I should probably call my dad and ask about the illiteracy thing. My ancestors, born in the 1880s, died in 1961 and 1980 came here 1901 & 1903 and didn't read or write either language. My dad said Manuel, who had a stroke, had his car rigged for him so he could drive. I have no idea how he got a driver's license if he couldn't read. Gloria did learn to sign her name. She didn't have a driver's license. She had an electric golf cart that she drove around town (she would let me and my sister push the buttons to make it go). I guess she mainly stayed on residential streets or the far right lane. She didn't read signs, so in going to the doctor, if she saw a driveway, in she went. The sign said "Do Not Enter" but she went that way anyways! I guess no one was going to bother an older woman in a golf cart.
We always got birthday cards. I remember being a kid and asking my mom how did great-grandma get us a birthday card if she didn't read. My mom said she took the neighbor, a friend, or one of her daughter-in-laws with her to the store. She would pick out a pretty one that she thought I would like and ask it to be read to her. If she liked it, then that was the one she picked. If not, then she asked for another pretty card to be read to her. Now, I don't know if that card story is true (my mom was the granddaughter-in-law). It may have been a story to tell an 8 year old so I would go away and she could finish the laundry or whatever. The car story is true though. My dad was there in the car with his grandparents and knew how they drove. Cheri Mello Listowner, Azores-Gen Researching: Vila Franca, Ponta Garca, Ribeira Quente, Ribeira das Tainhas, Achada -- To unsubscribe from this group, send email to azores+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. Follow the confirmation directions when they arrive. For more options, such as changing to List, Digest, Abridged, or No Mail (vacation) mode, log into your Google account and visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Azores. Click in the blue area on the right that says "Join this group" and it will take you to "Edit my membership."
