I loved to play house. Would dressup when I could. Mom had a chenille robe and I wore it as a queen. No jewelry nor high heels nor lipstick, but I still reigned a beauty. I loved my baby dolls. Lived in a coal camp so there were a few girls here and there to play with. I had a close cousin but she didn't like the domestic calm stuff, she was a tom boy, bicycles and tag and ball. I was always clutzy. you don't have to atheletic to show love and comfort. That's me!
At gatherings we did recitations! We would tell stories, local legends and old family tales. But my favorite were reciting poems. My dad did his 'Village Blacksmith' and mom did her, 'Somebody's Mother'. We would hear them over and over each year but still they were an important part of sharing. I found the longest poem I could find and memorized it. The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe !