graduation. I did well in high school, #7 in a class of 200. Bruce and Paul were focused on different things than I was. Bruce was the commander of ROTC--I believe, Major. Paul was second in command, Captain. They both, with their friend, Bill Farley, went to the US Navy the Monday after graduation. There was a war on.

I became good friends with them in high school. We all learned to ice skate. Mom had made me a pretty figure skating outfit. They thought it was special--it was. Bruce and I skated couples, but a there was a bit of a problem: I used figure skates (short blades), and the boys wore racing skates with 12" blades. We each had to make some changes in our skating in order to blend. I think this carried over into my married life with Bruce--we each worked hard to help the other--a perfect blend.

I had worked at Kress's 10 Cent Store in high school and continued until USC. After high school, I went to Pasadena Junior College (PJC). Summers were spent at Big Bear. First year, I met Chuck Gladdish and had a summer romance. He wanted to get married, but I wasn't ready and he left. Two years at PJC were uneventful except for the Geology field trip to Yosemite. A week with a class of returned soldiers put a lot of pressure on the instructor. The soldiers accepted my standards, but the trip was not what they expected.

One night while working at Kress's, about 6 PM, in walks Bruce Swan. I hadn't seen him for a year or so. He said "I'm on liberty this weekend and can't find anything to do. Do you want to go out with me?" I said I work 'till 9, after that, OK. With a smile on his face, he said, "Super." We didn't know it then, but it was the start of a long love affair. He always remembers the song, "I Found a Million Dollar Baby, in a 5 & 10 Cent Store." I liked it too, but he was no baby.

We went together whenever we could. He got liberty weekends mostly. We would go dancing at Pasadena at the Palladium. Big Bands came sometimes. It was great fun--I loved it. He was different--liked to do different things. I got to really like it. He was a puzzle. He never kissed me--never even goodnight. Just a smile. I was safe with him. While he was gone to sea to war, we wrote letters. I still keep them. We became very close.

When the war was over, he had a stop over a few hours in San Diego. His mom and dad drove me to San Diego. We would have 2-3 hours to visit. He was waiting for us in a bus or train station--can't recall which. I saw him, ran to him, and kissed him home. Poor sailor was surprised, but didn't object. He told me much later that I was the first girl he ever kissed. He wanted it to be the girl he married. It was so. It turned out to be I was the first girl he kissed and the last one also.

We both entered USC in September 1946. He drove me and Eudene Drum to school every day. We dated and danced a lot. After a few months I thought some plans should be made. So I said, "What are your plans? Are we thinking of marriage? This good friends has gone on long enough." He probably never had given it a thought. He didn't know. Things were good with him: a girl to be with was enough. I was firm. He backed off for 2-3 weeks. I thought, It's over and done--no dates.  He gave in. We talked again. He gave me a ring, and we were engaged. We had some sever differences. I had studied Christian Science--no treatment of the sick. He was to be a pharmacist, to heal the sick. I wanted our religions to be the same for the family's sake. He was Mormon, not as active as could be, but firm in his belief.

We were married June 24, 1948 at Forest Lawn. Paul and Bill were there, too, as Witnesses. I taught school at Glen Alta--3-4 grade for two years. Bruce graduated USC in Feb 1950. I became a housewife to raise children. Dee arrived in October 1950.

Our family life was wonderful. A few bumps--but always love and friendship. A life any Princess would like. I always felt I was one.