Carl O'Brien


          I haven't seen my Uncle Carl since the winter of 1971.   He and Pat called me one Sunday afternoon out of the blue.  I had seen them in Jacksonville on Aletha Dr. in 1965 but hadn't heard much from them since then.  They were visiting Pat's family in Rochester and wanted to come over to say hello.  My husband met them at an arranged spot to lead them to our apartment which was in a complex where all the buildings looked the same.  Rather than trying to explain it over the phone, we made it a little easier.  I was expecting our second child; our little girl Missy was just two years old.  In my effort to "impress" them with my new role of wife and mother I made a pot of coffee in my electric percolator but forgot to put the coffee in the basket.  We laughed and  I remedied that, but am sure they thought I was the same old Linda,  not very domestic. I had been in the Marine Corps, had a very good job with Western Union but still felt like that inept teenager that they knew when my dad and I stayed with them when we first moved to Jacksonville in 1959.  Still, we had a nice visit and that was the last time I saw either Carl or Pat.
          Often wondered what became of the boys but up until a few months ago had no idea.  Now Carl is gone.  I'm sorry about the hard feelings between him and my dad.  I have fond memories of my uncle from when I was a little girl and he would visit us in Mt. Morris, even before he was married.  The funniest thing I remember is watching him clean the bathtub one morning in our little apartment.   After he was done I told him in my six year old little voice that he had used the toilet brush instead of the bathtub brush.
          I remember his wedding and where they lived above some kind of a store before having Michael I think.  He worked for Pepsi Cola at the time.  They came out to Mt. Morris after having both Mike and Kenny.  We lived on top of a hill on seven acres of land where the boys could run around.  The whole O'Brien family was there one summer weekend.  It was the first and last time we all gathered there.  Usually we went to Chenango Forks where Earl and Louise lived with Grandma and Grandpa.  My mother didn't like to go there due to many things, one being the outhouse and another being goat's milk and Grandpa.  I only remember being there at the same time as Carl and Pat once and that was at Earl and Louise's wedding.  A long time ago.
I'm sorry that we didn't stay in touch.......These are the only pictures I could find.
  Rest in peace Carl. 
Fred (my father), Carl and Earl O'Brien May 30, 1943
Pat and Carl with Mike and Kenny in the mid 1950's
Pat sent me this pictures one time in a Christmas card I believe.  I don't know the year.  It was the first time I had seen the boys since they were in grade school and Bill was a baby.  I was glad to hear that all three of the boys are doing well and are happy.

                    Page by Darby Thorpe
{Linda J. O'Brien  USMC   Picture taken in 1962.
Click on picture to go to website Once a Marine. 
(Darby Thorpe is my pen name.)   This page will be accessible from there.}