When Muriel was about thirty she went to work for a sales company. She had four young children and was looking for ways so supplement the family income. At one time she demonstrated the use of a sewing machine in the homes of new owners. Another job was selling stainless steel cookware, Rena Ware. At that time the big selling point was that it was 'waterless' cookware. You could cook your vegetables with a lot less water than most pans on the market and thereby retain the vitamins instead of boiling them away.
As her youngest child, I have memories of going with her when she demonstrated the sewing machine. However, the pots and pans are only the stuff of stories brought home by Mom.
On one occasion Muriel drove to Toronto for a sales meeting with other people marketing Rena Ware. Although I was very young, I had the impression that the group consisted of men, most of whom had served on missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now that I am older, I can easily visualize a group of returned missionaries who were looking for a way to put their door-to-door experiences from the mission field into a means of supporting themselves and their young families.
The group went out to lunch at a Chinese restaurant. I am not sure if the Asian food was a new experience for Muriel, but she readily related a story about being the center of jokes. The other salespeople tried to persuade her that the unique spoon that came with the soup was not used in the traditional way. Instead of
drinking out of the bowl, you filled it up and then drank the soup from the small grove in the handle.
Muriel's account of the lunch brought vivid pictures to my mind and still today I can easily imagine her being gently teased by this eager group of young men. I recall being so concerned about her as she told the story. I didn't want her to do anything that would embarrass her or make her look foolish. I didn't realize at the grand old age of five years, that Muriel could carry most situations off with grace and could laugh at herself.
As her youngest child, I have memories of going with her when she demonstrated the sewing machine. However, the pots and pans are only the stuff of stories brought home by Mom.
On one occasion Muriel drove to Toronto for a sales meeting with other people marketing Rena Ware. Although I was very young, I had the impression that the group consisted of men, most of whom had served on missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now that I am older, I can easily visualize a group of returned missionaries who were looking for a way to put their door-to-door experiences from the mission field into a means of supporting themselves and their young families.
The group went out to lunch at a Chinese restaurant. I am not sure if the Asian food was a new experience for Muriel, but she readily related a story about being the center of jokes. The other salespeople tried to persuade her that the unique spoon that came with the soup was not used in the traditional way. Instead of
drinking out of the bowl, you filled it up and then drank the soup from the small grove in the handle.Muriel's account of the lunch brought vivid pictures to my mind and still today I can easily imagine her being gently teased by this eager group of young men. I recall being so concerned about her as she told the story. I didn't want her to do anything that would embarrass her or make her look foolish. I didn't realize at the grand old age of five years, that Muriel could carry most situations off with grace and could laugh at herself.
