
Shirley and Vickie – Birth, Christening & Wedding of Marnee Bittner



1958, I think this was in the house that burned. I have on a dress that Mom had taken me to Dayton to get for the school year. That also is when we got my coat with the pom-pom ties. I was too neat and hung it in my closet. Everything was burned on one side as they hung in the closet. The closet was near the chimney that caught fire.
In 1961, this looks like a bunch of little geniuses at work. Not sure at what! It must have been on a Sunday after church. Vickie and Martha look all dressed up.

I recall one Christmas Eve night- I of course was sleeping in the same room as Myrtle. We were living in the Linkhart house with sooo many rooms and the winding staircase and the two seater outhouse. (This was also where Gary burnt his little _eter (he was a kid) on the stove while taking a bath in a tub in the kitchen).
Back to my recollection- I began to wake up and heard moaning and complaining and words telling me to go back to sleep so Santa could make his visit, so I guess I did and the next morning what did I find? I received a beautiful ballerina doll all dressed in a beautiful tutu, w/tights, shoes, and a beautiful lavender dress and pink cape, both covered in organza. My not so secret Santa “Myrtle”, was trying to sew these beautiful clothes and wanted me to be surprised on Christmas morning. My secret Santa was only a kid herself, yet even then she was thinking of others.
I still treasure that doll, even though she has not aged well. Bobby and I had a disagreement and fought over my doll. She was injured (broken leg) and over the years of grandkids, nieces, nephews, etc. my doll incurred other traumas, but through everything, I have her still today…2008 & ALMOST 2009! (I’m not sure which of us aged better…I hope it’s me)!