Decade 2

1969-1979 (Matt and Kip)
Matt:
In the years 1969 to 1979, 4 more children were welcomed...Cecelia, Johnathan, James (Jimmy) and Nicholas. Kay and Mary also moved from 14th Avenue, to their current residence and the place where all of us consider our “hood”… 348, 6th Avenue North. It turned out that Mary’s other partner in crime, and fellow ”mother of many” Margaret Peta and her family had also moved, so the two families were now separated ONLY by an alley and the Maher family home. That’s 21 children stomping back and forth! A permanent path was worn by the Peta and Francis children through the backyard of the Maher’s for years to come!
The OLY Saturday tradition began at this time! And, of course is still going strong today! Does everyone know the story?? (The neighborhood dads gave up drinking for lent.. ((not the MOMS mind you, only the dads!)) On Holy Saturday, you could have whatever you gave up for lent.. and since the dads could now drink OLYMPIA beer… “Oly Saturday” was born!

Kip:
It was during these years that Kay switched careers and started selling bonds with Juran and Moody. Kay had been working some 16 hour shifts at the Koch refinery and painting neighborhood houses on the side to pay to put 6 kids in private school (St Augustines) along with a paper route or two.
His doctor told him that if he kept working at Koch, it would kill him. He quit his job and also quit Cofeen cigarettes and booze… (Well, lets just say he cut way WAY back on booze for the majority of the year!) One story about the paper route: We’d all fold the newspapers at night and then those big enough to carry the canvas paper tote would get up @ 4:30 to go to west st. paul to deliver them… One dark wintery morning as about 5 of us and Dad were out on the route, an elderly gentleman caught sight of little Patrick and said “What’s a little guy like you carrying such a big bag of newspapers so early in the morning”? to which Pat replied bitterly…. “We’re working to pay our Dad’s Taxes” !!!

Matt:
It’s safe to say that there are many many stories about life in the Francis Family @ 348 6th avenue north… How about the time kip and Pat had to eat Velveeta cheese out of the garbage disposal in the sink and wash it down with ginger ale? Kip and Pat had to have a midnight snack and didn't like the taste of the ginger ale so they put the pop back back 1/2 full on the shelf and couldn't finish all the cheese so they shoved it down the sink but didn't want to wake anyone so they didn't run the disposal , not a good idea since Dad had just purchased and installed a brand new garbage disposal. The next day, Kay discovered the pile of cheese, pulled it out and made the boys eat it! (That WASTING food thing again we guess)
There were many happy memories of 4th of July fireworks parties on our front lawn, Kaposia days, 4th of July and Memorial Day parades where we all dressed alike in Red, White and Blue!

Kip:
This Decade included a special Trip to California to see the cousins, Summer Vacations up to Uncle Morries cabin, New Year's Eve Monopoly Championships, Treasure Hunting during the Winter Carnival and too many memories to mention. One in particular that I remember was the trip to California to see the cousins. Uncle Fred took us to see the “old frontier village”. I was about 3 or 4 years old and went on a ride called “Ye old mine ride”. I believe I sat next to cousin Claire Schlichting.. and the echoing sound of “go back, beware” will always be the scariest words EVER to be spoken by man. Ask cousin claire.. I think I wet myself and I wasn’t even sleeping.!