The first site Honeywell assigned Bill to was in Charlotte, NC. I think David stayed at the farm and the other children in Columbia while Bill and I went to look for a place.

Mint Hill, south of Charlotte, was such a nice place then. A former pastor of Bill’s who was in Charlotte, sent us to the Post Mistress in Mint Hill. She told us about an old house for rent - owned by an older couple who lived next door, the - Wilsons. This couple didn’t want children but welcomed us and even kept Nancy while I taught; we really felt they enjoyed our children. Now I realize I should have spent more time with that couple. They let us fence in a field behind the house for Spark. Jeanie and Jeff walked to school through Spark’s pasture. Male horse, that he was, Spark actually tried to bite Jeff through his winter coat; Jeff’s shoulder did have slight teeth marks! This led to surgery for Spark!

The people in Mint Hill were very friendly and quickly gave us a small-town feeling. The first morning I walked Nancy to Kindergarten, someone offered us a ride. A little friend, Sharon, was constantly asking Nancy over to play. Whenever I was substitute teaching, another parent from kindergarten would drop Nancy off at noon to stay with Mrs. Wilson until I got home. Nancy enjoyed Mrs. Wilson’s delicious country meals.

Peggy Thomas was a good church friend. She had children Jeanie’s and Nancy’s ages. We spent a lot of time at Peggy’s house; she was fun and relaxed about the children’s activities. We worked in the same Sunday School class.

There was an old barn on the property. The hay loft was supposedly off limits but Jeff and Nancy were playing there and started screaming. Being deathly afraid of snakes, I wanted to go to them but my leg wouldn’t move. They came running - Nancy had been stung by several wasps - almost a relief.

While we were waiting for our furniture to arrive from Dallas, Bill’s former pastor arranged for us to use some old army cots. In the confusion of getting settled, the dog, Cindy, was run over and killed. When David arrived from the farm, of course, he was very upset.

We had such a good, friendly church. The children were always involved with friends and activities. I thoroughly enjoyed teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir.

David went to Jr. High School by bus. He commented that he didn’t see WHY some of the boys and girls would hold hands. HA! Years surely make a difference.

In March, after only living in Mint Hill less than a year, Honeywell decided to send Bill to a remote site in Wilson, NC. The children needed to finish out the school year and I would continue substitute teaching until June. I didn’t love being there without Bill and decided to bring our dog, Bullet, in the house at night for protection. Not a house dog, Bullet enjoyed tearing into the trash and sleeping on furniture so outside he stayed. With no worry about safety, the children and I attended church services at night.

Bill came home on week-ends, stayed in a boarding house in Wilson during the week, and only had one computer site to service, Imperial Tobacco Co. A lady at Imperial knew the builder, Mac Lamm, and Bill chose one of his houses in Elm City. Mac and his wife had built that house for themselves

While Bill was looking for a house in the Wilson area, David went to the farm to stay and the other children and I went to stay with Bill’s sister, Jane in WV. We always enjoyed being with them.