A New Start in Cowtown

In 1946, James started a practice in neuro-psychiatry in Fort Worth with Edgar and Bruce Beard.

When we were going to Fort Worth to look for a house to live in and office space for James, the Judge met us there alone. He rented the bridal suite at the Texas Hotel for the three of us. He went with us to the bank where his friend was vice-president. Arranged for us to get the loans that we needed. Went back to Athens and made arrangements for a second loan on the house.

We were very proud that we were able to pay all of those loans, and he was not asked for any money at all. But it was so good to be able to buy our home and start the practice with his help.

At the end of his residency, James was behind in his chart work at the hospital. He had to finish the "paper work" before he could leave Galveston. He stayed with Dottie and Bruce Beard to finish that work.

Carolyn and I visited Aunt Eva and Uncle Bill then, but not for long. I think we were still waiting for possession of our small home at 2724 Willing Ave. in Fort Worth.

James and I bought a lot of our furniture in Commerce for our first home. The places where we had lived in Galveston were "furnished".

James and I were desperately trying to find a car in Fort Worth when we moved there. There were long lists of people trying to get a car, and we had no friends in the business.

Daddy Bent finally found a Nash in San Angelo [That's a 1942 Nash in the image at left]. James road the train out to buy it, and I remember when he drove up in our own CAR!! Couple of years later, we traded it in on a new Nash. Cars were still scarce then.

When we moved to Fort Worth, I used a washateria and dried the clothes on my clothesline.

I think the first record player that I had was in Fort Worth. James and I bought a radio, record player when we moved there.
We particularly enjoyed symphonies and classical music. My favorite symphony is Tschaikowsky's 5th.

Don't remember buying popular music, but we enjoyed it on the radio. Among my favorites was "Moon Love,” a tune from a symphony with words. Then there was "Always.”