6. Six mannequin heads on six steps. Sadie Mae, Mary B, Sandra, Squeaky, Linda, and Leslie. Yes, of course they are the Manson girls but they are my Manson girls.

5. Dot has a cast on her arm from the time I accidentally knocked her over while setting up the holiday display. But the stairs leading up from the front door to the bedrooms are really a joy.

4. These days Grandma sits at the kitchen table playing solitaire. Grandpa sits in his favorite chair in the living room waiting to watch Wide World of Sports. Downstairs in the family room my cousins play Twister.

3. You see I worked for years in the window display department of the downtown Marshall Fields and as mannequins were damaged or replaced I brought them home. They were dear to me and I just couldn’t abandon them.
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2. But, I stayed where I was, comfortable and mostly sheltered from a world I didn’t really understand.

After mother died I could finally make this house mine. I had no emotional hurdles as I cleaned out the remnants of my parents. I was excited to bring out my own “stuff”.