My Amana Rocker
I have scoliosis.
I was in junior high and had just returned from a Girl Scout canoe trip with a bad sunburn when Mom noticed that my back didn’t look right (besides the fact that it was bright red). “What’s wrong with your back?” she asked with urgency in her voice. Doctor appointments followed. My case wasn’t severe enough to warrant a back brace, thank goodness, but I was instructed to practice a variety of stretching exercises.
Needless to say, backaches happen. Often.
During a summer visit to my Grandmother Abbie (Webber Smith Brender) in Iowa City, I suffered a really bad backache while sleeping on her couch. I couldn’t get comfortable and I couldn’t sleep. I finally got up and sat in her rocking chair. I felt so much better! For the remainder of my stay, I would get into that rocker whenever my bed disagreed with my back.
With Abbie 1977 at Amana Colonies
Abbie’s rocker was made in the Amana Colonies in Amana, Iowa. I took my husband to see the sights in Iowa in 1977 and we visited the Amana Colonies with Grandma Abbie. I told him how her rocker had eased my back pain years before and one Christmas he surprised me with my own Amana rocking chair. I’d insert a heart here if I knew how.
Addendum: November 12, 2012
I found a picture of Grandma Abbie sitting in her Amana rocking chair. This was taken when she lived in an assisted living apartment. 
Hello,
I am back reding your blog for the second time. I didn’t ask but I did copy some photos to my cousin who is doing research for our family. I have just started and I hope you will forgive me. I am from the Strange family do Indiana. My father was born in Loogootee. So when I came across your info about Sylvester strange. I was intrigued. But then I read your blog and I am hooked. Looking back makes me melancholy. I will be praying for your health. I would like to tell you about a book I M reading called a thousand gifts. It is very good . If you want some of our info on the strange family. My. Cousin.has done a lot of research. I will ask her. And let me know if your interested. Patty zorman
Hi Patty! Nice to meet a new cousin! I haven’t been keeping my blog updated as I would like to. Besides the whole cancer thing, one of my daughters was married on New Years Eve. Then I caught a cold. Glad I decided to check for comments today. How nice that you like the blog. I’ll email you soon.