Julie (Joyce at that time), our mutual friend Nancy, and myself moved into an apartment in Toledo. It was 1960, in the summer. Nancy and Julie had never been away from home - never learned to take care of themselves. Nancy was from a very religious Catholic family and had been reared in parochial schools, had dated very little - actually not at all - and was ready to break out - big time! She was 20. Julie, the oldest of 6, had taken care of her younger siblings and helped her mom, but she had never cooked or done laundry. She was 19. I, the oldest of the three at 21, had learned to cook somewhat, and was very worldly having spent nearly 2 years in Alaska working with the US Army, traveling to military sites with the USO. I had lived with my older sister and then on my own in a small civilian barrack on Fort Richardson. I had also had a studio apartment in Toledo for a couple of months when Julie and I became roommates, then we moved to the larger place with Nancy in tow. I became the unofficial house mother.

We had been in the apartment for about a month when Julie's parents decided they needed to meet her roommates and see where she lived. Julie and Nancy had been rather sheltered. Julie's family was close and her parents strict. Between us we kept our place quite neat and clean, so we weren't worried about the housekeeping. However, the night before, we had all had dates and had come in about the same time. It was late October around Julie's birthday.

My date was my first date with the man who became my children's father, Rick. We double-dated with his best friend, LeRoy, and his girlfriend of the moment. We had gone to a favorite dance club, actually in those days it was a supper club. Dinner was served earlier and then later in the evening a band appeared and it was then a night club. LeRoy decided he would drink Zombies, and quickly became one himself.

Around midnight, we returned to our apartment with LeRoy who was very sick. Rick helped LeRoy up the stairs to our second floor digs and into the bathroom where he put him under the shower. LeRoy promptly passed out in the bathtub. He was too heavy for Rick to get out of the tub and down to the car. We waited for him to sober up enough to leave - which happened about 3AM. Julie and Nancy had returned home from their dates at the same time I did and were totally aghast at the goings-on. There was a man in OUR bathtub! With his trousers around his ankles! In his undershirt! And he was soaking wet! I promised myself I would never see Rick, and hopefully LeRoy, ever again.

Rick was all apologies and very sweet, angry with LeRoy and promising to take him home, but not necessarily in one piece. In those days girls of quality did not date boys who behaved badly and Julie and Nancy were totally unprepared for their roommate to bring this down on their heads - especially with Julie's parents due the next morning. I am sure they were rethinking this "housemother" thing very seriously. Nancy and Julie were just certain her folks would be able to tell we had had drunken, depraved young men in our home the night before -the air would be vibrating with sin and disgrace and Julie would be made to return to Tecumseh, Michigan with her folks the next day.

The three of us went to bed - and hardly slept because we were all so worried about how we would look after no sleep - just certain that they would see the life of ruin she was heading down with two loose and poorly raised young women as companions. Just as Mr. and Mrs. Wilbar cleared the landing and were ten paces from our door, I looked in the fireplace and there was LeRoy's wet undershirt from the night before!

How it got there is a mystery. LeRoy may have tossed it away as Rick was dragging him through the living room to the door, dressed in wet suit pants that were now up around his waist where they belonged. We took especial delight in the fact that it was very cold at 3AM and his underwear would probably freeze to his butt!

Suddenly, I squealed and pointed. Nancy turned white and Julie nearly swallowed her tongue, making incoherent noises in her throat. Nancy grabbed the shirt and hid it under a cushion in a chair and sat down on it. She was sweating and breathing hard and still white, white, white. As Julie opened the door for her parents we were all paralyzed with these huge, toothy, dry-mouthed smiles.

I remember Julie's younger brothers and sisters were also there. I don't remember if we served refreshments or not. I do remember that Mrs. Wilbar never took off her coat and sat on the edge of the couch. Mr. Wilbar was serious and questioned each of us about our jobs and how we were getting along. The entire visit didn't last 30 minutes and they had driven over 50 miles. I am sure they thought we were some really air-headed (not a phrase in those days) kids, but basically not dangerous to Julie. They seemed satisfied that she was safe for the moment and left.

We collapsed. Laughing and squealing like children, which we were - and so happy we had not been found out. All over a wet t-shirt in the fireplace!

This little story may not seem like such a big deal to some of you - but in the early '60's, young women out on their own were not common. Mr. and Mrs. Wilbar were right to be concerned. We did not smoke, or drink (much) we were having our first experience with unsupervised living. Managing money and time, so excited about the future. In comparison with the way young women live today, our little adventure was huge to us.

Just a few months later, Julie was in Hollywood, Nancy was engaged, and I was married.

We spent six months together - laughing nearly every minute we were together. Even when things weren't that funny.

Back to Memories of Julie.
Start the whole freakin' thing over again.